427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron

Squadron standard

Badge

Description

Argent in front of a maple leaf Vert a lion rampant Or langued and armed Gules.

Significance

The combination of a lion representing England and a maple leaf for Canada indicates the formation of the squadron in England.

Motto

FERTE MANUS CERTAS (Strike with a sure hand)

Battle honours

The Second World War

ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA, 1943-1945; BALTIC, 1944-1945; FORTRESS EUROPE, 1943-1944; FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945; Biscay Ports, 1943-1944; Ruhr, 1943-1945; Berlin, 1943-1944; German Ports, 1943-1945; Normandy, 1944; Rhine; BISCAY, 1944.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

• Authorized as '427 (Bomber) Squadron' 15 October 1942.^{Footnote 1}
• Disbanded 31 May 1946.^{Footnote 2}
• Reformed as '427 (Fighter) Squadron' 1 August 1952.^{Footnote 3}
• Disbanded 15 December 1962.^{Footnote 4}
• Redesignated '427 Strike/Attack Squadron' 17 December 1962.^{Footnote 5}
• Disbanded 1 July 1970.^{Footnote 6}
• Reformed as '427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron' 1 January 1971.^{Footnote 7}
• Designated '427e Escadron de chasseurs tous temps' in french on October 20 1977.^{Footnote 8}
• Redesignated as '427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron' 1 June 2009.^{Footnote 9}

Operational history

The Second World War

The squadron flew on bombing operations in Great Britain under 'Bomber Command'.^{Footnote 10}

South-West Asia

427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron reinforced various Air Force units and formations as part of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, Air Wing, between 2001 and 2014.^{Footnote 11}