427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron

The official lineage of the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron.

Badge

Squadron standard

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

Page details

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