442 Transport and Rescue Squadron

Squadron standard

Badge

Description

Argent a representation of a haietlik or lightning snake.

Significance

According to legend of the West Coast Band, Haietlik was dispatched to kill whales, a major source of food for the band.

Motto

UN DIEU, UNE REINE, UN COEUR (One god, one queen, one heart)

Battle honours

The Second World War

FORTRESS EUROPE, 1944; FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945; Normandy, 1944; Arnhem; Rhine; ALEUTIANS, 1943

Lineage

• Authorized as 'No.14 (Fighter) Squadron' 1 January 1942.^{Footnote 1}
• Redesignated 'No.442 (Fighter) Squadron' 8 February 1944.^{Footnote 2}
• Disbanded 7 August 1945.^{Footnote 3}
• Reformed 15 April 1946.^{Footnote 4}
• Redesignated '442 "City of Vancouver" (Fighter) Squadron' 3 September 1952.^{Footnote 5}
• Redesignated '442 Squadron' 1 September 1958.^{Footnote 6}
• Disbanded 31 March 1964.^{Footnote 7}
• Reformed as '442 Communications and Rescue Squadron' 8 July 1968,^{Footnote 8} from '121 Composite Unit' (authorized 1 January 1959).^{Footnote 9}
• Redesignated '442 Transport and Rescue Squadron' 1 October 1968.^{Footnote 10}

Operational history

The Second World War

The squadron flew on air defence operations on the Pacific coast and in Alaska under 'Western Air Command'. After its transfer overseas, the squadron served on air defence missions in Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands under 'Fighter Command' and '2nd Tactical Air Force'.^{Footnote 12}

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