443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron

Squadron standard

Badge

Description

Argent a hornet affronté proper.

Significance

The squadron was known as the "Hornet Squadron" during the Second World War and therefore adopted a hornet as its badge.

Motto

OUR STING IS DEATH

Battle honours

The Second World War

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

Lineage

• Authorized as 'No.127 (Fighter) Squadron' 20 April 1942.^{Footnote 1}
• Redesignated '443 (Fighter) Squadron' 8 February 1944.^{Footnote 2}
• Disbanded 15 March 1946.^{Footnote 3}
• Reformed 15 September 1951.^{Footnote 4}
• Redesignated '443 "City of New Westminster" (Fighter) Squadron' 3 September 1952.^{Footnote 5}
• Redesignated '443 Squadron' 1 September 1958.^{Footnote 6}
• Disbanded 31 March 1964.^{Footnote 7}
• Reformed as '443 Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron', 3 September 1974,^{Footnote 8} from one-half of '50 Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron' (authorized 4 July 1955).^{Footnote 9}
• Redesignated '443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron' 30 January 1995.^{Footnote 11}

Operational history

The Second World War

The squadron flew on air defence operations in eastern Canada under 'Eastern Air Command'. After transfer overseas, it flew on bomber escort and interdiction duties in Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands under the '2nd Tactical Air Force' and in Germany under the 'British Air Forces of Occupation (Germany)'.^{Footnote 12}

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