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.

Coalition Operation – Libya

LIBYA, 2011

SOUTH-WEST ASIA

ARABIAN SEA

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}

Coalition Operation - Libya

As part of Op MOBILE, 443 Squadron provided a helicopter detachment to embark with HMCS Vancouver. ^{Footnote 13}

South-West Asia

At various points between 2001 and 2014, 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron deployed as part of allied maritime forces to the airspace above the Arabian Sea and adjacent waters.^{Footnote 14}