The Full Story - Background & ROTO 1

10 Squadron was formed in Toronto in 1932 and flew from the Trethewey Farm airfield (Jane & Trethewey Blvd in Toronto). In 1935, it was officially recognized as the “City of Toronto” Squadron and in 1937 became 110 Squadron. At Trethewey, the Squadron flew biplane aircraft including the Fleet Fawn, the deHavilland Gipsy Moth and Tiger Moth and the Avro Tutor. When war was declared in Sept. 1939, the Squadron was called to war and in Nov. deployed to Rockcliffe to convert to the Lysander aircraft. In Feb. 1940, 110 Squadron became the first RCAF Squadron to deploy to war.

For the first four years of the war, the squadron flew the P-40 Tomahawk and then the P-51 Mustang Mk 1 in the armed reconnaissance role. For the last year, the Squadron flew the Mosquito Mk XVI and later the Spitfire Mk XI in the unarmed reconnaissance role. The squadron was the first RCAF unit to operate on the Continent and the first to cross the Rhine River into Germany. In early 1941, the squadron became 400 Squadron. During the Second World War, there were 29 casualties including four MIAs. These casualties are primarily interred in the UK but are also in Wales, Belgium, Holland and France.

After the war, the Squadron reformed at Base Downsview in Toronto with 411 Squadron and first flew the Harvard, Vampire, Sabre and T-33 aircraft (the jet era). In 1958, the Squadron converted to the light transport role with the twin-engine Beechcraft Expeditor and the single-engine deHavilland DHC-3 Otter. The Otter could be equipped with skis and floats.

In early 1980, the squadron was equipped with the light jet Kiowa helicopter. In 1996, the Base Downsview was closed, the squadron moved to CFB Borden and also re-equipped with the twin-engine jet Griffon helicopter. During the jet era (1950s) at Downsview there were eight casualties and these casualties are interred in Toronto, Windsor, Regina and Calgary with one pilot missing in Lake Ontario.

In Oct. 2017, the squadron will complete its 85th year of continuous service and is the oldest serving squadron in the history of the RCAF.

Based on the squadron history book by CWO Ron Wylie (1996).

411 Squadron History

In late 1940, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was well underway so that this part of Canada’s contribution to the Second World War and the Royal Air Force (RAF) was established. Next, came Canada’s contribution to the air combat role with a clear Canadian identification.

In addition to the three squadrons already in the UK (including 400 Squadron), 25 more Canadian squadrons were established in the UK, in January 1941. One of the five day-fighter squadrons that served in Europe and the Mediterranean was 411 Squadron. Flying from RAF Stn. Digby in Lincolnshire, UK, they initially flew the Spitfire MkI and MkII for training and then switched to the Spitfire MkV for the first operational missions over Europe.

Converting to the Spitfire IX in October 1943, it then became a fighter-bomber squadron and a few days after D-Day was operating from France in the close-support role. Also operating armed reconnaissance flights with advancing troops, the squadron was soon based in Germany until it was disbanded on 21 March 1946.

Post-WW2, 411 Squadron was reformed at RCAF Stn. Downsview (Toronto) on 1 Oct., 1950 as the “County of York” Squadron and shared hangar space with 400 Squadron. Both squadrons combined with the North American Harvard Mk II as the training aircraft and the de Havilland Vampire Mk III as the fighter aircraft until they were replaced in 1956 by the Canadair T-33 jet trainer and the Canadair Sabre Mk V.

In the fall of 1958, both squadrons joined Air Transport Command and were equipped with the Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor twin-engine light transport aircraft. Soon after, in 1960, the deHavilland DHC-3 Otter arrived and the C-45 was withdrawn from service in 1966. The squadron was involved in a significant search and rescue role and deployed to the Arctic.

In 1981, the Otter was retired and the squadron transitioned to the CH-136 Kiowa helicopter, which it operated in a reconnaissance and tactical support role. When the Base Downsview closed in 1996, 400 Squadron was relocated to CFB Borden and 411 Squadron was disbanded.

During the Second World War, the Squadron suffered 28 casualties with10 MIAs and during the post-WW2 jet era at Downsview, there were three casualties.

Based on the squadron history book by Major John McClenaghan (1992).

400 Squadron Historical Society

The Historical Society is focused on the history and heritage of the squadron. In the past, an historical book was published in 1996, a memorial monument was installed at the National Air Force Museum in Trenton, an aircraft poster was commissioned showing all 18 aircraft flown by the Squadron, the original 110 Sqn. Pennant (1940) was rediscovered and returned to Canada (from US), the original Standard was installed in the Hall of Colours (Ottawa), two original squadron aircraft have been located (in Ontario), and 200 of an intended 500 Ad Astra stones have been installed at the Historical Society’s memorial monument in Trenton (2015 & 2016). Year Three (2017) of the Ad Astra project will begin in late 2016.

Three (2014, 2015 and 2016) of the 100th anniversary artwork commissions have been completed with the fourth (2017) in design, the first ever 400 Squadron artwork (1941) has been confirmed and located (in UK), and there will be an art exhibit in 2017. Several articles have been published, two military-type headstones have been installed at previously unmarked sites (in Toronto), many family members have been located, and the brass poppies project is underway.

2. BRASS POPPY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Prototype

To determine types of materials and methods of design and construction, a prototype set of brass poppies was constructed. This prototype was circulated to the museums at Trenton and Borden for review. The prototype was then offered to Sunnybrook Hospital and was accepted for exhibit in the Veterans Centre.