No. 411 Squadron RCAF
Encyclopedia
No. 411 "City of York" Squadron RCAF was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force
squadron that operated as part of RAF Fighter Command
in Europe with the Supermarine Spitfire
.
in Lincolnshire, England as an Article XV
squadron under the control of the British
Royal Air Force. The squadron was equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire
and after a period of training the squadron began operations in August 1941 with the Spitfire VB variant. Part of the Hornchurch
Wing it operated over continental Europe on Rhubarb sorties and as bomber escorts. After some rest periods the squadron joined the Kenley Wing for more opeations over Europe.
Converting to the Spitfire IX in October 1943 it then became a fighter-bomber squadron. Within two weeks of the D-Day it was operating from France in the close-support role and it also operated armed reconnaissance flights. Following the advancing troops the squadron was soon based in Germany
until it was disbanded at Utersen on 21 March 1946.
411 Squadron was reformed as a peacetime reserve fighter squadron at RCAF Station Downsview Ont. just outside Toronto on 1 October 1950. It was known as the 'County of York' squadron the county in which Toronto used to be. With Havards and Chipmunks
as trainers the sqaudron operated the de Havilland Vampire
then moved on to the Canadair Sabre made by Canadair in Montreal in the 50s.
In the fall of 1958, the 411 switched to being a light transport squadron which flew the Expediter C-45, a version of the Beechcraft Model 18
.
The squadron fully moved to a Search and Rescue mode when they gave up their jets and operated twin engine Beechcrafts and then single engine Otters. The DHC-3 Otter
s operated with the RCAF code 'CSR-123' standing for Canadian Search and Rescue Model 123. The squadron disbanded in 1996 following the closure of RCAF Station Downsview.
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
squadron that operated as part of RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
in Europe with the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
.
History
The squadron was formed on 16 June 1941 at RAF DigbyRAF Digby
RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station which, since March 2005, has been operated by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Intelligence Collection Group. Formerly a training and fighter airfield, it is currently a tri-service military signals installation located...
in Lincolnshire, England as an Article XV
Article XV squadrons
Article XV squadrons were Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand air force squadrons formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , during World War II....
squadron under the control of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Air Force. The squadron was equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and after a period of training the squadron began operations in August 1941 with the Spitfire VB variant. Part of the Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
Wing it operated over continental Europe on Rhubarb sorties and as bomber escorts. After some rest periods the squadron joined the Kenley Wing for more opeations over Europe.
Converting to the Spitfire IX in October 1943 it then became a fighter-bomber squadron. Within two weeks of the D-Day it was operating from France in the close-support role and it also operated armed reconnaissance flights. Following the advancing troops the squadron was soon based in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
until it was disbanded at Utersen on 21 March 1946.
411 Squadron was reformed as a peacetime reserve fighter squadron at RCAF Station Downsview Ont. just outside Toronto on 1 October 1950. It was known as the 'County of York' squadron the county in which Toronto used to be. With Havards and Chipmunks
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
as trainers the sqaudron operated the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
then moved on to the Canadair Sabre made by Canadair in Montreal in the 50s.
In the fall of 1958, the 411 switched to being a light transport squadron which flew the Expediter C-45, a version of the Beechcraft Model 18
Beechcraft Model 18
The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
.
The squadron fully moved to a Search and Rescue mode when they gave up their jets and operated twin engine Beechcrafts and then single engine Otters. The DHC-3 Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, but was overall a larger aircraft.-Design and...
s operated with the RCAF code 'CSR-123' standing for Canadian Search and Rescue Model 123. The squadron disbanded in 1996 following the closure of RCAF Station Downsview.
Aircraft operated
| Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
I and IIA | Single-engined fighter |
| 1941-1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | VB | |
| 1943-1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX | |
| 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | XVI | |
| 1945-1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | XIV |