No. 416 Squadron RCAF
Encyclopedia
416 "City of Oshawa" Tactical Fighter Squadron (416 TFS) was a unit of the Canadian Forces
under Royal Canadian Air Force
. The squadron operated the CF-188 Hornet fighter jet from CFB Cold Lake
in Alberta
, Canada
. In 2006, 416 TFS stood down and was amalgamated with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron to form 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.
The unit was originally formed during the Second World War as a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF).
, Scotland
in 1941 as a fighter squadron for service during the Second World War and was based at various RAF stations in Scotland, England and continental Europe
. The squadron was disbanded in March 1946.
The squadron was reformed in 1952 at RCAF Uplands in Ottawa, Ontario for operations in Europe
as part of Canada's Cold War
presence. The squadron was located at Grostenquin
, France
. By 1957, the squadron was relocated to Canada at RCAF St Hubert near Montreal, PQ as an air defence squadron flying Avro Canada
CF-100 all weather fighters. In 1962, the CF-100s were replaced with CF-101 Voodoo interceptors, which continued to fly with 416 Squadron until the end of 1984. 416 Squadron thus became the world's last front-line unit flying Voodoos.
In 1988 the squadron relocated to CFB Cold Lake
as a Tactical Fighter Squadron flying CF-188s, and later merged with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron to reform 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron in 2006.
The squadron's nickname was City of Oshawa, Lynx.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
under Royal Canadian Air Force
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...
. The squadron operated the CF-188 Hornet fighter jet from CFB Cold Lake
CFB Cold Lake
Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 2006, 416 TFS stood down and was amalgamated with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron to form 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.
The unit was originally formed during the Second World War as a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force
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...
(RCAF).
History
No. 416 Squadron RCAF was formed at RAF Peterhead, AberdeenshireAberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1941 as a fighter squadron for service during the Second World War and was based at various RAF stations in Scotland, England and continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. The squadron was disbanded in March 1946.
The squadron was reformed in 1952 at RCAF Uplands in Ottawa, Ontario for operations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as part of Canada's Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
presence. The squadron was located at Grostenquin
RCAF Station Grostenquin
RCAF Station Grostenquin, also known as 2 Wing or 2 Wing, was a Royal Canadian Air Force station located five km north of the town of Grostenquin in the Moselle department, Lorraine, northeastern France. It was one of four RCAF wings, consisting of three fighter squadrons each, established in...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. By 1957, the squadron was relocated to Canada at RCAF St Hubert near Montreal, PQ as an air defence squadron flying Avro Canada
Avro Canada
Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...
CF-100 all weather fighters. In 1962, the CF-100s were replaced with CF-101 Voodoo interceptors, which continued to fly with 416 Squadron until the end of 1984. 416 Squadron thus became the world's last front-line unit flying Voodoos.
In 1988 the squadron relocated to CFB Cold Lake
CFB Cold Lake
Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...
as a Tactical Fighter Squadron flying CF-188s, and later merged with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron to reform 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron in 2006.
The squadron's nickname was City of Oshawa, Lynx.
Battle honours
- Defence of Britain 1942-44
- English Channel and North Sea 1943
- Fortress Europe 1942-44
- Dieppe
- France and Germany 1944-45
- Normandy 1944
- Arnhem
- Rhine
- Gulf and Kuwait
Aircraft
- Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe 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...
- North American P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
- Canadair T-33Canadair T-33|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* "Canada's Fab Four". Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Limited, August, 2003. ISSN 0955-7091....
- Canadair Sabre (Mk.2, Mk.5 and Mk.6)
- Avro Canada CF-100 Avro Canada CF-100
- McDonnell Douglas CF-101 VoodooCF-101 VoodooThe CF-101 Voodoo was an all-weather interceptor aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Forces between 1961 and 1984. They were manufactured by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri for the United States Air Force , and later sold to Canada...
- McDonnell Douglas CF-18 HornetCF-18 HornetThe McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet is a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter aircraft, based on the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New Fighter Aircraft competition, and a production order was awarded...