No. 430 Squadron RCAF
Encyclopedia
430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces
under Royal Canadian Air Force
. It operates Bell CH-146 Griffons from CFB Valcartier
, near Quebec City
in Quebec
, Canada
.
that was formed during World War II
as the "City of Sudbury" squadron. 430 "Silver Falcon" Squadron was formed in 1943 as a Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron. They were stationed in England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, until they were disbanded in August 1945.
In the Cold War
period, the squadron was reformed in November 1951 at RCAF Station North Bay, flying the Canadair F-86 Sabre. 430 Fighter Squadron went to 2 Wing RCAF Station Grostenquin
near Grostenquin, France
in September 1952. The squadron was located at Grostenquin until deactivation in September 1962.
430 Fighter Squadron was reactivated at 3 Wing Zweibrücken, West Germany
in February 1963, and transitioned to the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter. The squadron moved to 1 Wing Lahr, West Germany
in February 1969 until being disbanded in May 1970.
Disbanded again it was reformed in 1971 as a French-language Canadian Forces
tactical helicopter squadron at Valcartier and known officially as 430e Escadron tactique d'hélicoptères. There the unit operated the Bell CH-136 Kiowa and the Bell CH-135 Twin Huey in support of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
. The unit transitioned to the CH-146 Griffon
in 1994.
(UNMIH) and also provided core personnel to the Rotary Wing Aviation Unit of the Multinational Force and Observers
on peacekeeping operations in the Sinai.
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...
. It operates Bell CH-146 Griffons from CFB Valcartier
CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, approximately north of Quebec City...
, near Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, 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...
.
History
No. 430 Squadron RCAF was a fighter squadron unit of the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal 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...
that was formed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as the "City of Sudbury" squadron. 430 "Silver Falcon" Squadron was formed in 1943 as a Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron. They were stationed in England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, until they were disbanded in August 1945.
In the 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...
period, the squadron was reformed in November 1951 at RCAF Station North Bay, flying the Canadair F-86 Sabre. 430 Fighter Squadron went to 2 Wing RCAF Station 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...
near Grostenquin, France
Grostenquin
Grostenquin is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.Population : 569.It is situated between Metz and Strasbourg.A Royal Canadian Air Force base, RCAF Station Grostenquin, was located here from 1952-1964....
in September 1952. The squadron was located at Grostenquin until deactivation in September 1962.
430 Fighter Squadron was reactivated at 3 Wing Zweibrücken, West Germany
Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Schwarzbach river.- Name :Zweibrücken appears in Latin texts as Geminus Pons and Bipontum, in French texts as Deux-Ponts. The name derives from Middle High German Zweinbrücken...
in February 1963, and transitioned to the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter. The squadron moved to 1 Wing Lahr, West Germany
Lahr
Lahr is a city in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 38 km north of Freiburg in Breisgau and 100 km south of Karlsruhe...
in February 1969 until being disbanded in May 1970.
Disbanded again it was reformed in 1971 as a French-language Canadian Forces
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."...
tactical helicopter squadron at Valcartier and known officially as 430e Escadron tactique d'hélicoptères. There the unit operated the Bell CH-136 Kiowa and the Bell CH-135 Twin Huey in support of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of Land Forces Quebec Area of the Canadian army. It is based at CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City in Quebec, Canada...
. The unit transitioned to the CH-146 Griffon
CH-146 Griffon
The Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks....
in 1994.
Operations
The squadron was deployed as part of the United Nations Mission in HaitiUnited Nations Mission in Haiti
For the current UN mission to Haiti, see the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.The United Nations Mission in Haiti — a peacekeeping operation carried out by the United Nations between September 1993 and June 1996. The Mission was reestablished in April 2004, after a rebellion took...
(UNMIH) and also provided core personnel to the Rotary Wing Aviation Unit of the Multinational Force and Observers
Multinational Force and Observers
The Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
on peacekeeping operations in the Sinai.
Aircraft
- Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk
- North American P-51 Mustang
- 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...
- Canadair F-86 Sabre
- Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
- Bell CH-135 Twin Huey
- Bell CH-136 Kiowa
- Bell CH-146 Griffon