Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo
Loading... loading (72) personnel records

412 "Falcon" Squadron (RCAF) ( 72)

Promptus Ad Vindictam - King George VI, September 1944
Adopted By: Parkdale Lions Club, Toronto, ON

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Spitfire Mks. IIA, VB, IXB, IXE, XVI, XIV)

The squadron was the tenth of the RCAF's squadrons to be formed overseas in WWII. It was the seventh fighter squadron to be so formed. It was established at Digby, Lincolnshire, England on June 30, 1941. John Gillespie Magee, the author of the famous aviation poem “High Flight” was serving with 412 Squadron when he was killed in a mid-air collision in his Spitfire in 1941. The squadron flew Spitfire aircraft in the defence of Great Britain, formed part of the Canadian Kenley Wing within No. 11 Group, Fighter Command. It was re-equipped with the Spitfire lXb in November 1943 and began operating over northern France in preparation for operation Overlord, the D-Day landings. It was during late 1943 that the ace George “Screwball” Beurling scored his last air victory while serving with the squadron. Shortly after D-Day, on June 19, 1944, the squadron moved to France in a fighter and ground support role. It then supported the Allied armies, moving through France, the Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. It was one of four RCAF day fighter units retained in Germany as part of the British Air Forces of Occupation before being disbanded at Utersen, Germany on March 21, 1946.

In the course of hostilities, the squadron flew 12,761 sorties for the loss of 63 aircraft and 62 pilots, of whom 21 were killed, 14 presumed dead, 11 POW. The squadron claimed 106 enemy aircraft destroyed, 11 probably destroyed and 46 damaged. On the ground, they claimed 282 motor vehicles and 22 locomotives. The squadron had 5 aces (shot down 5 or more enemy aircraft): Flight Lieutenant D.C. Laubman DFC & Bar; Flight Lieutenant W.J. Banks,DFC & Bar; Flying Officer D.R.C. Jamieson DFC & Bar; Flying Officer P.M. Charron; Flight Lieutenant R.I.A. Smith DFC. Overall, the squadron was awarded 7 Bars to DFC, 16 DFCs and 4 MiD. Battle Honours were: Defence of Britain 1941-44, Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin

Maps for Movements of 412 Squadron 1941-46

MAP 1: 412 Squadron Movements 1941-44 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
MAP 2: 412 Squadron Movements Detail of Map 1
MAP 3: 412 Squadron Movements in Europe 1944-46

412 Squadron History Summary 1941-46

412 Squadron History Summary 1941-46 Page 2

412 Squadron History Summary 1941-46 Page 3

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: CC-117 Falcon, CC-144 Challenger and CC-109 Cosmopolitan)

After the Second World War, Number 12 Communications Flight was reassigned as 412 Squadron on 1 April 1947, and renamed 412 (Composite) Squadron based at Rockcliffe, Ontario . In 1955, the squadron moved to Uplands, Ontario. Upon unification in 1968, 412 Squadron became the VIP squadron for the Canadian Forces based at CFB Uplands and flew the CC-117 Falcon, CC-144 Challenger and CC-109 Cosmopolitan. In the late 1970s a sub-unit was established at CFB Lahr in West Germany; this operation closed in 1993. In 1994, CFB Ottawa (Uplands) closed and 412's fleet was moved to a civilian hangar at Ottawa International Airport. All aircraft are maintained by Transport Canada on behalf of the Canadian Forces. Today, the Squadron performs the VIP and general transport duties with the CC-144 Challenger.


Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1945‑03‑30
Spitfire (MJ275)
Woodlawn, Ontario
Wing Commander
Killed in Flying Accident
1949‑04‑21
Expeditor (1425)
Aylmer/Gatineau, Quebec
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑11‑19
Spitfire (PL159)
Magog, Quebec
Sergeant
Killed in Flying Accident
1960‑04‑29
Mitchell (5220)
Wainwright, Alberta
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑07‑02
Spitfire (MK199)
Granby, Quebec
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1942‑08‑19
Spitfire (EN831)
Magog, Quebec
Squadron Leader
Killed in Action
1941‑11‑08
Spitfire (W3959)
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
Sergeant
Killed in Action
1942‑05‑09
Wellington (W5574)
St John's, Newfoundland
Leading Aircraftman
Killed in Flying Accident
1949‑04‑21
Expeditor (1425)
Kinburn, Ontario
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1944‑11‑19
Spitfire (PV245)
Montreal, Quebec
Lieutenant General
Prisoner of War
1942‑07‑26
Spitfire (BL964)
Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1944‑09‑27
Spitfire (MJ884)
Winnipeg, Manitoba (parents)
Flight Lieutenant
Prisoner of War
1943‑11‑29
Spitfire (MJ169)
 
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Prisoner of War
1944‑11‑19
Spitfire (PL204)
Metigham, Nova Scotia
Warrant Officer 1st Class
Prisoner of War
 
Spitfire ()
Edmonton, Alberta
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1945‑02‑22
Spitfire (PL252)
Lethbridge, Alberta (parents)
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1944‑05‑10
Spitfire (MK853)
Sackville, New Brunswick
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1941‑11‑08
Spitfire (W3952)
Vancouver, British Columbia (parents)
Squadron Leader
unknown
1953‑07‑26
Sabre ()
Rothesay, New Brunswick
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1945‑01‑01
Spitfire (MJ877)
Cowansville, Quebec (parents)
Wing Commander
Killed in Flying Accident
1949‑04‑21
Expeditor (1425)
Ottawa, Ontario
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Flying Accident
1960‑04‑29
Mitchell (5220)
Moose Range, Sasaktchewan
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1944‑12‑31
Spitfire (PT964)
Oliver, British Columbia
Wing Commander
Killed in Action
1943‑01‑17
Spitfire (BS135)
St Williams, Ontario
Flying Officer
Prisoner of War
1944‑12‑05
 ()
 
Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action
1942‑04‑10
Spitfire (AD305)
Toronto, Ontario
Sergeant
unknown
1963‑12‑26
 ()
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Flying Officer
Killed in Flying Accident
1949‑04‑21
Expeditor (1425)
Point Claire, Quebec
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1943‑06‑12
Spitfire (EE720)
Westmount, Quebec
Flying Officer
Killed in Flying Accident
1960‑04‑29
Mitchell (5220)
London, Ontario
Pilot Officer
Killed in Flying Accident
1941‑08‑31
Spitfire (P8586)
Carleton Place, Ontario
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑09‑27
Spitfire (NH189)
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑11‑19
Spitfire (PL130)
Lachine, Quebec
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1943‑05‑07
Spitfire (EE747)
Montreal, Quebec
Wing Commander 
Survived
1943‑07‑27
Spitfire (EN784)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1944‑03‑04
Spitfire (MJ306)
Montreal, Quebec
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1942‑08‑05
Spitfire (AA868)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Warrant Officer 1st Class
Killed in Action
1943‑06‑07
Spitfire (AA746)
Ottawa, Ontario
Flight Lieutenant
Prisoner of War
1944‑05‑10
Spitfire (MH617)
London, Ontario
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑06‑17
Spitfire (MJ384)
Regina, Saskatchewan
Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action
1942‑08‑05
Spitfire (BL859)
Toronto, Ontario
Flight Lieutenant
Prisoner of War
1945‑01‑20
Spitfire (PL186)
 
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1941‑12‑11
Spitfire (AD291)
Washington, DC USA
Pilot Officer
Prisoner of War
1942‑04‑25
Spitfire (BL784)
Alliston, Ontario
Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action
1943‑06‑07
Spitfire (AR521)
Camrose, Alberta
Flying Officer
Prisoner of War
1945‑01‑20
Spitfire (PV352)
 
Squadron Leader
Killed in Action
1942‑03‑24
Spitfire (BL471)
Regina, Saskatchewan
Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action
1942‑04‑12
Spitfire (BL643)
Capreol, Ontario
Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action
1942‑11‑25
Spitfire (BL820)
Schomberg, Ontario
Civilian
Killed in Flying Accident
1949‑04‑21
Expeditor (1425)
Toronto, Ontario
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1942‑12‑12
Spitfire (BL765)
Toronto, Ontario
Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action
1941‑11‑08
Spitfire (AD270)
Fort St John, British Columbia
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1945‑05‑03
Spitfire (MK827)
Elmhurst, Illinois, USA
Leading Aircraftman
Killed in Flying Accident
1960‑04‑29
Mitchell (5220)
Ottawa, Ontario
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1943‑06‑17
Spitfire (AR522)
Edmonton, Alberta
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑10‑01
Spitfire (ML351)
Didsbury, Alberta
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1943‑11‑29
Spitfire (MJ331)
London, Ontario
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑08‑12
Spitfire (MJ485)
Tottenham, Ontario
Pilot Officer
Prisoner of War
1944‑06‑28
Spitfire (MH754)
Langley, British Columbia
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1942‑04‑24
Spitfire (W3900)
Cupar, Saskatchewan
Sergeant
Killed in Action
1941‑08‑02
Spitfire (X4176)
Chatham, Ontario
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1942‑11‑28
Spitfire (AD411)
Ottawa, Ontario
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action
1944‑08‑19
Spitfire (MJ844)
St Lambert, Quebec
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1945‑06‑10
Spitfire (SM414)
Toronto, Ontario
Flying Officer
Prisoner of War
1944‑05‑11
Spitfire (MJ136)
 
Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Flying Accident
1949‑04‑21
Expeditor (1425)
Toronto, Ontario
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑06‑29
Spitfire (MH885)
Long Island, New York, USA
Flying Officer 
Prisoner of War
1945‑01‑20
Spitfire (MJ312)
 
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1942‑07‑19
Spitfire (BL825)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Flight Lieutenant
Prisoner of War
1942‑03‑24
Spitfire (BL245)
Westmount, Quebec
Pilot Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑08‑25
Spitfire (MK576)
Peterborough, Ontario
Flying Officer
Killed in Action
1944‑02‑14
Spitfire (MH734)
Hamilton, Ontario

© Canadian Warplane Heritage 2024

To search on any page:
PC — Ctrl-F
Mac — ⌘-F
Mobile — or …