Alexander, John (Sergeant)

413 Sqn Ad Vigilamus Undis ("Tusker")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Catalina I, IB, IV)

The squadron was formed as the eleventh RCAF squadron created overseas in WWII. It was formed in Stranraer, Scotland on July 1, 1941 as a flying boat General Reconnaissance unit, flying Catalina aircraft on reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols. It flew from Stranraer and from Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands. In March 1942 it was hurriedly sent to the Far East, to Koggala in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) , and was pressed into service to maintain reconnaissance to watch for the Japanese fleet that was thought to be on the way to attack Ceylon. Indeed, the fleet was detected by Squadron Leader L.J. Birchall on April 4, 1942 and the defenders in Ceylon were alerted so that the invasion did not take place. S/L Birchall was awarded the DFC for his operation, on which he was shot down and taken as a POW. The squadron remained in Ceylon, with outposts at different locations in the Indian Ocean until January 1945. The squadron personnel were returned to England by sea, and the squadron was disbanded at Bournemouth, England on February 23, 1945.

In the course of operations the squadron logged over 11,500 operational hours for the loss of 3 aircraft, with 27 aircrew being killed, missing or POW. Squadron members were awarded 1 DSO, 4 DFCs, 2 AFCs and 1 MiD. Battle Honours were: Atlantic 1941-43, Ceylon 1942, Eastern Waters 1942-44.Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin

Maps for Movements of 413 Squadron 1941-45

MAP 1: 413 Squadron Movements 1941-45(right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)

MAP 2: 413 Squadron Bases in the Indian Ocean 1942-45

413 Squadron History Summary 1941-45

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Lancaster X, Mitchell II, Canso A, Norseman, Sabre II & V, Canuck, Labrador, Hercules, Cormorant)

Re-created at RCAF Rockcliffe, Ontario on April 1, 1947, it took over the duties of No. 13 (Photographic) Squadron, flying Avro Lancaster X, North American Mitchell II, Consolidated Canso A and Noorduyn Norseman aircraft. It operated in this photographic role until November 1, 1950, when it was disbanded.

The squadron re-formed again on August 1, 1951, as a fighter squadron at CFB Bagotville, Quebec . Equipped with the F-86 Sabre II and V they deployed to Zweibrücken, Germany in April 1953. In 1956, it was decided to replace one Sabre squadron in each of the Air Division Europe with an all-weather fighter unit. The squadron accordingly was stood down on April 7, 1957, returned to Canada and was then reactivated on May 1 as an all-weather fighter squadron, operating the Avro CF-100 Canuck out of Bagotville. The squadron again disbanded on December 30, 1961.

The squadron was reactivated at CFB Summerside, Prince Edward Island on July 8, 1968, in its current role of a Transportation and Rescue Squadron. With the closure of Summerside, the squadron relocated to CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia on June 10, 1991. The CH-113 Labrador helicopter was used during this time. The present duties of the squadron are to conduct search and rescue and airlift throughout an 1,800,000 square mile area in eastern Canada. As the primary air search and rescue unit on Canada's East Coast, 413 Squadron crews cover an area extending from the south of Nova Scotia, north to Iqaluit on Baffin Island as far west as Quebec City and east out to the middle of the Atlantic. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Halifax (JRCC) operationally controls one Hercules and four Cormorant Aircraft for primary Search and Rescue response. 413 Squadron has crews on standby 24-hours a day to respond to marine vessels or aircraft in distress, to carry out medical evacuations, or search for missing persons year round. 413 Squadron has an intimate working relationship with the non-profit Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) in the Maritimes and Newfoundland/Labrador. Both the Hercules and the Cormorant carry out annual visits to each of the zones in the Halifax Search and Rescue Region to assist in the training of CASARA member as spotters. 413 Squadron also provides one Hercules aircraft for global strategic transport. Missions include humanitarian airlift and support of other units of the Canadian Forces. Generally the destinations are in North America, the Caribbean, or Western Europe, but could be anywhere in the world.