Peterborough, Ontario
440 Beaver Squadron. Flying Officer Gibbs was dive bombing a train when his Typhoon aircraft RB 338 was hit by flak ten miles south-east of Goch, Germany. The aircraft was last seen to turn south from Goch and, at 1,500 feet, disappear into cloud with the starboard wing in flames.
Gibbs, William Robert (Flying Officer)
Killed in Action 1945-February-28
Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Parents: Son of Sidney and Ethel Gibbs, of Peterborough, Ontario.
Spouse:
Home: Peterborough, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
440 Sqn- Squadron
Ka Ganawaitak Saguenay He who protects the Saguenay: innu
Base
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/27239
Prev: R/157278
Canadian Virtual War MemorialCrew or Other Personnel
Typhoon RB338
Typhoon serial: RB338
Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (IWM Photo, MH 6864)
Hawker Typhoon Mk. IB (Serial No. RB402), coded 5V-P, of No. 439 Squadron, RCAF, landing at airfield B100, Goch, Germany, ca. 1944
Hawker Typhoon Mk. IB (Serial No. RB402), coded 5V-P, of No. 439 Squadron, RCAF, landing at airfield B100, Goch, Germany, ca. 1944
The Hawker Typhoon (Tiffy in RAF slang) is a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. It was intended to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, as a replacement for the Hawker Hurricane but several design problems were encountered and it never completely satisfied this requirement.
The Typhoon was originally designed to mount twelve .303 inch (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns and be powered by the latest 2,000 hp engines. Its service introduction in mid-1941 was plagued with problems and for several months the aircraft faced a doubtful future. When the Luftwaffe brought the formidable Focke-Wulf Fw 190 into service in 1941, the Typhoon was the only RAF fighter capable of catching it at low altitudes; as a result it secured a new role as a low-altitude interceptor.
The Typhoon became established in roles such as night-time intruder and long-range fighter. From late 1942 the Typhoon was equipped with bombs and from late 1943 RP-3 rockets were added to its armoury. With those weapons and its four 20mm Hispano autocannons, the Typhoon became one of the Second World War's most successful ground-attack aircraft.
By 1943, the RAF needed a ground attack fighter more than a "pure" fighter and the Typhoon was suited to the role (and less-suited to the pure fighter role than competing aircraft such as the Spitfire Mk IX). The powerful engine allowed the aircraft to carry a load of up to two 1,000 pounds (450 kg) bombs, equal to the light bombers of only a few years earlier. The bomb-equipped aircraft were nicknamed "Bombphoons" and entered service with No. 181 Squadron, formed in September 1942. Wikipedia
Wikipedia Hawker Typhoon
Harold A.Skaarup Web Page
YouTube Hawker Typhoon in actionUnit Desciption
440 Sqn Ka Ganawaitak Saguenay ("City of Ottawa")
History of the Squadron before and during World War II (Aircraft: Hurricane IV, Typhoon IB)
[ Note that during WWII the squadron did not have a badge nor a motto. These were awarded later.]
The squadron was formed in Vancouver on 5 October 1932 as No. 11 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron' before being redesignated No. 111 (Coast Artillery Co-Operation) Squadron on 15 November 1937. At the outbreak of the Second World War the squadron formed a detachment at Patricia Bay on Vancouver Island, before being redesignated No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron on 1 July 1940. It was disbanded on 1 February 1941 and then reformed on 3 November 1941. The squadron took part in air defence operations in Western Canada and the Aleutian Islands Campaign under Western Air Command. No 440 (F) Squadron was formed in Rockcliffe, Ontario as No. 111 (F) Squadron RCAF. .It was the third of six home squadrons transferred overseas without its aircraft, and was re-designated No. 440 (FB) Squadron RCAF at Ayr, Scotland on February 8, 1944. It flew Typhoon aircraft in the preparation for D-Day and afterwards gave close support to the ground troops by dive-bombing and strafing enemy strongpoints, bridges, and road and rail traffic. They moved with the ground troops through France, the Low Countries, and Germany. The squadron was disbanded at Flensburg, Germany on August 26, 1945.
In the course of operations, the squadron flew 4213 sorties for the loss of 38 aircraft and 32 pilots, of whom 23 were killed, 5 missing, and 3 POWs. They dropped 2215 tons of bombs and accounted for a large number of rail and road vehicles. The squadron amassed 5 DFCs. Battle Honours were: Fortress Europe 1944, France and Germany 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Arnhem, Rhine, Aleutians 1942-43. Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin
Maps for Movements of 440 Squadron 1944-45
MAP 1: 440 Squadron Movements 1944-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
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440 Squadron History Summary 1944-45
440 Squadron History Summary 1944-45 Page 2
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Canuck 3B, 4B, Buffalo, Twin Otter)
The squadron was re-formed as '440 All Weather (Fighter) Squadron' at Bagotville, Quebec 1 October 1953, flying Avro CF-100 Canuck all-weather fighters. In May 1957 it joined No. 1 Air Division Europe to replace No. 413 (F) Squadron at Zweibrucken, Germany . When the CF-100 was withdrawn from service, the squadron was disbanded on 31 December 1962.
The squadron was reactivated a final time 8 July 1968 at CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba as No. 440 Communications and Rescue Squadron with Douglas Dakotas and Vertol H-21 helicopters and redesignated as 440 Transport and Rescue Squadron in October. They later moved to CFB Namao, Alberta , just outside Edmonton where they operated de Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo and CC-138 Twin Otters. At the time, two of the Twin Otters were stationed in Yellowknife, NWT , and in 1994 after CFB Namao closed the squadron moved north to be redesignated No. 440 Transport Squadron in 1995.
The Squadron's tasks include airlift, utility and liaison flights in support of Canadian Armed Forces in the north, including support to the Canadian Rangers. Like all Royal Canadian Air Force flying squadrons, 440 Squadron can conduct search and rescue missions when requested by Joint Rescue Coordination Centres. They also conduct free fall live parachute operations, cargo delivery to troops in the field, and fishery patrols on Great Slave Lake. 440 Squadron operates four of the famous Canadian-designed and produced CC-138 Twin Otters to carry out its wide range of tasks. The Squadron operates these rugged aircraft in some of the harshest weather conditions on the planet and is the only formed RCAF unit that is based full-time in the north. The Squadron is comprised of approximately 55 members who are a mixture of Regular Force and Reserve Force members. In addition to conventional airport operations, the Squadron maintains the capability to conduct "off-airport" operations on skis in the winter and on tundra tires in the summer.