History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Spitfire Mks. IIA, IIB, VB, VC, IX, IXB, XIVE, XVI)

No. 416 Squadron was the 15th RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the sixth fighter squadron, and was formed at Peterhead, Scotland on 22 November 1941. The unit flew Supermarine Spitfire aircraft of various marks as part of the defence of Great Britain, and also undertook offensive operations into Europe. The squadron formed part of the Second Tactical Air Force. After D-Day, the squadron moved to France on June 16, 1944 and thereafter moved with the land forces through France, the Low Countries and Germany, as a fighter and ground attack unit. After the termination of hostilities, the squadron remained in Germany as part of the British Air Forces of Occupation until it was disbanded at Utersen, Germany on 21 March 1946.

In the course of hostilities, the squadron claimed 75 enemy aircraft destroyed, 3 probables and37 damaged, for the loss of 42 aircraft and 35 pilots, of whom 19 were killed or missing, 13 were POW (1 escapee) and 1 evaded capture. In the ground attack role, the squadron destroyed 286 motor vehicles, 13 locomotives and other miscellaneous targets. Two of the pilots (Flight Lieutenant D.E. Noonan, DFC and Squadron Leader F.H. Boulton, DFC) were aces with at least 5 enemy aircraft shot down. Awards to squadron personnel were 1 Bar to DFC, 11 DFCs, 1 DFM, 1 DFC (USA) and 1 Flying Cross (Netherlands). Battle Honours were: 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.

Maps for Movements of 416 Squadron 1941-46

MAP 1: 416 Squadron Movements in Britain 1941-44 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)

MAP 2: 416 Squadron Movements in Britain: Detail of Map 1

MAP 3: 416 Squadron Movements in Europe 1944-46

416 Squadron History Summary 1941-45

416 Squadron History Summary 1941-45 Page 2

416 Squadron History Summary 1941-45 Page 3

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Mustang, Sabre Mk 2, 5, 6, Canuck, Voodoo, Hornet)

The squadron was re-formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands, Ontario on 8 January 1951 with Mustang and, later, Canadair Sabre aircraft of different marks. The squadron joined No. 2 (Fighter) Wing at Grostenquin, France in September 1952. In 1956, it was decided to replace one Sabre squadron in each of No. 1 Air Division Europe’s four wings with an all-weather fighter unit. When No. 423 AW(F) Squadron arrived from Canada, No. 416 was deactivated on 31 January 1957 and reactivated as All-Weather (Fighter) at St Hubert, Quebec on 1 February, and flew Avro Canada CF-100 (Canuck) aircraft on North American air defence. Pending re-equipment with CF-101 (Voodoo) aircraft, the unit was again deactivated on 1 September 1961. Reactivated at Bagotville, Quebec on 1 January 1962, it subsequently moved to Chatham, New Brunswick in November, where it flew the interceptor 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 McDonnell-Douglas CF-18s (Hornet), and later merged with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron to re-form No. 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron in 2006.