434 Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron

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434 Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron
Trainer
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

434 Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron is a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron that flew bombing operations over Europe during World War II and was later a post-war fighter and combat support unit. It was disbanded in 2000.[1][2] The squadron was reactivated in May 2018 as 434 Operational Test and Evaluation.

History

Second World War

The unit was first formed at

Halifax, Nova Scotia and to show its connection to the city adopted the nickname "Bluenose Squadron", the common nickname for people from Nova Scotia and a tribute to the schooner Bluenose; an image of the schooner appeared on the squadron badge.[1][2]

The squadron moved to

VE Day the squadron was earmarked for Tiger Force to carry on the war against Japan, but was never deployed to the Far East. The unit was disbanded at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on 5 September 1945.[1][2]

During

Mentions in Despatches.[2]

Postwar

CF-116 Freedom Fighters
with the schooner badge on the tail

The squadron was reformed flying the

RCAF Station Zweibrücken, West Germany on 7 March 1953, but was stood down on 16 June 1962. It was re-activated on 8 April 1963 as a Canadair CF-104 Starfighter unit in the strike/attack role and disbanded again on 1 March 1967.[1][2]

434 Operational Training Squadron formed at

419 Squadron and became an operational squadron, moving to CFB Bagotville on 15 July 1982 later to CFB Chatham in July 1985.[1][2]

The unit became 434 Composite Squadron and reformed at

electronic warfare role. The squadron was finally disbanded there in May 2000.[1][2]

The squadron was reactivated in May 2018 at CFB Trenton as a test and evaluation unit.[3]

Aircraft

Badges

  • 434 Squadron badge from the mid-1970s
    434 Squadron badge from the mid-1970s
  • CF-5 badge worn by squadron aircrew and groundcrew in the mid-1970s
    CF-5
    badge worn by squadron aircrew and groundcrew in the mid-1970s

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Department of National Defence (December 2008). "434 Squadron". Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Aeroware/RCAF.com (n.d.). "No. 434 Squadron". Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  3. ^ Canadian Aviator Magazine (1 June 2018). "Bluenose Squadron Revived". canadianaviator.com. Retrieved 2 June 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 434 Squadron RCAF.
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