No. 113 Squadron RCAF

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No. 113 Squadron RCAF
Active1937–1939, 1942–1944
Disbanded10 August 1944
Country 
Second World War
Battle honoursNorth-West Atlantic 1942–1944[1]
Insignia
Squadron CodesBT (Feb–May 1942), LM (Jun–Oct 1942), Nil (Apr 1943 – Aug 1944)
An RCAF Lockheed Hudson

No. 113 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron was a

Second World War. It was originally formed as an Army Co-operation squadron and then a fighter squadron before being disbanded in 1939 and then reformed in 1942. It was primarily used in an anti-submarine role and was based on the east coast of Canada and Newfoundland. The squadron flew the Lockheed Hudson and Lockheed Ventura before disbanding on 10 August 1944.[2]

Sinking of U-754

On 31 July 1942, Hudson 625 commanded by Squadron Leader N.E. Small was conducting a patrol in the vicinity of Sable Island when it sighted U-754 on the surface. On the first pass, the aircraft dropped depth charges just as the submarine began to dive. A second pass found the boat just under the water, apparently damaged by the depth charges. On the third pass, the aircraft fired its front guns at the boat's conning tower. The plane then observed the damaged boat for 55 minutes before an explosion seemed to finally settle the matter.[3] U-754 was sunk with all hands lost.[4] For this achievement, Small was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1943.[5]

Actions in the St. Lawrence

In September 1942, Eastern Air Command stationed a detachment of 113 Squadron aircraft at RCAF Station Chatham as the "Special Submarine Hunting Detachment" in order to provide air cover for convoys in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. U-boats had begun to infiltrate the St. Lawrence that May, and had already scored some notable victories without a loss, however, the increased air cover allowed Canadian forces to mount a vigorous anti-submarine defense. The first attack by a 113 Squadron aircraft on a U-boat took place near Anticosti Island on 9 September, when Pilot Officer R.S. Keetley and his crew dove in on U-165, but did not cause any critical damage. On 16 September, Keetley launched an attack on U-517, but despite getting a depth charge lodged on its deck, the U-boat escaped unharmed. On 24–25 September, 113 Squadron registered three attacks on seven sightings on U-517, plus a further attack on 29 September. Despite considerable damage from these attacks, both U-517 and U-165 departed the Gulf. Flying Officer M.J. Bélanger, who had conducted three of the last four attacks on U-517 would later be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "No.113 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron". forces.gc.ca. DND Department of History and Heritage. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. ^ "No.113 Squadron". canadianwings.com. Canadian Wings. 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Attack on U-754 by Hudson 625 of 113 (BR) Squadron, July 31st, 1942". Canada in WWII. Juno Beach Centre. 2003–2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ^ "U-754". uboat.net. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  5. ISBN 1-894864-66-2
    .
  6. ^ "Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence". Veterans Affairs Canada. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
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