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Squadron History Index

No. 422 Squadron

Nickname: Tomahawk
Motto: THIS ARM SHALL DO IT

Battle Honours:
Atlantic 1942-1945, English Channel and North Sea 1944-1945, Normandy 1944, Biscay 1944-1945, Arctic 1942

A Cubic arm holding in the hand a tomahawk. The painted arm indicates the Red Indian
Brave is at war.

The History

No. 422 Squadron formed on 2 April 1942 at Lough Erne as a flying-boat unit. It worked up with Saro Lerwicks and Consolidated Catalinas, but in November converted to Short Sunderland Mk IIIs. At first it was used as a ferry squadron, carrying Hawker Hurricane spares to the USSR, then ferrying Catalinas across the Atlantic and finally flying a mail run down the West African coast to Lagos. At the end of February 1943 it began the work for which it had formed, anti-submarine duties over the Atlantic, operating from Oban. For the most part the squadron's duties were dull and monotonous, flying for hours over the empty ocean with little action. Occasional attacks were made on U-boats, some with success, and all this time the squadron operated from bases in Northern Ireland or Scotland. In November 1944 it moved to Pembroke Dock, from where it was deployed over the Western Approaches and early in 1945 had its most frequent actions, with four U- boat attacks in four days. It continued to operate until Second World War ended in Europe. Then, in July, the squadron moved to Bassingbourn to become a transport squadron with Consolidated Liberators to support 'Tiger Force' in the Far East, but with the war ending there in August the squadron was disbanded at Bassingbourn on 3 September 1945.

No. 422 Squadron, RCAF Short Sunderland

Much of No. 422 Sqn's life as a flying- boat squadron was spent ferrying aircraft, spares and mail, although a few attacks on U-boats were made.

No. 422 Squadron reformed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 1 January 1953 with Sabre aircraft, the squadron joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in August. Selected as one of eight Sabre units in No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 15 April 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 15 July.

No. 422 Squadron, RCAF Canadair Sabre

No. 422's arm and tomahawk badge is visible on the nose of this Canadair-built Sabre. The aircraft behind include French air force P-47s and Ouragans.

On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces as a Tactical Helicopter squadron based at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick flying the CH-135 Twin Huey.

With the retirement of the CH-135 Twin Huey the squadron was deactivated.

Representative Aircraft

  • Lerwick I (July 1942 - November 1942)
  • Catalina IB/III/IV (July 1942 - November 1942)
  • Sunderland III (November 1942 - June 1945)
  • Liberator C.VI/C.VIII (August 1945 - September 1945)
  • Sabre
  • CF-104 Starfighter
  • CH-135 Twin Huey
The material above is mirrored from RCAF.com with the permission of Bob Hurst - who retains copyright to the material listed.