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Nickname: North Atlantic
Formed as a Bomber unit at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 5 September 1939. Mobilized on the 10th, and redesignated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Wapiti, Digby and Liberator aircraft on East Coast anti-submarine duty. It established a record with attacks on 22 U-boats, including 3 sinkings, and won the proud but unofficial, title "North Atlantic Squadron." The squadron was disbanded at Torbay, Newfoundland on 15 August 1945. Chronology
Chronology
Formed as No. 10 (B) Sqn, Halifax, N.S. 5 Sep 39. Mobilized 10 Sep 39. Redesignated No. 10 (BR) Sqn 31 Oct 39. Disbanded at Torbay, Nfld. 15 Aug 45.
Representative Aircraft
- Westland Wapiti
- Unit Code PB; Wapiti Mk IIA (Sept 1939 - May 1940) 509, 513, 535, 544
- Douglas Digby
- Unit Code 39-42 PB, 42 JK Digby (May 1940 - Apr 1943) 739 P, 740 R, 745 W, 748 PB-V, 751 Y, 755 J, 756 M
- Consolidated Liberator
- Unit Code JK; Liberator Mk III,V and G.R. Mk VI (Apr 1943 - Jun 1945) 586 A, 587 B, 588 C, 589 D, 590 G, 591 K, 592 F, 593 J, 594 P, 595 X, 596 Y, 597 L, 598 Q, 599 R, 600 N, 3704 Z, 3706 W, 3707 M, 3713 E, 3726 G, 3732 P, 3734 H, 3735 L, 3736 D, 3738 T, 3739 S, 3742 A
Operational History
- First Mission 17 June 1940, Digby 744 from the Gander Detachment with S/L Carscallen and crew - anti-submarine patrol. returned early, failing light.
- First Completed Mission 3 July 1940, Digby 757 PB-K from Dartrnouth with F/O A. Laut and crew - harbour entrance patrol over Bedford Basin (Halifax).
- Last Mission 26 May 1945, Liberator 599 "R" from Torbay with F/0 W.W. Adshead and crew - escort of convoy ONSSO (33 merchantmen, 4 escorts).
Summary
Sorties: 3414.
Operational/Non-operational Flying Hours: 30,331/7976.
Victories:
- U-Boat 30 October 1942, Digby 747 "X" from Gander with F/L D.F. Raymes and crew - returning from patrol of convoy ON140, sank U-520 with four 250-pound depth charges at 4747N 495OW. This was the squadron's seventh attack and Eastern Air Command's third kill.
- 19 September 1943, Liberator 586 "A" from Gander with F/L R.F. Fisher and crew - returning to Gander from Iceland after escorting Prime Minister Churchill (returning in HMS Ronown from the Quebec Conference ONS18) sank U-341 at 584ON 253OW, Eastern Air Command's fifth kill.
- 26 October 19431 Liberator 586 "A" from Gander with F/L R.M. Aldwinkle and crew - convoy escort: sank U-420 at 5049N 4101W after an hour-long engagement, Eastern Air Command's sixth and last kill.'
Casualties: Operational: 7 aircraft; 25 aircrew, of whom 24 were killed or missing, 1 wounded. Non-operational: 27 fatal (including 3 drowned), 6 non-fatal.
Honours and Awards
24 DFC'S, 6 AFC'S, 1 CM, 1 AFM, 3 BEM'S, 33 MiD's.
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