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No. 119 Squadron
Nickname: City of Hamilton, Hamilton Tigers
Motto: NOLI ME TANGERE - "Touch Me Not"
The tiger represents Hamilton, where the squadron was formed, and also symbolizes, by its springing attack, the dive bombing operations of a bomber reconnaissance unit.
Authorized as No. 19 (Bomber) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Hamilton, Ontario on 15 May 1935, the squadron commenced flying training in May 1937 when it received four Moth aircraft. It was renumbered No. 119 Squadron on 15 November 1937. Called out on voluntary full-time duty on 3 Septernber 1939, and redesignated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Bolingbroke and Hudson aircraft on anti-submarine duty over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the waters adjacent to Cape Breton Island until disbanded at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 15 March 1944.
Representative Aircraft
- deHavilland Moth
- Unit Code Nil; DH60 Moth (Nov 1937 - Jun 1938) 70, 81, 160, 167
- deHavilland Tiger Moth
- Unit Code DM; DH82C Tiger Moth (May 1938 - Oct 1939) 249, 251, 252, 279
- Fleet Fawn
- Unit Code DM; Fawn (Jun 1938 - Oct 1939) 190
- Northrop Delta
- Unit Code DM; Delta (Mar 1940 - May 1940) 670
- Bristol Bolingbroke
- Unit Code DM; Bolingbroke Mk I (Jul 1940 - Aug 1941) 702 DM-A, 703-707, 711-716
- Bristol Bolingbroke
- Unit Code DM; Bolingbroke IVM (Aug 1941 - Nov 1941) 9043 F, 9061 D, 9062 G, 9070 N, 9112 O
- Bristol Bolingbroke
- Unit Code '39-'42 DM, '42 GR; Bolingbroke IV (Nov 1941 - June 1942) 9063-9068, 9127
- Lockheed Hudson
- Unit Code GR; Hudson Mk III (Apr 1942 - Apr 1944) BW616 Y, BW622 M, BW655 R, BW657 L, BW683 H, BW688 S, BW623 J
Operational History
First Mission: 16 March 1941, 4 Bolingbroke's from Yarmouth - escort to HMS Ramillies en route to Saint John, N.B.
Last Mission: 11 March 1944, six sorties - 1 ice patrol, 3 inner anti-submarine patrols, and 2 patrols from Sydney to Port aux Basques.
Summary
Sorties: 3417
Operational/Non-operational Flying Hours: 15,792/8143.
Victories: U-boat: nil; 4 attacks on 11 sightings.
Casualties: Operational: 6 aircraft; 5 aircrew killed. Non-operational 8 aircraft; 6 aircrew killed.
Honours and Awards: 2 DFC's, 1 AFC, 1 BEM, 3 MiD's.