Home » The Squadrons » 1 -100 Series Squadrons »
Formed as a Fighter unit at Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario on 2 January 1942, the squadron flew Kittyhawk aircraft on West Coast air defence. From March to September 1943 it was part of the RCAF reinforcement to the United States Army Air Forces in Alaska, and completed two tours of offensive operations against Japanese forces on Kiska Island in the Aleutians. Selected in late 1943 as one of six home fighter units for overseas duty, it was renumbered No. 442 (Fighter) Squadron at Digby, Lincolnshire, England on 8 February 1944.
Representative Aircraft
- North American Harvard
- Unit Code Jan-May '42 BF, Jun-Oct '42 YA; Harvard Mk I (Jan 1942 - Feb 1943) 2996, 3238 YA-F, 3239
- Curtiss Kittyhawk
- Unit Code Jan-May '42 BF, Jun-Oct '42 YA; Kittyhawk Mk I (Feb 1942 - Dec 1943) 1050 B, 1053 K, 1059 YA-K, 1063 H, 1064 D, 1068 T, 1072 M 1080 YA-O
- Curtiss Warhawk
- Unit Code Nil; P-40K-1 Warhawk (Jul 1943 - Dec 1943) USAAC aircraft 42-45003, 42-45004, 42-45944, 42-45945, 42-45921, 42-45951, 42-45952, 42-45954, 42-45977
Operational History
First Mission 18 June 1942, 4 Kittyhawks from Sea Island - search for 2 unidentified aircraft reported 15 miles southeast of Victoria. No aircraft sighted.
Offensive Missions:
- 18 April 1943, 4 Kittyhawks from Amchitka, each armed with a 500-pound bomb, dive-bombed and strafed the main Japanese camp on Kiska. Anti-aircraft fire was light; all aircraft returned safely.
- 26 April 1943, 12 Kittyhawks from Amchitka, on the first all-Canadian mission, dive-bombed a radar installation on Kiska; no direct hits observed.
Last Mission 21 November 1943, 2 Kittyhawks from Boundary Bay - dawn patrol.
Summary
- Sorties: 190 in 30 missions against Kiska. Details of other sorties unavailable.
- Operational/Non-operational Flying Hours: 813/6803.
- Victories: nil.
- Casualties: Operational: nil. Non-operational: 7 aircraft; 7 pilots killed
- Honours & Awards: 8 Air Medals (USA), 2 MiD's
Back to Top