423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron
423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron (French: 423e Escadron d'hélicoptères maritimes) is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. It currently operates the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone from CFB Shearwater in Nova Scotia, Canada.
| 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active |
|
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Part of | 12 Wing |
| Nickname(s) | Eagle |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Quærimus et petimus ("We search and strike") |
| Battle honours |
|
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary colonel | Frank Wayne Adams |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge | Argent a bald-headed eagle volant proper wings displayed and inverted, legs and claws extended |
History edit
No. 423 Squadron RCAF was a World War II unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Formed in 1942 in Oban, Argyll, Scotland for General Reconnaissance duties, it later moved to RAF Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland where it flew Sunderland flying boat patrol bombers. It changed to a transport role in 1945 and was disbanded later that year. Re-formed in 1953 at RCAF Station St Hubert (now Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport) flying the CF-100 in a continental defence role, it was transferred to RCAF Station Grostenquin in 1957 where it replaced No. 416 Squadron which flew Sabres. The squadron was again disbanded in 1962 when the RCAF's CF-100s were removed from service. In 1974, it was re-formed a final time as No. 423 Anti-Submarine Squadron. In 1995 its name was changed to 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. It flew CH-124 Sea King helicopter, which it used in support of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warships during the 1991 Gulf War and in the Arabian Sea after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. It now operates the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone since January 2018.
On 30 April 2020, an RCAF CH-148 from 423 Squadron, attached to HMCS Fredericton and based at the Shearwater Heliport crashed in the Ionian Sea during a NATO Mediterranean exercise. All six crew members aboard the aircraft were killed.[2][3]
References edit
- ^ Canadian DND - Honours & Recognition for the Men and Women of the Canadian Armed Forces 10th Edition - 2016, pg 46.
- ^ Ahronheim, Anna. "Canadian military helicopter crashes during NATO exercise". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Military says remains of all 6 who died in Cyclone helicopter crash now identified". CBC News. The Canadian Press. 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- No.423 (MH) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force Shearwater Sep. 1974 – Present Retrieved April 2, 2016
- 423 Squadron History Retrieved April 2, 2016
- Canadian Wings - No. 423 Squadron Retrieved April 2, 2016
- Canadian Department of National Defence - Honours & Recognition for the Men and Women of the Canadian Armed Forces 10th Edition - 2016. Accessed 14 March 2019
External links edit
- Official website