| 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron | ||
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Squadron badge |
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| Information | ||
| Role | Search and Rescue | |
| Aircraft Operated | CH-146 Griffon, C-130 Hercules | |
| Home Station | CFB Trenton | |
| Motto | "Castigandos castigamus" - We chastise those who deserve to be chastised | |
| History | ||
| Date Founded | 15 October 1942 | |
| Badge | Heraldric Tiger | |
| Notable Battle Honours | English Channel and North Sea 1944-1945 , Baltic 1944-1945, Fortress Europe 1943-1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, Biscay Ports 1943-1944,
Ruhr 1943-1945, Berlin 1944, German Ports 1943-1945, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1943-1944, Sicily 1943, Italy 1943, Salerno |
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424 "City of Hamilton" Transport and Rescue Squadron (Tiger) is a search and rescue/transport squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of 9 Hangar with 8 Wing CFB Trenton.
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No. 424 Squadron was originally a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) bomber squadron formed on 15 October 1942 at RAF Topcliffe, England with Wellingtons.[1] On 1 January 1943 it joined No. 6 Group RCAF and took part in night bombing raids on Germany until 16 April 1943. It was then transferred to North Africa for attacks on Italian targets for three months and stationed in Tunisia during that time[2]. Returning to the United Kingdom it was equipped with Halifaxes for a year and after January 1945 with Lancasters. During this period it was also known as No. 424 (Tiger) Squadron[3]. As a RCAF bomber unit it was disbanded on 15 October 1945.
On April 15, 1946, the squadron was reformed at RCAF Station Hamilton as the 424 Light Bomber Squadron (Auxiliary). On September 19, 1952, the squadron was given the title "City of Hamilton" designation. The squadron was disbanded for a second time on March 31, 1964.
The third reincarnation took place on July 8, 1968 when the 424 Communications and Rescue Squadron was created at CFB Trenton, where they remain today.
The 424 squadron today is responsible for search and rescue operations in the Trenton Search and Rescue Region (Quebec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces and the entire Arctic). The squadron also provides transport capabilities in the region. The squadron is equipped with the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and the CH-146 Griffon Helicopter. The Griffon replaced the CH-149 Cormorant helicopter in 2005 as the main rotary wing SAR aircraft.