| 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron | ||
|---|---|---|
Squadron badge |
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| Information | ||
| Role | Tactical Helicopter | |
| Aircraft flown | de Havilland DH.60 Moth, Blackburn Shark, Armstrong Whitworth Atlas, Westland Lysander, Grumman Goblin, P-40 Kittyhawk MkI, Hawker Hurricane MkIV, Hawker Typhoon MkIB, North American Harvard, de Havilland Vampire, Canadair T-33 Silver Star, Canadair Sabre, Beechcraft Expeditor, CSR-123 Otter, CH-136 Kiowa, CH-146 Griffon | |
| Wing | 1 Wing | |
| Base | CFB Montreal | |
| Motto | Going down | |
| Call Sign | Wildcats | |
| History | ||
| Date founded | 1 September 1934 | |
| Badge | The head of a wildcat affronte. The 438 Squadron badge features a wildcat, representing the squadron's nickname. Its motto: "Going Down" is taken from the final instruction of the formation leader when Typhoon bombers of his unit were about to attack. | |
| Notable Battle Honours | Fortress Europe 1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, Normandy 1944, Arnhem, Rhine | |
| Previous Designation | No.18 Bomber (Non-Permanent) Squadron|No.118 Fighter Squadron | |
438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter from CFB St. Hubert in Quebec, Canada. Its tasks include transport, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and support to local law enforcement.
The motto Going Down was adopted during the Second World War when operating on Hawker Typhoons over occupied Europe. This was the flight leader's instruction to begin diving attacks with bombs and/or cannons.
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Authorized at Montreal Quebec on September 1, 1934 as 18 Squadron. It was renumbered 118 Squadron on November 17, 1937. In its pre-war years, the unit flew the de Havilland DH.60 Moth.
A book was written and published on the history of the Squadron: Le 438e Escadron tactique d'hélicoptères 1934-2009 by Jerry Fielden and Michel Pratt was published in August 2010.
Still then numbered as 118 (Fighter) Squadron, the unit moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in October 1939 as the only operational fighter squadron on the east coast of Canada. On January 16, 1942, two squadron Kittyhawks spotted and attacked a surfaced German U-boat barely 10 miles from Halifax. F/O W.P. Roberts flying Kittyhawk AK851 was able to fire six bursts and obtain a number of hits around the conning tower. Embarking for Europe on November 2, 1943, the unit was renumbered 438. 438 Squadron was part of 2TAF's 143 Wing RCAF.
Aircraft operated:
Aircraft operated: