427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron

The 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) provides Canadian Special Operations Forces Command with an aviation capability to all units under its command. The squadron is based at CFB Petawawa, Ontario with a fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

History

427 started as a bomber squadron formed at Croft, England on 7 November 1942 and spent its wartime entirely in England as a part of the RCAF's Bomber Command, part of No. 6 Group. 427 flew Vickers Wellington Mk IIIs and Mk Xs from its first operational mission on 14 December 1942, a minelaying sortie to the Frisian Islands, until May of 1943 when it was relocated to Leeming. Re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk V aircraft, it flew intensely until early 1944 when it replaced its inventory with Halifax Mk III aircraft. This fleet saw the largest amount of missions, and in slightly more than a year's time, they were then replaced by Avro Lancaster bombers prior to the end of WWII. The Lancasters were used for POW repatriation until the end of May, 1946. 427 was stood down on 1 June, 1946.

1 August 1952 saw 427 stood up at RCAF Station St. Hubert (a suburb of modern day Montreal, in the province of Quebec in Canada) as 427 Fighter Squadron, flying Sabres. 7 March 1953 saw 427 as a unit in No. 3 (Fighter) Wing at Zweibrucken, Germany, flying CF-104 Starfighters (affectionately referred to as "Lawn Darts") in a nuclear strike role.

15 December 1962, 427 was stood down from its Nuclear Strike role, and two days later, was stood back up as 427 Strike Attack Squadron.

1 February 1968, unification within the Royal Canadian Armed Forces integrated 427 into the new, "Canadian Armed Forces." They were disbanded on 29 June 1970.

427 came back into existence on as 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at CFB Petawawa, where they remain today.

1 February 2006 saw command of 427 transferred to CANSOFCOM, as it took on a full-time role of special operations aviation support. Shortly thereafter, it was renamed to, "427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (SOAS)."

Aircraft Flown by 427 Squadron

* Vickers Wellington III (November 1942 - April 1943)
* Vickers Wellington X (February 1942 - May 1943)
* Handley Page Halifax V (May 1943 - February 1944)
* Handley Page Halifax III (January 1944 - March 1945)
* Avro Lancaster I/III (April 1945 - May 1946)
* Canadair (North American) F-86 Sabre
* Canadair (Lockheed) CF-104 Starfighter
* Bell 212 (Designated "CH-135 Twin Huey")
* Bell 206 (Designated "CH-136 Kiowa")
* Bell 412 (Designated "CH-146 Griffon")

Battle Honors

English Channel and North Sea 1943-1945 Baltic 1944-1945 Fortress Europe 1943-1944 France and Germany 1944-1945 Biscay 1944 Biscay Ports 1943-1944 Ruhr 1943-1945 Berlin 1943-1944 German Ports 1943-1945 Normandy 1944

See Also

• Canadian Forces (CF)
• Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)
• Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2)
• Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)
• List of Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons
• 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR)

Sources

• http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1wing/squadron/427_e.asp
• http://www.cansofcom.forces.gc.ca/en/427specialops_e.asp