1 Air Division

The RCAF de Havilland Comet

National Archives of Canada

HISTORICAL RECORD
412 (T) SQUADRON
RCAF STATION UPLANDS, ONT
01 JUN 57 - 30 NOV 57

COMMAND

Command of 412 (T) Squadron was under Wing Commander WGS Miller, CD. Second-in-Command was Squadron Leader W Cunningham, CD. Squadron establishment was changed to include one additional Squadron Leader.

ROLE

Transportation duties as assigned by Air Force Headquarters and Air Transport Command Headquarters remained the role of 412 (T) Squadron.

Duties were as follows:

  1. Transportation of visiting foreign dignitaries;

  2. Transportation of the Governor General;

  3. Transportation of the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet and high government and service officials;

  4. All other transport and communication duties as assigned by ATC HQ.

  5. A weekly scheduled service flight to Montreal, Chatham and Greenwood. A weekly scheduled service flight to Great Whale and/or Knob Lake;

  6. Airspray of various defence areas;

  7. Radiological detection flights; and

  8. Air Defence Command co-ordination and training flights.

PERSONNEL

Squadron establishment as of 01 Dec 57 was 86 officers and 301 airmen. Squadron strength was 82 officers and 285 airmen.

Major personnel changes were as follows:

20105 S/L GW Webb, DFC, CD, was transferred to Staff College, Toronto, and was replaced by 20342 S/L W Cunningham, CD, as SOpsO. 20360 S/L J Marshall, CD, assumed duties as STrainO.

EQUIPMENT

Aircraft establishment was increased during the period by two Comets Mk1A and one Dakota MkIV ST. Aircraft on strength were:

1 Canadair C5 - Special Long Range Transport,

2 North Star MkI - MSI Long Range Transport,

2 Dakota MkIII - Freighter

1 Dakota MkIIIF - Freighter

1 Dakota MkIVP - Airspray

4 Dakota MkIVST - Special Transports

1 Dakota MkIVST - Detached to Colorado Springs for use by Deputy Minister of NORAD

1 Dakota MkIV - Defence Research Board

3 Expeditors Mk3TM - Special Transports

2 Mitchell MkIIIPT - Special Transports

2 Comet MkIA - Long Range Transports

OPERATIONS

Operational hours totaled 5003:50 hours; training totaled 1052:45 hours; testing and ferrying 139:30 hours for a total of 6196:05 hours as compared with a total of 5191:35 hours for the preceeding six month period and a total of 5436:10 hours for the corresponding period one year ago.

Operations of special note were as follows:

  1. Operation proceeded from Ottawa to Patrick Henry Air Force Base on 16 Oct 57 with the Queen on board.

LETTERS OF APPRECIATION

Letters of appreciation are included in Appendix "C".

PRESS RELATIONS

Press clippings are included in Appendix "D".

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs are included in Appendix "E".

NARRATIVE

A narrative report on Hon W J Browne's trip as Candas representative to the Colombo Plan Conference is included in Appendix "F".

W Cunningham S/L
for (WGS Miller) W/C
CO, 412 (T) Squadron,
Uplands, Ont