NO. 417 SQUADRON RCAF

'No. 417 (City of Windsor) Squadron' is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided Search and Rescue.

Contents

History

External links

History

417 Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron formed in England on 27 November, 1941. It was equipped with the Hurricane and later the Spitfire. It was initially deployed in Egypt and followed the allied advance through the western desert. With the defeat of axis forces in North Africa, the squadron followed the advance through Italy. It disbanded in Italy on July 1, 1945.
The squadron reactivated in Canada on June 1,1947 at Rivers, Manitoba. It was equipped with the Mustang for army close support training until August 1, 1948.
Reformed as a part of the Canadian Forces in 1970 it operated as an operational training squadron on the CF-104 Starfighter at CFB Cold Lake. The squadron disbanded in 1983 with the retirement of the CF-104 fleet.
On April 1, 1993 became 417 Combat Support squadron taking over the duties of the Cold Lake Base Flight equipped with the CT-133 Silver Star and UH-1 Huey. It currently operates the CH-146 Griffon helicopter.

External links

★ Canada's Air Force: 417 "City of Windsor" Combat Support Squadron