407 Long Range Patrol Squadron

407 Long Range Patrol Squadron (abbreviated 407 LRP Sqn, formerly 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron) is a long range and maritime patrol squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is located at 19 Wing Comox, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and operates the CP-140 Aurora.

407 Long Range Patrol Squadron
407e Escadron de patrouille à longue portée (French)
Active	1941–1945 1952–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Royal Canadian Air Force
Role	Long range patrol
Part of	19 Wing Comox
Based at	CFB Comox
Nickname(s)	Demon Squadron
Motto(s)	To hold on high
Battle honours	Atlantic, 1943–1945 English Channel and North Sea, 1941–1945 Fortress Europe, 1942 German Ports, 1942 Normandy, 1944 Biscay, 1942–1945[1] Arabian Sea[2]
Website	rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/squadron/407-squadron.page
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Bristol Blenheim Lockheed Hudson Vickers Wellington Avro Lancaster
Patrol	Lockheed CP-122 Neptune Canadair CP-107 Argus Lockheed CP-140 Aurora

407 Sqn Hudsons over the UK in 1942

History

No. 407 Coastal Strike Squadron was formed at RAF Thorney Island, England on 8 May 1941, first training on the Bristol Blenheim. It was one of seven Article XV RCAF units to serve with RAF Coastal Command.

The squadron's wartime history can be divided into two periods. From September 1941 to January 1943, the squadron operated as a "strike" squadron attacking enemy shipping with the Lockheed Hudson. It was as a strike squadron that it won its reputation and its nickname "The Demon Squadron". On 29 January 1943 it was re-designated as 407 General Reconnaissance Squadron, and for the remainder of the war it protected friendly shipping from the U-boat threat operating the Vickers Wellington.

The squadron was disbanded on 4 June 1945 following the end of the Second World War. On 1 July 1952 the squadron was reactivated at RCAF Station Comox as 407 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron flying the Avro Lancaster. On 17 July 1956 it was redesignated as a Maritime Patrol Squadron.

The squadron has served continuously in Comox since 1952 flying the Lancaster, Lockheed Neptune, and Canadair CP-107 Argus. On 28 June 1975, the squadron was presented its standard by Walter Stewart Owen, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Currently, 407 Squadron flies the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora on coastal patrol, anti-submarine and long range patrol duties. It used these aircraft to conduct operations in the Arabian Sea after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.

Squadron commanding officers

• Wing Commander H.M. Styles: May 1941 to Jan 1942
• Wing Commander A.C. Brown: Jan 1942 - Sep 1942
• Wing Commander C.F. King: Sep 1942 - Nov 1942
• Squadron Leader D.D. Weightman: Nov 1942 - Nov 1942
• Wing Commander J.C. Archer: Nov 1942 - Sep 1943
• Wing Commander D.G. Pickard: Sep 1943 - Nov 1943
• Wing Commander R.A. Ashman: Nov 1943 - Nov 1944
• Wing Commander K.C. Wilson: Nov 1944 - Jun 1945

POST WAR COMMANDERS

• Wing Commander C.W. McNeil: Jul 1952 - Sep 1954
• Wing Commander C. McLeod: Sep 1954 - Jul 1955
• Wing Commander W.D. Foster: Jul 1955 - May 1959
• Wing Commander J.C. McCarthy: May 1959 - Jul 1962
• Wing Commander L.H. Croft: Jul 1962 - Jun 1964
• Wing Commander K.O. Moore: Jun 1964 - Dec 1965
• Wing Commander H.B. Smale: Dec 1965 - Aug 1968
• Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Middleton: Aug 1968 - Jul 1971
• Lieutenant-Colonel D. Haire: Jul 1971 - Jul 1973
• Lieutenant-Colonel W.H.D. Hedges: Jul 1973 - Jul 1974
• Lieutenant-Colonel B.T. Montgomery: Jul 1974 - Sep 1976
• Lieutenant-Colonel A.A. Konings: Sep 1976 - Jul 1978
• Lieutenant-Colonel P.A. Hamilton: Jul 1978 - May 1980
• Lieutenant-Colonel B.N. Cameron: May 1980 - Aug 1982
• Lieutenant-Colonel S.W. Brygadyr: Aug 1982 - Jul 1984
• Lieutenant-Colonel T.B. Rogers: Jul 1984 - Aug 1986
• Lieutenant-Colonel R.B. Sutherland: Aug 1986 - Jul 1988
• Lieutenant-Colonel J.F. Bennet: Jul 1988 - Aug 1990
• Lieutenant-Colonel T.E. Chester: Aug 1990 - Jul 1992
• Lieutenant-Colonel P.J. Kendell: Jul 1992 - Jul 1994
• Lieutenant-Colonel G.B. Lewis: Jul 1994 - Jul 1996
• Lieutenant-Colonel Garry Rheaume: Jul 1996 - Jul 1999
• Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Szczerbaniwicz: Jul 1999 - Feb 2002
• Lieutenant-Colonel Fred Bigelow: Feb 2002 – Jul 2004
• Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Ormsby: Jul 2004 – Aug 2006
• Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Hogan: Aug 2006 – Aug 2008
• Lieutenant-Colonel Mario Leblanc: Aug 2008 – Aug 2010
• Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Robinson: Aug 2010 – Aug 2012
• Lieutenant-Colonel Jason Kenny: Aug 2012 – Aug 2014
• Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew McCorquodale: Aug 2014 - May 2016
• Major Kreager Graham: May 2016 - Aug 2016
• Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Philippe Gagnon: Aug 2016 - Aug 2018
• Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Castonguay: Aug 2018 – Aug 2020
• Lieutenant-Colonel Fil Bohac: Aug 2020 – Aug 2022
• Lieutenant-Colonel Don Jamont: Aug 2022 – Present

References

Citations

1. Government of Canada, National Defence (9 March 2005). "407 Maritime Patrol Squadron". www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
2. Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada. "Honours & Recognition for the Men and Women of the Canadian Armed Forces 2016 10th Edition" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. p. 46. Retrieved 9 January 2022.

Bibliography

407 Squadron uniform patch, probably from the 60s.

• Procter, Tom (1996). 407 Squadron History, 1941-1996. 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron Association.
• Abbott, Kim (1987). Gathering of demons : 407 Demon Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, during its first year of operations, between May 8, 1941, and June 30, 1942, when it was engaged on low level shipping attacks along the coasts of occupied Europe. Perth, Ontario: Inkerman House. ISBN 096926710X.
• LCOL Montgomery, B.T., ed. (1975). The Demon Squadron, 407 Squadron in War and Peace. CFB Comox, British Columbia: E.W. Binkle Ltd. ASIN B000PB087O.
• Canadian Department of National Defence - Honours & Recognition for the Men and Women of the Canadian Armed Forces 10th Edition - 2016. Accessed 14 March 2019

External links

• 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron website
• CAF – History of 407 Squadron
• CAF – World War II Coastal Command

• Canada portal