407 Long Range Patrol Squadron

407 Long Range Patrol Squadron
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; Arabian Sea;
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 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.

History[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Citations[edit]

^ Government of Canada, National Defence (9 March 2005). "407 Maritime Patrol Squadron". www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
^ 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[edit]

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[edit]

[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.

[1]

[2]

v t e Royal Canadian Air Force units
Wings	1 Wing Kingston 2 Wing Bagotville 3 Wing Bagotville 4 Wing Cold Lake 5 Wing Goose Bay 8 Wing Trenton 9 Wing Gander 12 Wing Shearwater 14 Wing Greenwood 15 Wing Moose Jaw 16 Wing Borden 17 Wing Winnipeg 19 Wing Comox 22 Wing North Bay
Squadrons	21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron 42 Radar Squadron 51 Aerospace Control and Warning Operational Training Squadron 103 Search and Rescue Squadron 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron 402 Squadron 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron 405 Long Range Patrol Squadron 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron 412 Transport Squadron 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron 414 Electronic Warfare Support Squadron 415 Long Range Patrol Force Development Squadron 417 Combat Support Squadron 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron 426 Transport Training Squadron 429 Transport Squadron 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron 436 Transport Squadron 437 Transport Squadron 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 439 Combat Support Squadron 440 Transport Squadron 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron 444 Combat Support Squadron 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
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