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Key events in the unit's wartime history are as follows:
- 15 Oct 42 Formation at Dishforth, Yorkshire as the 7th RCAF bomber
Squadron and equipped with Wellington III's.
- 16 Nov 42 1st casualty. P/O W.G. Laut (Bracebridge, Ontario)
killed while on a training mission with 425 (Alouette) Squadron.
- 14/15 Jan 43 1st bombing operation - target Lorient, France.
P/O G. Milne (Calgary, Alberta) and crew were lost.
- 14/15 Feb 43 1st Commanding Officer, W/C S.S. Blanchard (Edmonton,
Alberta) and his crew shot down by night fighter while returning from a
raid on Cologne.
- 8 Jun 43 Relocated to Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire. 1st Canadian
Squadron to be assigned Lancaster aircraft.
- 17/18 Aug 43 lst operation utilizing Lancaster IIs on a raid
to Peenemunde. Commanding Officer W/C L. Crooks (RAF) and crew shot down
by night fighter.
- 19 Nov 43 "Thunderbird" badge presented to Squadron.
- Apr 44 Conversion to Halifax IIIs.
- 1/2 May 44 Last operation on Lancasters with raid on marshalling
yards at St. Ghislan, Belgium.
- 7 May 44 1st operation on Halifaxes - target coastal guns at
St. Valery en Caux, France.
- 17/18 Jun 44 1st operation with Halifax VIIs - target V-1 supply
site, Oisement-Neuville, France.
- 25 Apr 45 Last bombing operation, target Wangeroose. W02 J.C.
Tuplin (Summerside, PEI) and crew were lost.
- 24 May 45 Last official day as a bomber unit.
- 25 May 45 Redesignated as a Transport Squadron within No.4(RAF)Transport
Group and relocated to Driffield, Yorkshire.
- Statistics:
- operational 27 months, 268 missions,
3240 sorties
- 579 casualties, 426 aircrew members killed (112 no known grave, 314
buried in 49 cemeteries in seven countries)
- 91 aircraft lost (20 Wellingtons, 33 Lancasters, 38 Halifaxes) 191 personnel
awarded 198 decorations
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