| 162 Osprey Squadron RCAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942-1945 |
| Disbanded | August 7, 1945 |
| Country |
 Canada |
| Allegiance |
Canada |
| Branch |
 Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role | Bomber Reconnaissance |
| Part of | Eastern Air Command, RAF Coastal Command |
| Nickname(s) | Osprey |
| Motto(s) | Sectabimur usque per ima. (We will hunt them even through the lowest deeps) |
| Engagements | |
| Battle honours | North-West Atlantic[1] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Consolidated Canso |
Formed as a Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada on 19 May 1942 with Canso A aircraft, the squadron spent an uneventful eighteen months on East Coast anti-submarine duty. In January 1944 it was lent to RAF Coastal Command and stationed at RAF Reykjavik, Iceland to cover the mid-ocean portion of the North Atlantic shipping route.
During June and July, the squadron operated from RAF Wick, Scotland and scored a series of brilliant successes by sinking four German submarines, and sharing a fifth, that were attempting to break through the North Transit Area to attack the Allied D-Day invasion fleet. In one of these engagements Flt Lt D.E. Hornell won the Victoria Cross for attacking and sinking U-1225 despite withering anti-aircraft fire from the U-boat.
I just edited this shit
No. 162 Squadron is notable because it was one of the few squadrons that was not renumbered in the 400-series for overseas deployment as were most RCAF units.
No. 162(BR) Squadron was the RCAF's most successful anti-submarine squadron during the Second World War with five U-boats destroyed, one shared sinking and one U-boat damaged.
The squadron flew the Canso during its entire operational career. From the beginning of operations until the end of the war, the squadron flew 2100 sorties and lost 6 aircraft.
The Squadron was disbanded at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 7 August 1945.
A Canso at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is restored in the markings and colors of No. 162 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force The museum is located in Hamilton, Ontario.
References[]
External links[]
- canadianwings.com - History of No. 162 Squadron
- uboat.net - The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - Consolidated PBY-5A Canso
The original article can be found at No. 162 Squadron RCAF and the edit history here.