242 RCAF in BOF

[VonWaffen]

Ok Here some explanation about RCAF
The first RCAF formation coming from Canada to set foot in the UK was not number 1 but Number 110 Army Cooperation Squadron under squad leader W.D.Van Vliet on 25 feb 1940 , a second army Cooperation Squadron Number 112 arrive at the end of may...
The number 1 (RCAF) Squadron under the command of squad. leader E.A McNab disembarking on 20 june..coincidale with the fall of France..
Number 1 Squadron consisting of 115 auxiliary Squadron of Montreal merged at the outbreak of the war with Number 1 .
They were Canadian Permanent Force Squadron and not Oversea unit.
Number 1 is a early squadron numbers who have a history going back to the post-First World War Canadian Air Force which disbanded in 1920. These units were formed after the creation of the RCAF in 1924.
The 100-series squadrons
Established in Canada in the 1930s most of these units were either disbanded or reassigned a 400 series number for overseas service

The 400-series squadrons
During the Second World War, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan set out co-operation between the various British Commonwealth air forces. Under Article XV of the plan, RCAF squadrons were attached to and/or formed within British RAF operational formations. These squadrons were known as 'Article XV squadrons'. To avoid confusion with squadron numbers of other Commonwealth squadrons, RCAF units were assigned squadron numbers from 400-449. Not all squadrons up No. 449 were formed, however. This squadron series continued through the post-war years, and the majority of current Royal Canadian Air Force operational squadrons are still numbered in the 400s due to their legacy as wartime units. For this historical reason current squadrons are listed here with their original RCAF names.



No. 400 Squadron RCAF
No. 401 Squadron RCAF
No. 402 Squadron RCAF
No. 403 Squadron RCAF
No. 404 Squadron RCAF
No. 405 Squadron RCAF
No. 406 Squadron RCAF
No. 407 Squadron RCAF
No. 408 Squadron RCAF
No. 409 Squadron RCAF
No. 410 Squadron RCAF
No. 411 Squadron RCAF
No. 412 Squadron RCAF
No. 413 Squadron RCAF
No. 414 Squadron RCAF
No. 415 Squadron RCAF
No. 416 Squadron RCAF
No. 417 Squadron RCAF
No. 418 Squadron RCAF
No. 419 Squadron RCAF
No. 420 Squadron RCAF
No. 421 Squadron RCAF

No. 422 Squadron RCAF
No. 423 Squadron RCAF
No. 424 Squadron RCAF
No. 425 Squadron RCAF
No. 426 Squadron RCAF
No. 427 Squadron RCAF
No. 428 Squadron RCAF
No. 429 Squadron RCAF
No. 430 Squadron RCAF
No. 431 Squadron RCAF
No. 432 Squadron RCAF
No. 433 Squadron RCAF
No. 434 Squadron RCAF
No. 435 Squadron RCAF
No. 436 Squadron RCAF
No. 437 Squadron RCAF
No. 438 Squadron RCAF
No. 439 Squadron RCAF
No. 440 Squadron RCAF
No. 441 Squadron RCAF
No. 442 Squadron RCAF
No. 443 Squadron RCAF

The 600-series squadrons

During the Second World War pilots who served in the 600-series RCAF squadrons were recruited from the Royal Canadian Artillery in England and Italy, and trained to fly at 22 E.F.T.S. Cambridge (England), completing their operational flying training at 43 O.T.U. (RAF Andover). Observers were trained at Larkhill (England); these were selected 'Other Ranks' from the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Artillery. The three Canadian 'Air Observation Post' squadrons operated under the command of 70 Group, RAF Fighter Command; the first two squadrons saw action while serving with 84 Group, Second Tactical Air Force.

John Maybe you should read more about RCAF ....
Here a Amazing book were you can learn many thing about it..

All the fine young eagleS
"in the cockpit with Canada,s second world war fighter pilot"
By Lieutenant-Colonel David L Bashow
Canadian Fighter Pilot and Staff Officer
Queen university centre for international Relation
USAF/GAF Fighter Weapons instructor school
And U.S Navy Fighter Weapon School (Top Gun)


Well who I should Believe ? Him or You ????

[VonWaffen]

By the way 242 RCAF Squadron was later deCanadianized and not transform as a 400 serie...

Cheers
Eric
CFB StJean
National defence Canada....

[Bill Walker]

Originally Posted by VonWaffen

The point is all Canadian Squadron even with the RAF appellation was in fact establish by RCAF

No. The RAF squadrons were created by the RAF.

, pay by RCAF ,

No. RCAF member salaries were paid by the Canadian government. RAF members, including Canadians in RAF uniforms, were paid by the UK government. Initially the aircraft and stores were solely paid for by the UK government. Later in the war the Canadian government paid part of these costs for the 400 series squadrons. They never paid any equipment costs for RAF Squadrons, including those with RCAF members, like 242 Squadron.

and the Propriety of RCAF as a sovereign country and in any way the propriety a Britain , even at the beginning of the war..

No. Everything in 242 Squadron, from the aircraft down to the pencils on the clerk's desk, was the property of the UK government. In the 400 series Squadrons the aircraft down to the pencils were also always property of the UK government, even when partly funded by the Canadian government.

Do the appellation Canadian squadron... Even if some call them RAF , they are no mistake to call them RCAF at all

No. It is a mistake. 242 Squadron was an RAF unit. UK founded, UK funded, UK directed.

The base library at St. Jean used to have several copies of "There Shall Be Wings" by Leslie Roberts. You should read it. In particular, look at Chapters 10 and 11, which cover the issues we are discussing here.

[VonWaffen]

Bill... I never say RAF member ,RAF planes or even pencil were pay by RCAF ???
Maybe we should throw all these books in the Bin loll
I will read this one if you read Lt Col David L Bashow "All the fine young eagle"

[John Vasco]

VonWaffen,
I have reached the conclusion that the sole purpose of this thread is for you to shit-stir on here in order to promulgate your distorted, and incorrect, view concerning 242 (Canadian) Fighter Squadron, RAF, to give it its correct title.

While you nationalistic pride is to be admired, it is to be deplored when you try to foist upon others the notion that 242 Squadron in 1940 was 242RCAF.

Bill Walker, in post #23, has more than adequately covered all the salient points regarding 242 Squadron, RAF.

I think it is time for you to gracefully retire from this debate and admit defeat...

[VonWaffen]

John I never try to make a fight about 242 , I was here for a pic of a plane...
Everything write in my post can be read in that book...
no were in the book RAF 242 Squadron can be read, RCAF 242 can , those are not my words but Lt Col Bashow one...however it seems to be a very serious book on any other aspect
Sorry if this bring controversy about 242 Squadron , it was not my goal...
regard
Eric

[John Vasco]

"...Everything write in my post can be read in that book..." That is not in dispute. That has nothing to do with your claim that 242 was RCAF in 1940.

"...no were in the book RAF 242 Squadron can be read, RCAF 242 can..." If this is what one person says, then I would counter with the words of Bill Walker in post #274: "...No. It is a mistake. 242 Squadron was an RAF unit. UK founded, UK funded, UK directed..."

You really won't let go, will you, while claiming innocence and still stating your case strongly.

Do you really think we are all daft...?

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by Kutscha

Was the whole compliment of 242 Squadron Canadian or was it just the pilots?

I ask again.

[Bill Walker]

From memory, the pilots were mostly Canadian, mostly in RAF uniforms. The ground crew and admin staff would have been straight RAF, which might have included a few Canadians in RAF uniforms.

We need to keep in mind that at this time Canadians were all British subjects, and traveled abroad with a British passport. RAF records at the time did not always identify Canadians as such.

[Kutscha]

Thanks Bill.

So to say that 242 was a Canadian squadron is utter nonsense as the personnel of the squadron were mostly British.