Canadian Hornets in Europe question

[baz1]

So if the exercise starts on the 23rd I assume they will arrive on the fri/sat before ?

I don't believe this is an exercise, I think they are just transitting through.

Could be wrong though!

5 days to transit through? strange they are coming South if they are going to Ostrovia why not stop over further north.

[slogen51]

There are different arrival dates doing the rounds , such as Friday 20 August?

[reaper493]

There are two arrival dates, one departure date.

[Yunglee]

Can anyone mention the other arrival dates (with the usual caveats that they could change/ be wrong etc)?

[baz1]

There are two arrival dates, one departure date.

oh such confusion, still dont it get Why come to Waddington when they could stop off up north and a much shorter journey to Ostrovia!?

[Philwinward]

So if the exercise starts on the 23rd I assume they will arrive on the fri/sat before ?

I don't believe this is an exercise, I think they are just transitting through.

Could be wrong though!

5 days to transit through? strange they are coming South if they are going to Ostrovia why not stop over further north.

Just wondering, are there any WW2 RCAF bomber squadron anniversaries this year that they could be attending whilst on their travels?

[tm74sqn]

Could be, but certainly fighter squadrons. Following extracted via web site https://www.petwood.co.uk/file_download ... -trail.pdf :-


ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE SQUADRONS BASED IN LINCOLNSHIRE FIGHTER COMMAND

Whilst it was not feasible for the RCAF to have its own Group within Fighter Command, of those RCAF squadrons that flew with Fighter Command, most of them flew from Lincolnshire at one time or another.

In December 1940, No. 112 (City of Winnipeg) RCAF Squadron arrived at RAF Digby, later to become No. 2 RCAF Squadron. With the arrival of No. 1 RCAF Squadron, these two squadrons were allocated new numbers from the 400 series, and became 401 RCAF Squadron and 402 RCAF Squadron, equipped primarily with Spitfires. So began the long wartime Canadian association with Digby. On 16 September 1942, RAF Digby officially became RCAF Digby, with Group Captain A E McNab DFC RCAF as Station Commander. Group Captain McNab had done an exchange tour with 46 Squadron in the United Kingdom in the late 1930s and was just completing this tour when war broke out in 1939. He returned to Canada but came back to the UK in the summer of 1940 with No.1 Squadron of the RCAF as its Commanding Officer. This Canadian Fighter Squadron supported the RAF in the Battle of Britain and later became 401 Squadron. McNab was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his efforts in the Battle of Britain. Consequently when he became the Station Commander of RCAF Digby he was already familiar with Fighter Command and 401 Squadron. Still in existence today at Cold Lake in Alberta, 401 Squadron flies the CF-18 Hornet, Canada’s primary front line jet fighter. It is the only Squadron in the RCAF entitled to display the ‘Battle of Britain’ battle honour on its Squadron Standard. Digby had two satellite airfields at Coleby Grange and Wellingore. Most of the RCAF fighter squadrons in Lincolnshire were based at any of these three airfields during their time in Lincolnshire, including Nos. 409, 410, 411, 412, 416, 421, 438 and 439 RCAF Squadrons.

A complete RCAF Spitfire Wing, comprising Nos. 441, 442 and 443 RCAF Squadrons was formed at RCAF Digby in February 1944, moving to southern airfields the next month in preparation for the D-Day landings. Squadron Location in Lincolnshire Comments 401 Squadron Digby Formed in Lincolnshire out of No. 1 Squadron RCAF 402 Squadron Digby Formed in Lincolnshire out of No. 2 Squadron RCAF 404 Squadron Strubby Still in existence today 407 Squadron North Coates Still in existence today 409 Squadron Digby/North Coates Formed at Digby. Still in existence today 410 Squadron Coleby Grange

Still in existence today 411 Squadron Digby Formed at Digby 412 Squadron Digby/Wellingore Formed at Digby. Still in existence today. John Magee’s Squadron 415 Squadron North Coates Still in existence today 416 Squadron Digby/Wellingore 420 Squadron Waddington Formed at Waddington 421 Squadron Digby Formed at Digby 438 Squadron Digby Renumbered from 118 Squadron. 2TAFs 143 Wing RCAF. Still in existence today 439 Squadron Wellingore Renumbered from No. 123 Squadron. Still in existence today 441 Squadron Digby Renumbered from No. 125 Squadron when relocated to Digby in February 1944. Still in existence today 442 Squadron Digby Renumbered from No. 14 Squadron when relocated to Digby in January 1944. Still in existence today 443 Squadron Digby Renumbered from No. 127 Squadron when relocated to England. Still in existence today.

Hope formatting is OK. Cheers TM74

[reaper493]

Half due Friday 20th, Half due Monday 23rd, both with C-130 support.

All out Friday 27th.

[thevulcan]

Anyone know if they will be flying sorties between the 24th and 27th?

[reaper493]

Answered on bottom of page 1.

[baz1]

Half due Friday 20th, Half due Monday 23rd, both with C-130 support.

All out Friday 27th.

and how many are due??

[Hunter49]

Hi might have missed some info but where are f18s being based at during the stay.? thanks for any help ,Rob

[reaper493]

Half due Friday 20th, Half due Monday 23rd, both with C-130 support.

All out Friday 27th.

and how many are due??

6 Baz.

[Yunglee]

Half due Friday 20th, Half due Monday 23rd, both with C-130 support.

All out Friday 27th.

Thank you, much appreciated.

[baz1]

Half due Friday 20th, Half due Monday 23rd, both with C-130 support.

All out Friday 27th.

and how many are due??

6 Baz.

thank you very much Mike, hope i dont drop any.

[Philwinward]

Could be, but certainly fighter squadrons. Following extracted via web site https://www.petwood.co.uk/file_download ... -trail.pdf :-


ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE SQUADRONS BASED IN LINCOLNSHIRE FIGHTER COMMAND

Whilst it was not feasible for the RCAF to have its own Group within Fighter Command, of those RCAF squadrons that flew with Fighter Command, most of them flew from Lincolnshire at one time or another.

In December 1940, No. 112 (City of Winnipeg) RCAF Squadron arrived at RAF Digby, later to become No. 2 RCAF Squadron. With the arrival of No. 1 RCAF Squadron, these two squadrons were allocated new numbers from the 400 series, and became 401 RCAF Squadron and 402 RCAF Squadron, equipped primarily with Spitfires. So began the long wartime Canadian association with Digby. On 16 September 1942, RAF Digby officially became RCAF Digby, with Group Captain A E McNab DFC RCAF as Station Commander. Group Captain McNab had done an exchange tour with 46 Squadron in the United Kingdom in the late 1930s and was just completing this tour when war broke out in 1939. He returned to Canada but came back to the UK in the summer of 1940 with No.1 Squadron of the RCAF as its Commanding Officer. This Canadian Fighter Squadron supported the RAF in the Battle of Britain and later became 401 Squadron. McNab was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his efforts in the Battle of Britain. Consequently when he became the Station Commander of RCAF Digby he was already familiar with Fighter Command and 401 Squadron. Still in existence today at Cold Lake in Alberta, 401 Squadron flies the CF-18 Hornet, Canada’s primary front line jet fighter. It is the only Squadron in the RCAF entitled to display the ‘Battle of Britain’ battle honour on its Squadron Standard. Digby had two satellite airfields at Coleby Grange and Wellingore. Most of the RCAF fighter squadrons in Lincolnshire were based at any of these three airfields during their time in Lincolnshire, including Nos. 409, 410, 411, 412, 416, 421, 438 and 439 RCAF Squadrons.

A complete RCAF Spitfire Wing, comprising Nos. 441, 442 and 443 RCAF Squadrons was formed at RCAF Digby in February 1944, moving to southern airfields the next month in preparation for the D-Day landings. Squadron Location in Lincolnshire Comments 401 Squadron Digby Formed in Lincolnshire out of No. 1 Squadron RCAF 402 Squadron Digby Formed in Lincolnshire out of No. 2 Squadron RCAF 404 Squadron Strubby Still in existence today 407 Squadron North Coates Still in existence today 409 Squadron Digby/North Coates Formed at Digby. Still in existence today 410 Squadron Coleby Grange

Still in existence today 411 Squadron Digby Formed at Digby 412 Squadron Digby/Wellingore Formed at Digby. Still in existence today. John Magee’s Squadron 415 Squadron North Coates Still in existence today 416 Squadron Digby/Wellingore 420 Squadron Waddington Formed at Waddington 421 Squadron Digby Formed at Digby 438 Squadron Digby Renumbered from 118 Squadron. 2TAFs 143 Wing RCAF. Still in existence today 439 Squadron Wellingore Renumbered from No. 123 Squadron. Still in existence today 441 Squadron Digby Renumbered from No. 125 Squadron when relocated to Digby in February 1944. Still in existence today 442 Squadron Digby Renumbered from No. 14 Squadron when relocated to Digby in January 1944. Still in existence today 443 Squadron Digby Renumbered from No. 127 Squadron when relocated to England. Still in existence today.

Hope formatting is OK. Cheers TM74

Thanks TM74 didn’t consider fighter squadrons as I always consider Lincolnshire as “Bomber County”. Have to start taking a wider view of things.!!

[nellis6]

Been advised today that plans have changed and the RCAF Hornets are no longer transiting through Waddington

[baz1]

at least that will save a few people a wasted journey!

[slogen51]

That's a bit harsh on Waddington

[plmc135]

Perhaps RCAF found out that Lincoln has the highest level of CV-19 cases in UK !