Canadian Wings :: The History & Heritage of the Royal Canadian Air Force

No. 116 Squadron

Authorized as a Coast Artillery Cooperation unit at Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 1, 1938, the squadron was redesignated Fighter on May 1, 1939. When called out on voluntary full-time duty in September, the squadron's organization was incomplete and it was disbande on November 2, 1939.

Re-formed as a Bomber Reconnaissance unit at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on 28 June 1941,1 the squadron flew Catalina and Canso A aircraft on East Coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence anti-submarine duty until disbanded at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 20 June 1945.

Aircraft
  • Consolidated Catalina
    • Unit Code '41-'42 ZD, '42 NO; Catalina Mk I & IB (Jul 1941 - Aug 1943) W8431 H, W8432 J, Z2134 A, Z2137 C, Z2138 D, Z2139 B, DP202 M, FP294 G, FP296 F, FP297 G
  • Consolidated Canso
    • Unit Code '41-'42 ZD, '42 NO; Canso A (Sep 1941 - Aug 1943) 9701-9707
  • Consolidated Canso
    • Unit Code NO; Canso A (Jan 1942 - Feb 1942) 9741, 9742, 9745, 9746, 9748 J, 9749, 9750, 9781 M
  • Consolidated Canso
    • Unit Code NO; Canso A (Aug 1943 - Jun 1945) 9748 J, 9757 C, 9758 J, 9772 Z, 9777 R, 9778 R, 9798 K, 9806 P, 9808 J, 9819 F, 9823 A, 9825 B, 9828 C, 9829 D, 9830 P, 9831 G, 9832 H, 9836 O, 9839 G, 9844 N, 11034 A, 11057 E, 11061 M, 11064 L
Historical Achievements

First Mission: 22 July 1941, Catalina W8432 "J" frorn Dartinouth with W/C Blanchard and crew - convoy escort. Unable to locate convoy, it returned to base.

Last Mission 2 June 1945, Canso A 9819 "F" from, Sydney with F/0 H.C. Cornwall and crew - escort of convoy HG9.

Summary

Sorties: 1555

Operational/Non- operational Flying Hours: 13,488/7210.

Victories: U-boat: None; 3 attacks on 8 sightings.

Casualties: Operational: nil. Non-operational: 5 aircraft; 18 aircrew, 4 passengers killed.

Honours and Awards 6 DFC's, 5 AFC'S, 2 DFM'S, 1 AFM, 3 BEM'S, 16 MiD's.



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