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

No. 6 Squadron

Authorized as a Torpedo Bomber unit at Trenton, Ontario on 4 March 1936, the squadron commenced service training in November of that year. Starting with Vedette flying boats, it received Shark aircraft from England in January 1937, moved to Jericho Beach (Vancouver), British Columbia in November 1938, and concentrated on torpedo-dropping training. Mobilized on 10 September 1939, and redesignated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Shark, Stranraer, Catalina and Canso aircraft on West Coast anti-submarine duty until disbanded at Coal Harbour, British Columbia on 7 August 1945.

Aircraft
  • Vicker Vedette
    • Unit Code XE; Vedette (Nov 1936 - Jan 1939) 806
  • Blackburn Shark
    • Unit Code XE; Shark Mk II & Mk III (Jan 1937 - Dec 1941) 501, 503 XE-B, 525, 545
  • Noorduyn Norseman
    • Unit Code XE; Norseman (1940 - Dec 1941) 695, 696 XE-Z, 697
  • Stranraer
    • Unit Code '39-'42 XE, '42 AF; Stranraer (Oct 1941 - May 1943) 907, 922, 930, 948
  • Consolidated Canso
    • Unit Code AF; Canso A (Apr 1943 - Nov 1943) 9762, 9787, 9788
  • Consolidated Catalina
    • Unit Code AF; Catalina Mk IB & IIIA (Sept 1943 - Aug 1945) FP202, FP290, FP296, JX572
Historical Achievements

Operational History

First Mission: September 11, 1939 - Shark 501 from Jericho Beach - patrol of the Strait of Georgia area.

Last Mission: August 1, 1945 - Catalina FP290 from Coal Harbour - patrol

Summary

  • Sorties: 2506
  • Operational/Non-Operational Flying Hours: 11,716 / 10,565
  • Victories: Nil
  • Casualties: Operational: Nil Non-Operational: 2 aircraft; 9 aircrew killed
  • Honours and Awards: nil


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