Halifax W7710 LQ-R of No. 405 Squadron RCAF
The RCAF and the Handley Page Halifax: A Transatlantic Partnership
The Halifax became a mainstay for numerous RCAF squadrons, contributing significantly to the Allied bombing offensive against Germany.
Early Adoption and Operational Service:
- No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, formed at Driffield, Yorkshire, on April 23, 1941, was the first Canadian bomber squadron to receive the Halifax.
- The squadron initially flew the B.II variant, operating from Topcliffe, Yorkshire, in April 1942, before transitioning to Gransden Lodge, Bedfordshire, in April 1943.
- In August 1943, No. 405 Squadron transitioned to the Avro Lancaster, becoming part of No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group. Notably, the squadron flew the well-known Halifax B.II W7710 LQ-R “Ruhr Valley Express.”
- No. 408 (Goose) Squadron, initially formed at Lindholme, Yorkshire, on June 24, 1941, also flew various marks of the Halifax, including the B.V, B.II, B.III, and B.VII, operating from Leeming, Yorkshire.
Expanding the RCAF’s Halifax Force:
As the war progressed, numerous other RCAF squadrons adopted the Halifax:
- No. 415 (Swordfish) Squadron
- No. 419 (Moose) Squadron
- No. 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron
- No. 424 (Tiger) Squadron
- No. 425 (Alouette) Squadron, a French-Canadian unit
- No. 426 (Thunderbird) Squadron
- No. 427 (Lion) Squadron
- No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron
- No. 429 (Bison) Squadron
- No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron
- No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron
- No. 433 (Porcupine) Squadron
- No. 434 (Bluenose) Squadron