450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter squadron. During the Second World War, the numerical designation of 450 was originally given to No. 450 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force, which flew under that number from 1941 until 1945 in the Middle East and Italy.[1] Canadian Article XV squadrons during the Second World War had used numbers from 400 to 449; however, due to an administrative error, the "450" designation was used when squadron formed at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec, on March 29, 1968.[2]
| 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | March 29, 1968 |
| Country |  Canada |
| Branch | .svg){kind=small} Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Type | Aviation squadron |
| Motto(s) | By air to battle |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | CH147F Chinook |
The squadron moved to CFB Ottawa (Uplands) in May 1970 and the squadron received Royal Assent for the designation 450 Transport Helicopter Squadron on May 20, 1970. On August 1, 1991, the squadron was re-designated 450 Composite Helicopter Squadron. This was followed by another name change on April 1, 1993, when the squadron became 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron. In August the following year, 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron was transferred back to 1 Wing at CFB St. Hubert.[2]
450 Squadron was deactivated in 1996 before being officially disbanded on January 1, 1998. On May 2, 2012, the squadron was re-established to operate the CH-147F Chinook helicopters of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based out of CFB Petawawa.[3]
The squadron has a dedicated concrete helipad, measuring 160 ft × 160 ft (49 m × 49 m), at Petawawa Heliport.[4]
On June 20, 2023, there was an unknown incident over the Petawawa River involving one of the CH-147F helicopters. There were 4 crew on board at the time, 2 of whom were sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the search continued for the remaining 2. On June 21, 2023, the bodies of the remaining 2 crew members were recovered from the Ottawa River.
References
edit
- Citations
- ^ Eather 1995, pp. 103, 105.
- ^ a b "450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron". Royal Canadian Air Force. Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ "450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron reborn". Royal Canadian Air Force. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
- Bibliography
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
External links
edit- "RCAF's 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron reborn - Helicopters Magazine". helicoptersmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- "450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron | Ottawa Citizen". ottawacitizen.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ""A Proud Moment" For 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron | Ottawa Citizen". ottawacitizen.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
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