History of RCAF 428th and links


Click here to visit
a memorial to Echos brother
Wilfred Gay who served in the
428th
Click here to visit a Memorial
Site for Flying Officer
William Campbell who flew
with the 428th.His flying log is
there as well as other insights
on his service record


Pilot Officer Wilfred Gay is second from the left
The history of the RCAF 428th Squadron begins with its formation on November 7 1942 with the 4th Group.It did not operate on strength until being transferred to the newly formed 6th group,which it remained with till the end of the war.Originally formed at station airbase Dalton,428 moved to Middle St.George in Durham county.

General Squadron History
The squadron badge refers to a shroud or deaths head.Its designation as "Ghost Squadron" was earned through many hours of nightime operations and the death and destruction it carried to the enemy.
Battle honors
English Channel and North Sea 1943-44,Baltic 1944,Fortress Europe 1943-44,France and Germany 1944-45,Biscay ports 1943-44, Ruhr 1943-45,Berlin 1943-44,Normandy 1944.
After WW2 428 was reformed as a night fighter Squadron In 1954 at Uplands. They flew CF100s It was struck off strength in 1961.
Operational History

The 428th was a Heavy bomber squadron whose primary tasks involved Bombing and Minelaying operations.Heres the operational record:

Raids flown

6 group Wellingtons-26 bombing,9 minelaying
6 group Halifaxes- 69 bombing,53 minelaying
6 group Lancasters-111 bombing

Totals: 206 bombing,62 minelaying= 268 raids

Sorties and Losses

6 group Wellingtons- 350 sorties,17 aircraft lost (4.9 percent)
6 group Halifaxes- 1406 sorties,32 aircraft lost(2.3 percent)
6 group lancasters- 1677 sorties,18 aircraft lost(1.1 percent)

Totals: 3433 sorties,67 aircraft lost (2.0 percent)

An aditional 10  Lancasters were lost in crashes.


428th aircraft used during WW2
Wellington III  Early war in the war
Halifax II,V     Middle period of operations
Lancaster X    Late in the war
Vickers Wellington
Handley-page Halifax
Avro Lancaster
More History to come including Individual mission
Accounts and links to Historical sites!
Wellingtons in formation
The Canadian Contribution in WW2

Although Canadians were serving with Bomber Command at the outbreak of the war,the Canadian involvement was one that grew as the war progressed.Through the training of large numbers of aircrew in Canada by the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan,the number of Canadians serving in all aspects of the war increased dramatically and members of the Canadian Air Force Played a major role.

In October of 1942,No.6 group of Bomber Command was created to be completely manned by Canadian officers and men and at the end of the war it had grown to Thirteen squadrons.No.405 Squadron RCAF finished the war serving with No.8 group RAF,The pathfinder force.

The Canadian Squadrons were based at  airfields in the vicinity of Lincoln and York with the exception of three squadrons which were temporarily posted to North Africa to aid in the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943.

The Canadian effort reached its peak in 1944 when 25,353 sorties were flown.In total,No.6 group flew a total of 40,822 sorties during the war.271,981 hours were flown, a total of 126,122 tons of bombs were dropped and 814 aircraft lost.Eight thousand decorations for bravery were awarded to No.6 group aircrew.

Canadian aircrew veterans remember their efforts with graet pride as expressed by Jerry Fultz," I had the honor and pleasure of serving in the finest force that this country has ever raised,The RCAF.
Squadrons of 6 group
405 "City of Vancouver "
408 "Goose"
419 "Moose"
420 "Snowy Owl"
424"Tiger"
426"Alouette"
426"Thunderbird"
427"Lion"
428"Ghost"
429"Bison"
431"Iroquois"
432"Leaside"
433"Porcupine"
434"Bluenose"
Christmas Card from 6 group
shows the building headquarters
Pictures from Middlelton St.George
below courtesy NOAMMO