RCAF Patch Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force 403 HOTS Twin Huey Kiowa

RCAF Patch Royal Canadian Air Force 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron Escadrille HOTS Patch Early 1980s CH 135 Twin Huey and CH 136 Kiowa helicopters CFB Gagetown Embroidered on twill cut edge 74mm by 74mm two and seven eighth inches by two and seven eighth inches.

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403 Fighter Bomber Squadron Auxiliary reactivated on 15 October 1948 at RCAF Station Calgary to provide close support to the Army initially equipped with the Harvard MK II the squadron received the first of its P 51D Mustangs in the latter part of 1950. 403 Fighter Bomber Squadron Auxiliary enlisted its first female officer in January 1952 and the City of Calgary was incorporated into the Squadrons title on 3 September 1952. In November 1953 the Squadron was redesignated 403 City Of Calgary Fighter Squadron and received its first jet the T 33 Silver Star in October
1955.

The Squadrons role changed to transport in 1956 with the Squadron redesignated 403 City of Calgary Transport Squadron and re-equipped with the C 45 Expediter and the DHC 3 Otter transport aircraft.  In December 1956 the Squadron was reassigned to RCAF Training Command with the role of training a reserve of transport aircrew for the Auxiliary and Regular Forces. In February 1958 the Squadron became a general Transport and Rescue Squadron in support of military and civilian operations and was redesignated 403 City of Calgary Squadron on 31 March 1958. The Squadron was disbanded on 30 June 1964.

In January 1968 the Squadron was reactivated as 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron HOTS at Canadian Forces Base CFB Petawawa equipped with CUH 1H Iroquois helicopters to provide operational training for all the Utility Tactical Helicopter UTTH and Light Observation Helicopter LOH squadrons of the Canadian Armed Forces. In July 1972 the training of aircrew and technical personnel for the Tactical Helicopter and Rescue Squadrons was added to the Squadrons responsibility relocating to CFB Gagetown and reequipped with CH 135 Twin Huey and CH 136 Kiowa helicopters. 403 HOTS gained aircrew and support personnel from 422 Squadron on their disbandment at CFB Gagetown in August 1980 and the Squadron formed an Air Ground Operations School to provide advance training for future Flight Commanders and Operations Officers.

The Squadron conducted two rotational deployments of the Multi-National Force and Observers between 1986 and 1990. The Squadron formed the Land Aviation Test and Evaluation Flight LATEF in August 1992 to conduct operational and tactical testing of land aviation helicopter systems and support equipment and to propose operational and tactical doctrine where applicable on behalf of 10 Tactical Air Group 10 TAG. It quickly evolved into a valuable asset and has been integrally involved in the testing and improvement of CH 146 Griffon systems. The Squadron phased out the Kiowa end of 1994 and Twin Huey in early 1995 and reequipped with CH 146 Griffon in March 1995. The Air Ground Operations School was renamed Aviation Tactics Flight in June 1995 and continues to provide training and aviation support to the Combat Training Centre 1 Wing
and the Air Force.

This patch dates from the early 1980s.