RCAF Patch Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force 442 Squadron Escadrille

RCAF Patch 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron Escadrille Royal Canadian Air Force Crest Patch Queens Crown 1970s C 47 Dakota CH 113 Labrador CFB Comox Embroidered on twill cut edge 110mm by 76mm four and one quarter inches by three inches.

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Squadron History

442 City of Vancouver Fighter Squadron Auxiliary at RCAF Station Sea Island on 1 April 1946 as a composite air reserve squadron initially equipped with Harvards Mustangs and ten Expeditor transport aircraft. In 1951 the Mustangs were transferred to the newly reformed 443 City
of New Westminster Squadron at RCAF Sea Island another composite air reserve squadron with 442 Sqns Mustangs and eight Expeditors. 442 Squadron reequipped with Vampires and later Sabre fighter aircraft. In 1955 the Squadrons Harvards were retired and the fleet was expanded with four more Expeditors and the Squadron was redesignated 442 City of Vancouver Transport Squadron as part of the active force. The Squadron disbanded on 31 March 1964.

The Squadron reactivated in 1968 as 442 Communications and Rescue Squadron at CFB Comox on the renaming of 121 Composite Unit equipped with the CSR 110 Albatross flying boat in the Search and Rescue role and C 47 Dakotas for the communications duties. The Squadron was almost immediately redesignated 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron. CH 113 Labrador helicopters took over from the Albatross flying boats in 1970 and CC 115 Buffalo short takeoff and landing STOL utility medium transport replaced the Dakotas in 1975. The CH 113 Labrador helicopters where replaced by CH 149 Cormorant helicopters in 2002. 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron has become the busiest search and rescue unit in the country with one CH 149 Cormorant and one CC 115 Buffalo on constant readiness to deploy in the Victoria Search and Rescue Region, which includes British Columbia the Yukon as well as 560000 square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean up to 600 nm offshore.

442 TRS also serves as the Operational Training Unit OTU for the CH 149 Cormorant helicopter.

This patch dates from the 1970s.