No. 426 Squadron RCAF

Motto: "On wings of fire"
Badge: A thunderbird. The thunderbird is a mythical bird, the sight of which is supposed to cause havoc and death to those who perceive it. It was the name given by some North American Indians to the first aeroplane they saw. The thunderbird signified disaster to those on the ground who incurred its displeasure.
Authority: King George VI, October 1943.

No. 426 Squadron was formed at Dishforth, Yorkshire, on 15th October 1942, as a bomber unit in No. 4 Group. Early in January 1943, it joined No. 6 (RCAF) Group with which, during the next 28 months, its Wellingtons, Lancasters and Halifaxes played their part in smashing Hitler's European fortress. In June 1943, it moved to Linton-on-Ouse which was to be its home for nearly two years. All told the squadron flew 261 operational missions (242 bombing missions and 19 mining excursions) involving 3,213 sorties, and in doing so lost 88 aircraft.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Formed 15.10.42 as No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron at:

• Dishforth : Oct 1942-Jun 1943
• Linton-on-Ouse : Jun 1943 onwards

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Vickers Wellington III and X : Oct 1942-Jun 1943
• Avro Lancaster B.II : Jun 1943-May 1944
• Handley Page Halifax B.III and B.VIII : Apr 1944 onwards

Code Letters:

• "OW".

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 14th/15th January 1943 - 7 Wellingtons bombed Lorient.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

• 25th April 1945 - 20 Halifaxes bombed gun batteries on island of Wangerooge.

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