No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force

No. 408 (Goose) Squadron RCAF was formed in June 1941, initally flying Handley Page Hampden mk1 aircraft. They converted to the Halifax in Septemeber 1942 and also flew Lancasters. They flew with 5 Group Bomber Command until September 1942 when they transferred to 4 Goup, flying from RAF Leeming. They then transferred to 6 Group on the 1st of January 1943, returning to Canada on the 14th of June 1945. 408 Goose Squadron was disbanded on the 5th of September 1945.
During the Second World War, 4,610 sorties were flown by 408 with 11,340 tons of bombs being dropped. 170 Aircraft were lost and 933 personnel were killed or taken as prisoners of war. Their aicraft code was EQ.

408 Squadron flew from the following airfields.

Lindholme. 24th June 1941 to 20th July 1941
Syerston. 20th July 1941 to 9th December 1941
Balderton. 9th December 1941 to 1st Feb. 1942
North Luffenham. 1st Feb. 1942 to 17th March 1942
Balderton.17th March 1942 to 20th September 1942.
Leeming. 20th September 1942. to 12th August 1943
Linton on Ouse. 12th August 1943 to 14th June 1945.

No: 408 Goose Squadron was reformed at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Rockcliffe, Ontario on the 10th of January 1949. Flying eight Lancaster MK.X photographic Aircraft, 408 met teh challenge of mapping of the far North of Canada. The squadron was again briefly disbanded in the early 1970's, and today 408 Squadron fly helicopters from CFB Edmonton, Alberta.

24th Jun 1941 408 Squdron formed

11th Aug 1941 408 Squdron fly first operational sortees

29th Aug 1941 408 Squadron Hampden lost

20th October 1941 Aircraft Lost

22nd Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

9th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th Nov 1941 King visits 408 Squdron

15th Nov 1941 First Gallantry medal for 408 Squdron

11th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

14th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

28th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

10th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost

15th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost

12th Feb 1942 Attack on the Scharnhorst

Mar 1942 New CO for 408 Squadron

May 1942 Mancheter aircraft testing with 408 Squadron

30th May 1942 1000 Bomber Raid

1st Jun 1942 2nd 1000 Bomber Raid

2nd Jul 1942 408 Squadron Lancaster lost

26th Jul 1942 408 Squadron's 1000th sortie

Sep 1942 408 Squadron converts to Halifax

Oct 1942 Badge for 408 Squadron

9th Jan 1943 Gardening

14th Jan 1943 Ops

15th Jan 1943 Ops

21st Jan 1943 Gardening

23rd Jan 1943 Ops

29th Jan 1943 Enemy Aircraft

29th Jan 1943 Ops

4th Feb 1943 Halifax lost

4th Feb 1943 Enemy Aircraft

1st Mar 1943 Aircraft Lost

14th May 1943 408 Squadron Halifax lost

11th Jun 1943 Halifax JB972 lost

28th Jul 1943 408 Squadron Halifax lost

29th Dec 1943 Aircraft Lost

24th Mar 1944 Berlin Targeted

30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost

6th Jun 1944 Coastal Defences

6th Jun 1944 Supply Lines

29th Jul 1944 408 Squadron Lancaster lost

15th Oct 1944 Aircraft Lost

6th Nov 1944 Aircraft Lost

24th Dec 1944 408 Squadron Halifax lost

5th Jan 1945 Night Ops

2nd Feb 1945 Halifax Lost

17th Feb 1945 Halifax Lost

20th Feb 1945 Halifax Lost

21st Feb 1945 Night Ops

23rd Feb 1945 Night Ops

27th Feb 1945 Night Ops

2nd Mar 1945 Night Ops

3rd Mar 1945 Night Ops

25th Mar 1945 Night Ops

8th Apr 1945 Night Ops

13th Apr 1945 Night Ops

18th Apr 1945 Night Ops

22nd Apr 1945 Night Ops

15th August 1945 Tiger Force

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.

Logbooks

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Those known to have served with
No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Acorn George W . Sgt
Allen DFC. Daniel Frederick. Sqn.Ldr.
Austin. J E . F/O.
Bain. Donald T . F/O
Barclay D. M.. LAC
Bartman Mike.
Bergman .
Boily Joseph Omer Emile Jules. F/Sgt
Boyd Allan Bernard . F/O (d.25th Apr 1945 )
Brambleby. James Edwin E . W/O (d.25th Apr 1945 )
Branton H J . Sgt
Bryans WIlliam Robert . Sgt. (d.9th July 1943)
Butchart G R . P/O
Campbell S E . Sgt
Chiasson Alcide Joseph. Flt.Sgt.
Clark Russell S . F/O
Connolly J J . Sgt
Davis Bernard Harpley. LAC
Davison K L . Sgt
Dee Timothy I Anson . Sgt
Delaney Terry.
Dempsey S W . F/O
Devlin Bruce. Sergeant
Dillon Raymond James. Flt.Sgt. (d.15th May 1942)
Edwards John Boyd.
Edwards Peter Leslie. F/O. (d.3rd Jun 1942)
Farrow James Phillip. Sqd.Ldr.
Fferguson Dean.
Fill H. . Sgt
Franklin Claude.
Freeman. J. E. . F/O (d.2nd Dec 1944 )
Gielty A. . Sgt
Greenbury Mervyn Arthur. F/Lt.
Guay. Joseph Jacques Alfred . W.O.
Haines L. . F/Sgt
Halken W M . Sgt
Hardy Hugh David. Flt.Sgt.
Hart DFC. Arthur George Thomas. F/O
Harvey J D . F/Sgt
Heal Lenny.
Hurd E J . Sgt
Jenson Martha.
Kasper Walter William.
Kellond J. Clayton. F/O
Klein DFC. Gerald.
Kuchinski Stanley Joseph.
Large George Russell. F/Lt. (d.16th March 1945)
Lowrey Ralf William. PO (d.8th June 1944)
Luba Maryian John. LAC.
MacDonald. Irving . Sgt.
Madson P J . P/O
Marynowski Michael E . F/O
Mason George. Sgt.
Maule Harry. Sgt.
McIlroy William Alexander. P/O
Metcalfe John.
Mills Archie. Sgt.
Morgan L A . Sgt
Morrison. Les . P/O
Murdoch Thomas Martin. F/O
Oliver George.
Orr Norris Ellswood. F/Sgt.
Parsons Gordon N.. Sgt.
Pilon. François Rolland . F/Sgt.
Potter John Milton. W/O (d.27th Apr 1944)
Reynolds Thomas.
Robertson Frank William Charles. Sgt.
Robideau Leo.
Rutter Albert Leroy . F/O (d. 25th Apr 1945 )
Ryan Donal Thomas. F/O. (d.29th July 1944)
Schrapel Ronald Ayliffe.
Taylor Kenneth Henry. P/O. (d.3rd June 1942)
Van Den Bok DFC. Ralph. A/Sqd.Ldr.
Van Den Bok DFC & 2Bar. Ralph. Sqdn Ldr
William Frederick Dixon. P/O (d.1st June 1942)
Winter R. . Sgt
Wood E H . Sgt
Wood Kenneth R . Sgt
Woods William Arthur. Sgt.
Woodwart John Edward. Sgt.
Wright. Allan . P/O (d.20th Dec 1943)
Yeo Lloyd J . F/Sgt

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force from other sources.

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Want to know more about No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force?

There are:2061 items tagged No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.

John Boyd Edwards 408 Squadron

Being Remembrance Day I have been looking online for anything I can find about the RCAF 408 Squadron, that my grandfather, John Boyd Edwards, served with in World War 2. He passed away in 1983. During the time he was alive he would not talk about it. We believe that he flew a Halifax bomber, the only photo that we have of him during that time is him standing beside a Lancaster with a photo of Vicky the Vicious Virgin on the nose. Online we can find photos of a Halifax with the same nose art. We have several of his wartime things in a museum, like his flight log, photos of him sitting on the wing of his trainer a yellow pearl, his commissioning scroll, and charge papers, for when he was charged with writing off an aircraft but was found not responsible (we know no more about this) and other belongings. He arrived in England on April 4th 1944 and stayed until the end.
Do you know any other information? Anything that even comes close to touching this would be ever so helpful. My father is a huge WW2 nut, and has always been craving to know more about the story of my grandfather, his father-in- law.

Lyle Warren

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Sergeant Bruce Devlin 408 Squadron

My Father..Sergeant Bruce Devlin,was seconded from the RAF to 408 Squadron as a Flight Engineer. He mainly flew Halifax NP714,completing a full Operational Tour between August and December 1944. I have his Log Book..though he only logged the Operational Tour as that was all he felt he needed at the time. He thinks he may be the only 408 Aircrew Member left alive?

Stewart Devlin

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F/O Arthur George Thomas Hart DFC. 408 (Goose) Squadron

Arthur Hart was a Navigator, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross serving with 408 Squadron. He died in May 2016.

Annie Ellison

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Sgt. Frank William Charles "Bill" Robertson 408 Squadron

My father, Frank Robertson, was the Flight Engineer onboard Lancaster MkII DS788 EQ-C of 408 Goose Squadron, RCAF. My father was one of two RAF crew with the others all Canadian.
On the 19th/20th of February 1944 on a raid to Leipzig the aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter over Kropswolde Northern Holland. Only my father and the bomb aimer managed to bale out of the burning Lancaster before it crashed and exploded killing the remaining five young crew members. The bomb aimer was caught and became a POW at Lufft Stalag 3. My father became an evader and crossed Holland, Belgium, and into Northern France, where he met up with the advancing Allied troupes and returned to England in early September 1944. The remaining crew members are buried in the Kerk Kropswolde.
Lest we forget.

Keith Robertson

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F/Sgt. Norris Ellswood "Red" Orr 408 (Goose) Squadron

Norris Orr served with 408 (Goose) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Gerald Klein DFC. 408 (Goose) Squadron

Gerald Klein was a second cousin to me on my father's side. I think that he rose to the rank of Colonel, not sure. He flew Halifax and Lancasters with 408 Squadron. He survived the war and moved to Canada. His surviving family (but not his children) are in Sydney, Australia. His DFC was gazetted 10th of September 1943 in the London Gazette.

David S. Sinclair

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Dean Fferguson 408 Squadron

According to the Windsor Star newspaper in Ontario Canada, Dean Fferguson was the last surviving member of 408 Squadron.

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LAC. Maryian John "Mary" Luba 441 Squadron

Maryian Lubaserved with 2TAF, in 441 Squadron from 1942 to 1945 and was in Normandy, Holland and Belgium. He served as an Armourer, his first operational airfield on the European continent, was Benny sur Mere. He spent his 21st birthday 7th of September 1944 in newly liberated Brussels.
He joined Bomber Command and was posted to 408 Goose Squadron at Linton on Ouse in March or April, 1945. While "bombing up a Halibag", a 500 lb bomb detonated severely wounding him. Are there any details of this accident anywhere?

John Luba

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Stanley Joseph Kuchinski 408 (Goose) Squadron

Stan Kuchinski served as a tailgunner in the RCAF.

Bob Kuchinski

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Sgt. William Arthur Woods 408 (Goose) Squadron

William Woods is my Grandfather and this is the story I was able to find.
F/O J. Clayton Kellond, Royal Canadian Air Force, 408 Squadron, from Hamilton, Ontario.
On the 6th of November, 1944 when the RCAF 6 Group made a daylight attack on Gelsenkirchen as part of a force approximately the same size as that which had gone to Bochum. This town, seven miles north-east of Essen, was noted chiefly for its hydrogenation plants and its coking industry. Two top priority synthetic oil plants and two very important power stations lay within the boundaries of the district. Other industries included the manufacture of iron and steel goods and sulphuric acid. The attackers, accompanied by a fighter cover of Mustangs and Spitfires, swept along over 10/10ths cloud from the Dutch coast in a very high tail wind. Cloud thinned out as they approached the target area and they found gaps which enabled them to identify the aiming point and check the accuracy of the markers. Early bombing was concentrated and soon there was a heavy black pall rising above the cloud tops at 10,000 feet. When smoke and dust obscured the target indicators, the Master Bomber instructed crews to attack any targets of opportunity that were visible in the area. The bombing of the town itself caused intense fires north and south of the Central Station marshalling yard and in the vicinity of the Hessler district. South of the Industrie Hafen, the steel casting works of Vereinigte Stahlwerke were damaged by fire. Defences were formidable on the route through the Ruhr with very accurate heavy flak, but at the target antiaircraft fire was only moderate and this time losses were lighter, only two Canadian aircraft failing to return. One of these carried a veteran Goose Squadron crew, all of whom were taken prisoner: F/O J. C. Kellond, K. I. Durk, W. A. Gillmeister, F/S T. G. McLeod, D. M. Davies, Sgt. R. C. Robinson and Sgt W. A. Woods.
When released Kellond reported: "Perfect trip to the moment we were hit. Flak burst under a/c resulted in controls being hit somewhere at a vital point. No visible damage could be seen by the gunners. The flak came from the front lines which at the time were west of the Rhine River. It was a clear day with about 1/10th cloud. I gave orders for the bombs to be released immediately a/c was found to be out of control. Second flak burst came before bombs were gone but outside of causing a/c to rock no one was hurt. Crew were then told to bail out and they carried this out in perfect order. I managed to keep a/c straight and level until all the boys had made their jump. With throttles completely back a/c would not drop its nose and it finally stalled and went into a spin. From that point on things are not too clear as I had no time to waste in getting out."

Kim Miller

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No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

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No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

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Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 408 (Goose) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.