No. 403 Squadron — RCAF

No. 403 Squadron RCAF was formed at Baginton on 1 March 1941 as the first Canadian squadron raised overseas during the Second World War. Originally intended for army co-operation, it quickly re-roled as a fighter unit, equipping first with the Curtiss Tomahawk before converting entirely to the Supermarine Spitfire by July 1941. Assigned to No. 11 Group, RAF Fighter Command, the squadron conducted offensive sweeps over occupied France, participated in the costly Dieppe operation of August 1942, and formed part of the Canadian Kenley Wing from early 1943. When the Second Tactical Air Force was constituted in mid-1943, the squadron transferred to No. 83 Group and subsequently moved to Normandy in June 1944, flying armed reconnaissance and close-support missions as Allied armies advanced through France, Belgium and into Germany. Over roughly 13,000 sorties the squadron destroyed 123 enemy aircraft and was credited with numerous ground-target kills. It disbanded at Fassberg, Germany, on 10 July 1945.