tactical fighter operational training squadron tactical fighter operational training squadron french nicknamed aircraft squadron currently located canada primary training base version cold lake alberta squadron formed second world war squadron royal_air_force raf near scotland official sortie squadron scotland night june crews took went scoring night fighter squadron period day day squadron supported allied forces battle flew nightly patrols time pilots gained ace status members squadron flight lieutenant flying officer rose members german rocket flight squadron disbanded reformed tactical fighter operational training squadron squadron usually trains pilots year squadron canadian documentary television series filmed squadron showed endure fighter pilots badge squadron badge depicts face background moon north american mountain cat chosen speed power attacks moon refers squadron night operations major devices reference squadron second world war night fighter activities unit renowned skill number victories squadron motto means wandering night history squadron formed near scotland june article squadron royal_air_force operational control second world war squadron night fighter squadron formed equipped replaced october year turn replaced victory squadron claimed squadron acknowledged scoring night fighter unit period day day squadron similar claim basis victories quickly counted bases squadron moved returned raf months later september squadron moved england months relocated northumberland squadron placed lincolnshire moved sixth time southeast england north london later moved raf castle camps june squadron placed wiltshire moved wiltshire september squadron moved thirteen days later squadron relocated sixth base november squadron moved northern france months later squadron relocated northern france movement squadron april final war occurred june squadron relocated netherlands operations official sortie occurred night june crews squadron took occurred uneventful german contact occurred night september raf flown creed navigator intercepted guided approximately miles northeast yorkshire coast attack damaged destroy aircraft destroyed count squadron outright victory came january raf observer flying credited destroyed near possible night readiness ability fly moment notice night end war victories claimed squadron flew sorties accumulated hours flight time squadron victories included destroyed probably destroyed damaged squadron following operational casualties aircraft killed presumed dead prisoners war non operational casualties aircraft personnel killed injured day invasion europe november squadron engaged night defence britain june squadron commanding officer wing commander flew aircraft detachment provided fighter cover initial airborne landings pilots flew operation flight lieutenant pop later ace night prior raf second tactical air force night fighter squadrons working hard ensure safety landing force june squadron fighters available periodic maintenance patrols took patrol uneventful pilots reporting clouds feet patrols flown help cover ships operation neptune june aircraft fired friendly lancaster bombers assumed hostile squadron claimed kill flying officers destroyed june squadron claimed multiple bomber kills shot raiders probably destroyed damaged success overshadowed allied invasion europe june august squadron occupied nightly patrols guard allied troops shipping german bombers squadron brought thirty german aircraft damaged destroyed sorties squadron moved france months added kills damaged score immediately day days following day squadron flew patrols received credits kills instance shot aircraft space minutes destroyed german bombers following success days squadron scored kill interval crews maintaining schedule sorties night little report night engine failed run aircraft runway crashed flight dispersal crews escaped injury buildings went flames operation resulted thirteenth kill period aircraft crashed crew unable bail week weather poor restricted night operations crews diverted bases return german activity diminished mid june nights july sorties weather improved nightly round patrols resumed rose saw rocket flight night september canadian pilots patrol brussels antwerp saw bright orange light directly ahead seemingly altitude feet paid attention taking bright star suddenly said began climb hell climbed light appeared straight rapidly seconds passed sight return base crew reported sighting flying bomb account spectacular rate climb details aroused great interest senior officers night moments rose sighting rocket crashed english coast nights later saw similar ball yellow flame streak vertically night sky weeks followed reports battle end war middle december bad weather conditions nazis launched offensive luftwaffe caught squadrons guard squadron enjoyed number successes period christmas day battle entire including squadron hour alert war entering final stages squadron watch anti aircraft artillery fighter squadrons continued advances february waiting canadian push aerial fighting major conflict luftwaffe occurred canadians started cross rhine march evening december battle contact fired navigator confirmed kill stating aircraft hit starboard engine caught fire crashed trees flames flight lieutenant claimed fifth kill war february having returned working claimed april claimed final kills april downing near days squadron moved called provide special patrol aircraft air cover armistice day ceremonies held paris german attempted intervene later month accident base took lives pilots recently joined gone practice circuits landings circuit preparatory landing stalled crashed feet days christmas accident heaviest suffered squadron terms lives lost days airfield sky cleared somewhat afternoon december flight commander took england squadron aircraft officers airmen going leave near kent aircraft crashed occupants survived killed navigator raf accompanied posting october raf arrived late november begin second tour raf navigator seriously injured squadron months squadron disbanded end war june wartime commanders officer command squadron squadron leader charge june september wing commander took command september july position given august commanded squadron february war given command february april commander war charge april squadron disbanded june year decorations unit awards second world war squadron awarded multiple battle honours honours certified individual awards members squadron decorated war award distinguished flying crosses bar distinguished flying medal went acting flight lieutenant flying officer november citation mention return base single engine damage aircraft quickly followed flying officers january citation mention severe damage aircraft close action combat report describes long duel enemy pilot showing high degree hit return fire including cannon shell destroyed instrument panel narrowly missed pilot starboard engine died recovered port engine caught fire managed return starboard engine working landing december sergeant awarded september squadron leader george douglas robinson awarded october charles awarded december year destroying unidentified german aircraft june october subsequently claimed december flight received december shooting october dennis awarded december bar march tongue member raf commissioned sergeant promoted flying officer night won bar november pilot destroyed having hit debris second fight led downing tongue having track attack aircraft awarded february having destroyed july single sortie december squadron reactivated december squadron flying aircraft formed defence role fighter role montreal quebec december august team formed demonstrate abilities new vampire aircraft formation flying squadron later converted deployed europe flying fighter wing france squadron regular force fighter unit fly vampire aircraft fly sabre join fighter wing air division europe weather fighter squadron arrived canada squadron october reactivated weather fighter squadron ottawa ontario november year flying removed service introduced north american air defence squadron converted aircraft squadron continued fly defence cuts led squadron march present day operating training unit tasked training pilots operational squadrons later renamed squadron squadron moved alberta changing aircraft training unit canada new aircraft aircraft second world war squadron began flying north american harvard training aircraft flew paul defiant july turret fighter night fighter problem aircraft forward armament exchanged bristol long range heavy fighter april january rolls engine provided greater power original squadron transitioned november squadron exclusively end war variants july september december august august june fighters basic design medium altitude daytime tactical bomber high altitude night bomber day night fighter fighter bomber maritime strike photo reconnaissance aircraft squadron fighter unit flying having flown aircraft years role squadron equipped canada december squadron canada operational squadron weather aircraft primary armament nuclear tipped air air rockets canada primary means air defence present day training unit squadron squadron currently equipped formally handed operational training unit squadron cold lake alberta october operational training squadron aircraft squadron located canada primary training base cold lake alberta squadron renamed tactical fighter operational training squadron runs fighter pilot course year training approximately pilots training program consists months ground school flights operational flying students taken graduates fighter lead training course provided knowledge basic skills air air air ground combat areas covered depth include aircraft handling instrument flight formation flying night flying navigation air air weapons delivery tactics annual fighter weapons instructor course run squadron fighter electronic warfare course intense highly challenging lasts months operational squadron tactical radar squadron sends candidates students course graduate leadership qualities expertise required return squadrons design tactical training programs advanced radar course conducted phases ground school wing flying phase electronic warfare range week course designed allow pilots annually graduate return squadrons electronic warfare experts instructors squadron experienced pilots fighter community charged carrying special fighter projects squadron conducted operational testing evaluation precision guided munitions anticipating testing use night vision devices certification curriculum seven years following delivered squadron ran month squadron courses graduating pilots formed new squadrons following initial courses squadron trained pilots rate approximately year closure squadrons germany reduced recent reduction size remaining operational squadrons squadron trains approximately fighter pilots annually time current work mandate squadron responsible training pilots annually pilots returning ground exchange tour squadron trains newly arrived foreign exchange officers joining canada operational fighter squadrons backgrounds differ significantly course tailored individual based experience demonstrated areas covered depth include basic advanced aircraft handling instrument flight formation flying night flying weather interception air air skills air combat half comprises academic air ground weapons delivery advanced tactics usually completed squadron deployment south western united_states late spring early fall significantly better weather sheer number bombing ranges available evaluation flight sub unit squadron responsible operational testing evaluation efforts seen integral operational effectiveness aspects core capabilities new systems evaluated multi function advanced multi role red evaluation new mission planning software advanced distributed combat training system working closely variety key units air_force including enabled integration newly modernized aircraft air displays canadian documentary television series filmed showing life base cold lake endure fighter pilot television documentary followed squadron training course months time candidates graduate television given access lives ground school graduation allowed access series followed members class selected learn squadron television called air base fighter town squadrons use fighter aircraft home squadron nicknamed squadron provided aircraft pilot captain ryan selected demonstration pilot members wing cold lake western maintenance crew theme paint scheme demonstration developed honour training plan
410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron