429 Squadron History

 

Authority: King George VI, June 1944 The bison is a fierce and powerful opponent indigeous to Canada.

Nickname: Bison

Adoptions: City of Bradford, Yorkshire, Eng. (24 Jan 1943), City Council of Lethbridge, Alta (1944)

429 sqn was formed in 4 Group on 7 Nov 42. It was the RCAF’s 27th , and tenth bomber, squadron formed overseas. Unlike most Cdn sqns they didn’t transfer to 6 gp until 1 Apr 43 eventhough 6 Group was formed on 01 Jan 1943.

 

The Squadron was declared operational along with 428 Sqn on 24 Jan 1943.

The Squadron's first operational mission (Gardening) was on 21/22 Jan 43.

The Squadron's first bombing mission was on 26/27 Jan 43 to Lorient.

429 Sqn's first mission with 6 Group was on 04/05 Apr 43 to Kiel

The Bison's last Operational mission was on 25 Apr 45 to Wangerooge

429 Sqn flew Wellingtons, Halifaxes and Lancasters until the end of the war.

 

After hostilities in Europe, it remained in England a part of Bomber Command’s strike force, unde which it airlifted Allied prisoners of war, and British troops from Italy, back to England. The sqn was disbanded at Leemings, Yorkshire on 1 June 1946. 429 and 427 were the last RCAF bomber squadrons to be disbanded in England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources: Bomber Commmand War Diaries, Reap the Whirlwind, Crucible of War: RCAF Official History, RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft 1924-1968, Thunderbirds at War: Diary of a Bomber Squadron