No. 428 Squadron RCAF

Motto: "Usque ad finem" ("To the very end").
Badge: In a shroud, a death's head.The badge refers to the squadron's nickname "Ghost"- a nickname earned through many hours of night-bombing operations - and also to the death and destruction which the squadron carried to the enemy.
Authority: King George VI, February 1945.

No. 428 Squadron was formed at Dalton, Yorkshire, on 7th November 1942, as a bomber unit of No. 4 Group. On 1st January 1943, it transferred to No. 6 (RCAF) Group, with which it operated against enemy targets until 25th April 1945 - about a fortnight before VE Day. Early in June 1943, the squadron moved to Middleton St. George, its base for the remainder of its period in the UK. It first flew Wellington IIIs and Xs, then Halifaxes (Vs and IIs), and finally Lancaster Xs.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Formed 7.11.42 as No. 428 (Bomber) Squadron at:

• Dalton : Nov 1942-Jun 1943
• Middleton St. George : Jun 1943 onwards

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Vickers Wellington III and X : Nov 1942-Jun 1943
• Handley Page Halifax B.V and B.II : Jun 1943-Jun 1944
• Avro Lancaster B.X : Jun 1944 onwards

Code Letters:

• "NA".

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 26th/27th January 1943 - 5 Wellingtons bombed Lorient.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

• 25th April 1945 - 15 Lancasters bombed gun batteries on island of Wangerooge.

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