No. 434 (Bluenose) Squadron RCAF

Motto: "In excelsis vincimus" ("We conquer in the heights").
Badge: A representation of the schooner "Bluenose". The squadron was adopted by the Rotary Club of Halifax, NS, and took the nickname "Bluenose" in reference to the common nickname for Nova Scotians. The badge depicts its namesake, the famous schooner Bluenose - one the fastest and most graceful ships ever to sail the seas.
Authority: King George VI, October 1945.

No 434 Squadron was formed at Tholthorpe, Yorkshire, on 13 June 1943, as a unit of No. 6 (RCAF) Group of Bomber Command. It began operations on 12/13th August and continued to operate from Tholthorpe until December 1944, when moved to Croft. There it remained based for the rest of its stay in England. Equipped first with Halifax Vs, No. 434 converted to Halifax IIIs in May 1944, and to Lancaster Xs December 1944. During its tour with No. 6 Group the squadron flew 2,597 operational sorties on 199 operations.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Formed 13.6.43 as No. 434 (Bomber) Squadron

• Tholthorpe, Yorks : Jun 1943-Dec 1943
• Croft, Co. Durham : Dec 1943 onwards

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Handley Page Halifax B.III, B.V : Jun 1943-Dec 1944
• Avro Lancaster B.I, B.X : Dec 1944 onwards

Code Letters:

• "WL"

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 12/13th August 1943 : 9 Halifaxes bombed Milan & another Halifax aborted.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

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

[ Aircraft | Background | Commanders | Diary | Anatomy | Groups ]
[ Famous Raids | Gallery | Squadrons | Stations ]

[ Home ]
[ Return to the RAF Site ]

© Crown Copyright 2004 and © Deltaweb International Ltd 2004