403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron

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No. 403 Squadron RCAF
Active	1941 to Present
Country	Canada
Branch	Royal Canadian Air Force
Motto(s)	Stalk and Strike
Battle honours	Defence of Britain 1941–1944 English Channel and North Sea 1942 Fortress Europe 1941–44 Dieppe France and Germany 1944–45 Normandy 1944 Rhine.
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	A Wolf's head, caboshed[1]
Squadron Codes	KH (Mar 1941 – May 1945 )
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Supermarine Spitfire, North American P-51 Mustang
Helicopter	CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136 Kiowa, Bell CH-146 Griffon
Trainer	Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
Transport	Beechcraft Model 18, de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter

403 "City of Calgary" (Helicopter) Operational Training Squadron (403 Sqn) is a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) located at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. It is equipped with CH-146 Griffons and provides operational aircrew training to the crews who will fly the helicopter. The squadron also conducts operational test and evaluation, develops aviation tactics and carries out operations in support of the 1 Wing mission. It also supports the local Army requirements of the Combat Training Centre. It was founded as No. 403 Squadron RCAF.

A pilot will spend three months at Gagetown learning to fly the Griffon before being posted to one of 1 Wing's five operational squadrons. While at Gagetown, pilots learn advanced aircraft handling, including slinging and hoisting, tactical formation, flying and low-level tactical flying.