No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF | |
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Active | 15 Aug 1918 – 15 May 1919 30 Oct 1939 – 10 Mar 1942 10 Apr 1942 – 4 Nov 1944 15 Nov 1944 – 1 May 1950 1 Oct 1959 – 30 Sep 1964 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Nickname(s) | Canadian |
Motto(s) | French: Toujours prêt ("Always ready")[1] |
Engagements | Battle of Britain, Invasion of Sicily, Berlin Airlift |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Douglas Bader Alan Eckford |
Insignia | |
Squadron Badge heraldry | A moose's head erased At the time that the badge was awarded, many of the air crew serving with the squadron were Canadian.[2] |
Squadron Codes | LE (Feb 1940 – Dec 1941, Apr 1942 – Nov 1944) KY (Nov 1944 – 1948) |
No. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron. It flew in many roles during the First World War, Second World War and Cold War.
During the Second World War, the squadron was notable for (firstly) having many pilots who were either RCAF personnel or Canadians serving in the RAF – to the extent that it was sometimes known, unofficially, as "242 Canadian Squadron" – and (secondly) for being the first squadron to be commanded by Douglas Bader.