433 Squadron History

Lance K. LeRay was editor, BAR Magazine, Toronto.

Those interested in aerial warfare will be particularly interested in pages 8 to 24 of this 112-page book. The person responsible for this part of the book is described by Rick Johnson of Hangar Bookshelf as “the Directorate of History.” Subsequent chapters were produced by current Squadron members, resulting in a suggestion of authority and authenticity. The volume has a four-color dust jacket and measures 10 ¼ inches wide by 8 ½ inches high. The work is heavily illustrated, with eight pages in full color, depicting the impressive-looking aircraft possessed by the Squadron at various stages and the handsome young men who formed the aircrews. While the title on the cover is in English (“433 Squadron History”), there is some French on the Squadron insignia: “Qui s’y frotte s’y pique.” The early history of the Squadron is recorded in English, but in 1973, 433 became essentially a French-language outfit, and description of subsequent events is bilingual. The Squadron was formed in England in 1943; it was adopted by the city of Timmins (famous for a porcupine population) in Ontario and used the quilled animal as its emblem. The 433 became operational January 2, 1944, as part of No. 6 Royal Canadian Air Force bomber group. It originally was equipped with Halifaxes but was later graduated to the more prestigious Lancasters, which generally flew higher, carried a heavier payload, and ranged further afield. Material is well documented, and the statistics are highly satisfying to the historian.