427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron

427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
427e Escadron d'opérations spéciales d'aviation (French)
Active	1944–1946; 1952–1970; 1971–present;
Country	Canada
Type	Special operations helicopter squadron
Part of	Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	Garrison Petawawa
Nickname(s)	Lion Squadron
Motto(s)	Ferte manus certas (Latin for 'Strike with a sure hand')
Engagements	World War II; Operation Deliverance; War in Afghanistan; Operation Impact;
Decorations	Distinguished Service Order; Conspicuous Gallantry Medal; Distinguished Flying Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross;
Battle honours	See § Battle honours
Website	www.canada.ca/en/special-operations-forces-command/corporate/organizational-structure/427-so-aviation-squadron.html

427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) (French: 427^e Escadron d'opérations spéciales d'aviation, 427 EOSA) is a tactical helicopter unit that provides aviation support to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. The squadron is based at Garrison Petawawa (CFB Petawawa), Ontario with a fleet of Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters.^[1] It was founded during the Second World War as No. 427 Squadron RCAF.

History

427 Squadron started as a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) bomber squadron formed at Croft, England on 7 November 1942 and spent its wartime entirely in England as a part of No. 6 Group RCAF, part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command. 427 flew Vickers Wellingtons, the Mk IIIs and Mk Xs, from its first operational mission on 14 December 1942, a minelaying sortie to the Frisian Islands, until May 1943 when it was relocated to Leeming, North Yorkshire. Re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk V aircraft, the squadron flew intensely until early 1944 when it replaced its inventory with Halifax Mk III aircraft. This fleet saw the greatest number of missions and in slightly more than a year's time they were then replaced by Avro Lancaster bombers prior to the end of the Second World War. The Lancasters were used for prisoner of war repatriation until the end of May 1946. 427 was stood down on 1 June 1946.^[2]

The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1952 at RCAF Station St. Hubert (Saint-Hubert is a borough in the city of Longueuil, Quebec) as 427 Fighter Squadron, flying Canadair Sabres, and was transferred to No. 3 (Fighter) Wing at Zweibrücken in March 1953. Selected as the first European RCAF squadron to receive the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter for the nuclear strike role, the squadron was stood down from its day-fighter role on 15 December 1962 and reformed as 427 (Strike-Attack) Squadron two days later.^[3]

On 1 February 1968, unification of the Canadian Armed Forces integrated 427 into the new Canadian Armed Forces. The squadron was again disbanded on 1 July 1970.^[3]

427 came back into existence as 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at Garrison Petawawa, where it remains today.^[4]

The squadron has also taken an active role in humanitarian efforts such as the January 1998 ice storm in eastern Canada, where the squadron deployed eight aircraft to Ottawa and Kingston, and the November 1998 mission to help the victims of Hurricane Mitch. With only 24 hours' notice, four 427 Squadron Bell CH-146 Griffons deployed to La Ceiba, Honduras. Once in the country, Griffon crews airlifted medical teams into communities cut off by the hurricane.^[5] For the next six weeks, the squadron ferried supplies and aid workers to many isolated towns and villages.

On 1 February 2006, command of 427 was transferred to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, as it took on a full-time role of special operations aviation support. Shortly thereafter, it was renamed 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS).^[1] Qualified tactical aviators selected by 427 SOAS must complete SOTAC (Special Operation Tactical Aviation Course), which runs for approximately four months.^[6]

The squadron has a dedicated concrete helipad, measuring 150 ft × 150 ft (46 m × 46 m), at Petawawa Heliport.^[7]

Aircraft flown by 427 Squadron

Historic aircraft

Historical fleet
Aircraft	Variants	Operational period	Notes
Vickers Wellington	Mk.III	November 1942 – March 1943	^[8]
Vickers Wellington	Mk Xs	February 1942 – May 1943	^[8]
Handley Page Halifax	Mk.V	May 1943 – February 1944	^[8]
Handley Page Halifax	Halifax Mk III	January 1944 – March 1945	^[8]
Avro Lancaster	Mk.I, Mk.III	March 1945 – May 1946	^[8]
Canadair Sabre	Mk.2	September 1952 – June 1953	^[9]
Canadair Sabre	Mk.5	May 1953 – September 1955	^[9]
Canadair Sabre	Mk.6	September 1955 – December 1962	^[9]
Canadair CF-104 Starfighter		December 1962 – 1970	^[9]
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog		January 1971 –	^[4]
Bell Twin Huey	CH-135 Twin Huey	1992 – July 1997	^[4]
Bell Kiowa	CH-136 Kiowa
Mil Mi-17	Mil CH-178	2010 – 2011	^{[Note 1]}

Current aircraft

Current fleet
Aircraft	Variants	Operational period	Notes
Bell CH-146 Griffon		December 1996 – present	^[10]
Beechcraft Super King Air	CE-145C Vigilance (350ER)	April 2024 – present	^[11]

Battle honours

Battle honours in small capitals are for large operations and campaigns and those in lowercase are for more specific battles. 427 Squadron was awarded the following battle honours, which are carried on their standard:^[4]