422 Squadron Gallery

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from the James Craik Photo Collection

DND Photo, 1957
 

DND Photo, 1957
 

Gene Micklossy, winter 1962/63

Aircraft By The Numbers

19601 flown by 422 and destined for the RAF as XB727
 

19637 (XB763) was being flown by 422 Squadron when it crashed,
without pilot or canopy, in a field near Aniche, France
during Operation Magnaflux.

More  XB763  Photos
 

422 Mark V Sabres
 

018
 

023
 

037
 

038
 

038
 

043
 

052
 

 
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New RCAF Marking Scheme   On 10 January 1958, an aide to the Chief of the Air Staff was asked about the feasibility of putting the RCAF abbreviation on smaller aircraft. The idea was to replace the two-letter unit code with the abbreviation RCAF. The two letter unit code "TF" was displayed on 422 aircraft until this time. Approval of the new marking scheme by the Air Council took place on 30 July 1958 and replacement of the two letter code on all squadron aircraft was completed by mid 1960.

 
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Squadron	Unit code
422	TF
444	VH

 
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422 Mark VI Sabres

377
 

383
 

387
 

392
 

406
 

411
 

419
 

422
 

422
 

423
F/O Gary Brooks
Air Base Karup, Denmark
15 June 1962
 

423   460   463   595
 
 

425
Air Base Karup, Denmark
15 June, 1962
 
 

425
S/L Bob Hallowell
Air Base Karup, Denmark
15 June, 1962
 

Painting by Marc Magee, 2016
Copyright 2016, All Rights reserved

425

The upper nose door is painted Red with a White Cross.

During high activity flying operations, getting the a/c efficiently marshaled and parked on their assigned buttons required a system that easily identified individual taxiing a/c. Each button was assigned four aircraft with a dedicated crew of technicians, usually four in number, who were responsible for maintaining a high level of serviceability for their a/c. Each crew decided to paint a unique coloured nose wheel door, easily seen from a distance that satisfied the need.

Notes: 422 dispersal only had one button (button #2) with a camouflage canopy.

Artist Marc Magee's stepfather, Pete Howe, flew with 422 Sqn.
 
 

425
 

428
 

429
 

429
 

431
 

431   392   419   469
 

440
 

442
 

442
 

451
 

453
 

457
 

457
 

462
 

464
 

466
 

469
 

473
 

473
 

497
 

497
 

499
 

507
 

508>
 

23508 was flown by both 422 and 444 Squadrons and Struck Off RCAF Strength on 17.4.63, two days after 422 was deactivated as a Sabre Squadron. This photo seems to be circa 1961 at the Sabre Wing Maintenance hanger when the Cobra tail insignia began to appear on 444 aircraft. The unit code 'TF' is an anomaly and should have been replaced by the abbreviation RCAF by this time. It was unusual for an aircraft to be SOS from one squadron and immediately returned to service with another squadron within the same Wing. Not sure which squadron has ownership here.
 

520
 

520
 

546
 

550
 

550
 

587
 

605
 

667
 

668
 

680
 

680
 

711
 

718
 

721
 

721
 

721
 

727

724
720
727
741
 

742
 

Scenes
 

422 Dispersal 1961
Bob Nesbitt
 

Decimomannu, Sardinia, Italy   1962
 

Decimomannu, Sardinia, Italy,
 

Bertrix, Belgium
 

Disbandment, April 1963
 

Farewell, April 1963
 

Scottish Aviation Siesta, Prestwick, Scotland,
Pat Barrett, 1963

 

 
Symbolism

On the 4(F) Wing Crest there are three erect golden lances flying banners to represent the three founding Fighter squadrons. The dark-coloured circle is symbolic of the Black Forest, with the Rhine River flowing across it.

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"If a stranger kept the point of his spear forward when he entered a strange land, it was a declaration of war; if he carried the spear on his shoulder with the point behind him, it was a token of friendship. Bestowed only on the valiant and well deserving soldier. The golden lance is the emblem of knightly service and signifies devotion to honour."

Source: Armorial Gold Heraldry Symbolism Library

Photo Credit   Hans-Jürgen König
http://www.rcaf.de

“AUF WACHT” (On Watch).