RCAF 440th History
KA GANAWAITAK  SAGUENAY
"He who protects the Sanguenay"
Battle Honours
Aluetians 1942-43 (designated 111 Squadron)                     Fortress Europe 1944
Normandy 1944
France and Germany 1944-45
Arnheim Rhine   1944-45

Re-formed as a fighter unit at Rockcliffe Ontario on 3 November 1941,the squadron flew Kittyhawk P-40 aircraft on the west coast air defence.From July 1942 to August 1943 it was part of an RCAF reinforcement to the United States Army Air Corps in Alaska.Together with the 442 Squadron (then the 14th) 440 (111) flew two tours of offensive operations against Japanese forces on the island of Kiska in the western Aluetians Islands.

         Selected in late 43 as one of six home fighter units for overseas duty it was redesignated 440 a fighter Bomber unit.Together with thier old Aluetians comrade in arms the 442 and three eastern air command squadrons they formed as the newly created RCAF 144 Wing.
        440's new station was Ayr in Scotland but other Stations included Hurn,Funtington,Warmwell as well as bases in France and the Low Countrys towards the wars end.                                                                                      
First mission 1 July 1942 6 Kittyhawks From Elmendorf  fiels Anchorage Alaska  to intercept unidentified aircraft.
Turns out to be a Bolingbroke.
First offensive mission 25 September 1942.4 P-40s act as fighter escort for 12 USAAC  P-39s and 9 B-24s  on a Bomb Raid of Kiska.After the Bomb raid the P-40s strafed naval targets in and around the Harbor.Squadron Leader Ken Boomer shot down a japanese seaplane in this engagement.                                                                                Once they reformed under 144 wing as 440 Squadron,the unit flew Hawker Hurricanes in the Fighter-bomber role.Soon they were replaced by the Hurricanes sucessor The Hawker Typhoon.Although this plane was beset by problems early on,by 1943 it was a formidable weapon in the ground attack role.440 Typhoons strafed Ships,Trains,Tanks small installations and participated in the softening up of Fortress Europe in preparation for D-Day.Once the Typhoons released thier bombloads they would climb up and act in the fighter role including escorting freindly heavy bombers of the USAAF in daylight raids.But 440 specialized in Night fighting Raids also.
Below is a painting of a 440 typhoon attacking German panzers
Historical Links
Below
Coming Soon!
USAAC B-24s and P-38s on the island of Adak 1942