No. 432 Squadron RCAF

No. 432 Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force formed during the Second World War.

No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron RCAF 432 All Weather Fighter Squadron RCAF
Active	1943–1945 1954–1961
Country	Canada
Branch	Royal Canadian Air Force
Role	Strategic bombing (1943–1945) Fighter-interceptor (1954–1961)
Part of	No. 6 Group RCAF (1943–1945)
Nickname(s)	Leaside
Motto(s)	Saeviter ad Lucem ("Ferociously towards the light")
Battle honours	English Channel & North Sea 1943 Fortress Europe 1944–1945 France and Germany 1944–1945 Biscay Ports 1944 Ruhr 1943–1945 Berlin 1943–1944 German Ports 1943–1945 Normandy 1944 Rhine, Biscay 1943
Insignia
Squadron Code	QO (1943–1945)
Squadron Badge	Argent in front of a full moon Argent a Cougar leaping downwards Sable armed and langued Gules.
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Vickers Wellington Mk.X Avro Lancaster Mk.II Handley Page Halifax Mk.III & VII (1943–1945)
Fighter	Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (1954–1961)

History

It was first formed at RAF Skipton-on-Swale in May 1943, as part of No. 6 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The unit was equipped with Wellington Mk.X bombers.^[1]

The squadron deployed to RAF East Moor in mid-September, equipping with Lancaster Mk.IIs in October. In February 1944 they changed to Halifax Mk.IIIs, upgrading these to Halifax Mk.VIIs in July.^[1][2]

As part of a Royal Canadian Air Force public relations plan, the town of Leaside officially "adopted" No. 432 Squadron RCAF. Formed and adopted on 1 May 1943 the squadron took the town's name as its nickname, becoming 432 "Leaside" Squadron RCAF. The sponsorship lasted the duration of the war.^[3]

The squadron was disbanded at East Moor in May, 1945.^[1]

On October 1, 1954, it was reformed as a fighter squadron at CFB Bagotville flying the Canadian designed Avro CF-100. The squadron was again disbanded on October 15, 1961.^[4]

Manuel Sharko and Jack Stacy were mid-upper gunners in their respective Halifax bombers during the war.