No. 168 Squadron RCAF

No. 168 Squadron RCAF was a heavy transport (H.T.) squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (unrelated to No. 168 Squadron RAF) which formed at Rockcliffe, Ontario in October 1943. Up to this time, mail had been sent by ships but due to the high losses at sea and the importance of mail to service personnel, the decision was made to switch the method of transport to aircraft. The Squadron’s primary role was to deliver mail to Europe, initially using six, surplus B-17 Flying Fortresses aircraft acquired from the US. Many modifications had to be made to these aircraft to make them both serviceable and useful in their role including new engines, removal of guns and other structural changes.^[1] In August 1944 the first of several B-24 Liberators were added to the Squadron.
One of the B17's (serial number 41-2581) was lost shortly after take off from Prestwick for Canada with the loss of 5 crew members, on 2 April 1944.^[2]

When the unit disbanded in 1946, it had completed 636 Atlantic crossings and logged 26,417 flying hours. Over 1,000 metric tons of mail, 4,000 metric tons of freight and 42,057 passengers were transported, which included additional operations based out of Great Britain. One of the squadron’s VIP Liberators carried distinguished passengers, such as members of the Royal Family, the Governor General and Prime Minister Mackenzie King.^[3]

The unit was disbanded on April 21, 1946.^[4] The squadron adopted a crest (manufactured by Crest Craft of Saskatoon) to be worn on Flying jackets, etc.

168 RCAF Squadron Crest manufactured by Crest Craft of Saskatoon, circa 1944.

References

1. "Daniel Lee". Thememoryproject.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
2. "RCAF Flying Fortresses". Rwrwalker.ca. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
3. A History of the Rockcliffe Airport Site: Home of the National Aviation Museum, Ottawa, Canada, 1999 casmuseum.techno-science.ca/doc/research/casm/e_Rockcliffe.pdf
4. "No. 168 Squadron, Canadian Air Force". Canadianwings.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.