No. 143 Wing RCAF
No. 143 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF
ActiveMay 1944 - August 1945
Country Canada
BranchRoyal Air Force / Royal Canadian Air Force
SizeWing
Part ofRAF Second Tactical Air Force
No. 83 (Composite) Group RAF

No. 143 Wing RCAF was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force which served with the Royal Air Force in Europe during the Second World War.

History

RAF Second Tactical Air Force was established on 1 June 1943. No. 143 Wing was established on 10 January 1944. It comprised No. 438 Squadron RCAF, No. 439 Squadron RCAF, and No. 440 Squadron RCAF. As a fighter-ground attack unit, its purpose was to support the Canadian and British troops of 21st Army Group.

On 5 June 1944 while at RAF Hurn as "No. 143 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF"[1][2]

From 22/23 June 1944 to 30 August 1944 the wing was located at B.5 (FRESNE CAMILLE) (for two days only) and then Lantheuil (B.9), just south of Creully, before moving forward to keep up with the ground forces.

The Typhoon aircraft has been painted by Robert Bailey, picturing F/Lt Harry Hardy, RCAF, flying the "Pulverizer 2".

Sqn Ldr Donald A. Brewster OBE was the Wing's Chief Technical Officer from April 1944 until the end of the war.[3]

The wing disbanded on 26 August 1945.[4]

Aircraft

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ "Hurn (Bournemouth)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  2. ^ Falconer 1998, p. 123.
  3. ^ "History of 143 (RCAF) Wing". Canadian Wings. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  4. ^ Wings 111 - 192 P

Bibliography

Categories