442 Squadron has had a long standing association with British Columbia in the search and rescue role. The official badge of 442 Sqn reflects this association and has its emblem "HAIETLIK", the Lightning Snake of Nootka Indian Legend.Also on the emblem is the motto, " UN DIEU, UNE REINE, UN COEUR": one God, one Queen, one Heart.
442 Sqn began in early 1942 as 14 Fighter Sqn based at RCAF Station Sea Island in defence of the Pacific Coast.Equiped with Kitty Hawk fighters, the sqn was deployed to Amchitka in the Aleution Islands where it saw its first action against the Japanese.After the successful conclusion of the Aleution campaign the sqn briefly deployed to Boundary Bay airport. Shortly thereafter, re-equiped with Spitfires, it was redesignated 442 Fighter Sqn and sent overseas where it joined 144 Fighter Wing in England. Action was not long in coming, as 442 flew its first operational missions the very afternoon of its arrival at its new base in Hampshire, and went on to earn an enviable record during that conflict.
After the war, 442 was disbanded for a short time before being reformed in April 1946 as a reserve fighter sqn, at its old home at RCAF Station Sea Island before being again disbanded in 1964. During this period the sqn flew a number of types of aircraft in its fighter role, including the Vampire, Mustang, Sabre, and the T-33. Also in 1946,123 Rescue Flight was established at Sea Island, and was responsible for Search and Rescue on the west coast.Initially operating Dakota and Canso aircraft, the unit was later equipped with the Grumman Albatross Flying boat and the Vertol H-21 helicopter; the latter being the predecessor of the Labrador helicopter, which arrived on scene in 1964. In the same year the squadron moved to its present home at CFB Comox, and 1966, was redesignated as 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, marking the squadron's return to regular force status. In 1970 the Buffalo aircraft (DHC-5, DeHavilland) was added to the squadron inventory.
With its complement of 5 CH-149 Cormorant helicopters and six Buffalo transport aircraft, 442 Sqn is responsible for Search and Rescue coverage of the entire Victoria SAR region-an immense piece of real estate stretching from the American border to the high Artic, and from the Rocky Mountains well out to sea. Although geographically the smallest SAR region in the country, it is also the busiest, and boasts some extremely inhospitable terrain. Operations within the region are directed by the Rescue Coordination Center, based in Victoria. Annually, nearly 3,000 air,marine and humanitarian incidents occur in the Victoria Search and Rescue Region, and 442 Squadron participates in many of them.
442 Squadron is proud of its role in Search and Rescue, and of its long-standing association with Canada's west coast. After over twenty years in the search and rescue at CFB (19 Wing) Comox, 442 Squadron has stood up with the new CH149 Cormorant which has been holding SAR Standby since 15 July 2002. The CH113/A Labrador has now been retired from the Comox valley with a huge send-off Sept 2002. 11307 remains in the hangar hopefully to end up at the Comox Air museum.
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