408 (Goose) Squadron was the second Canadian bomber unit to form in RAF Bomber Command and began its illustrious career in 5 Group in June 1941 operating the twin-engine Handley Page Hampden medium bomber. The squadron remained on the front line, flirting very briefly with the ill-fated Avro Manchester, before concluding its time with 5 Group in September 1942 as the last unit to operate the Hampden.

A transfer to 4 Group required conversion to the unpopular Halifax, and this process saw the squadron remain non-operational until the end of the year. The unit became a founder member of the Canadian 6 Group in January 1943, and began Halifax operations shortly afterwards until converting to the Hercules-powered Mk II Lancaster in August.

In July 1944 a further conversion returned the squadron to the much-improved Halifax Mk VII variant, and it was this type that took the unit through to the end of hostilities. Chris Ward’s revised and expanded series of Bomber Command Squadron Profiles rightly covers the contribution of the many nations supporting Britain in the fight against tyranny.

It is fitting that the first in the series to focus on an RCAF unit is the profile of 408 (Goose) Squadron, RCAF. .