View source for 417 Combat Support Squadron

{{Short description|Canadian military flying unit}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 417 Combat Support Squadron
| native_name = {{nativename|fr|nolink=on|417<sup>e</sup> Escadron de soutien au combat}}
| image = 417SqnCrest.JPG
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| dates = {{plainlist|
* 1941–1945
* 1947–1949
* 1968–1983
* 1993–present
}}
| country = Canada
| branch = [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
| type = Combat support
| role = [[Search and rescue]]
| size = One squadron
| command_structure = 4 Wing
| garrison = [[CFB Cold Lake]]
| garrison_label = 
| equipment = 
| equipment_label = 
| nickname = 
| patron = 
| motto = Supporting liberty and justice
| colors = 
| colors_label = 
| march = 
| mascot = 
| battles = 
| anniversaries = 
| decorations = 
| battle_honours = {{plainlist|
* {{smallcaps|Defence of Britain, 1942}}
* {{smallcaps|Egypt and Libya, 1942–1943}}
* {{smallcaps|North Africa, 1943}}
* {{smallcaps|Sicily, 1943}}
* {{smallcaps|Italy, 1943–1945}}
* Salerno
* Anzio and Nettuno
* Gustav Line
* Gothic Line
}}
| website = {{official URL}}<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 = [[Kendra Kincade]]
| commander1_label = Honorary colonel
| commander2 = 
| commander2_label = 
| commander3 = 
| commander3_label = 
| commander4 = 
| commander4_label = 
| notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = ''Argent in front of a palm tree Or eradicated a sword Argent and fasces Gules in saltire''
| identification_symbol_label = 
| identification_symbol_2 = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack = 
| aircraft_bomber = 
| aircraft_electronic = 
| aircraft_fighter = 
| aircraft_interceptor = 
| aircraft_recon = 
| aircraft_patrol = 
| aircraft_trainer = 
| aircraft_transport = [[CH-146 Griffon]]
}}
'''417 Combat Support Squadron''' ({{langx|fr|links=no|417<sup>e</sup> Escadron de soutien au combat}}) is an [[Royal Canadian Air Force|Air Force]] unit with the [[Canadian Forces]]. Based at [[CFB Cold Lake]] it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided search and rescue.

==History==
417 Squadron was a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] formed in [[England]] on 27 November 1941 at [[RAF Charmy Down]] and was known as the "City of Windsor" squadron.<ref name="berryman">{{cite book |title=Somerset airfields in the Second World War |last=Berryman |first=David |year=2006 |publisher=Countryside Books |location=Newbury |isbn=1-85306-864-0 |pages=34–49}}</ref> It was equipped with the [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricane]] and later the [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]]. It was initially deployed in Egypt and followed the Allied advance through the Western Desert. On 10 July 1943 when the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] [[Allied invasion of Sicily|invaded Sicily (Operation Husky)]], the squadron was part of No. 244 Wing RAF in [[No. 211 Group RAF]].<ref>Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983, {{ISBN|0-912799-03-X}}); Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939–1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).</ref>

With the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, the squadron followed the advance through [[Italy]]. It disbanded in Italy on 1 July 1945.

The squadron reactivated in [[Canada]] on 1 June 1947, at [[Rivers, Manitoba]]. It was equipped with the [[North American P-51 Mustang]] for army close support training until 1 August 1948.

Reformed as a part of the [[Canadian Forces]] in 1970 it operated as an operational training squadron on the [[Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter]] at [[CFB Cold Lake]]. The squadron disbanded in 1983 with the retirement of the CF-104 fleet.

On 1 April 1993, No 417 Combat Support squadron was formed from CFB Cold Lake Base Flight plus aircraft servicing and maintenance elements of the Wing Maintenance organization. The squadron continued Base Flight's operations with ten [[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star]] and three [[UH-1 Iroquois|CH-118 Iroquois]]. When [[CFB Moose Jaw|Base Rescue Moose Jaw]] was disbanded in 1993, 417 Squadron gained two of their CH-118s, to operate a total of five.

In July 1995 417 Squadron received three [[CH-146 Griffon]] helicopters and the five CH-118s were retired. The CT-133 was retired in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/historical/silverstarlst_e.asp |title=CT-133 Silver Star |date=28 June 2007 |author=Air Force Public Affairs/Department of National Defence |access-date=12 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510135151/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/historical/silverstarlst_e.asp |archive-date=10 May 2006 }}</ref>

==Images==
<gallery>
Image:Spitfire VCs 417 Sqn RCAF in Tunisia 1943.jpg|[[Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants)|Mark VC Spitfires]] of No. 417 Squadron RCAF at [[Goubrine Airfield]], Tunisia, May 1943.
Image:CanadairCT133Line.JPG|[[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star]]s from 417 (Combat Support) Squadron.
Image:CF-104Starfighter01A.JPG|417 Operational Training Squadron [[CF-104 Starfighter]] on deployment to [[CFB Moose Jaw]] in 1982.
Image:CH-118103Huey01.JPG|Base Flight Cold Lake CH-118 Iroquois helicopter 118103 at [[CFB Cold Lake]], January 1992.
Image:CH-118103Huey02.JPG|CH 118 [[UH-1 Huey|Huey]] from 417 (Combat Support) Squadron.
Image:CH-146 Griffon and CH-118 CFB Cold Lake.jpg|The first [[CH-146 Griffon]] arrives at 417 Sqn, on the flight line with the [[UH-1 Huey|CH-118s]] it is to replace.
Image:CH-146 Griffon CFB Cold Lake 1995.jpg|417 Sqn's first [[CH-146 Griffon]], serial number 146414, arrived on 6 July 1995.
</gallery>

==Badges==
<gallery>
Image:417SqnCrest.JPG|417 Combat Support Squadron official badge 1993
Image:417SqnJokerBadge.JPG|417 Combat Support Squadron Rescue Flight badge 1993
Image:T-33Badge.JPG|417 Combat Support Squadron [[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star|T-33]] Flight aircraft type badge 1993
Image:417SqnBadge.JPG|417 Combat Support Squadron unofficial badge worn by all members 1993
Image:BaseFlightColdLakeBadge.JPG|Base Flight Cold Lake badge 1990
</gallery>

==Cadets==
417 Squadron is affiliated with 395 Edmonton "Griffon" Squadron [[Royal Canadian Air Cadets]], in [[Edmonton, Alberta]]. This affiliation began in 1993, with annual "Griffon Coin Parades" being hosted every year between the two units.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.395squadron.ca/squadron-history |title=Squadron History}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website}}
*[http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-4/2411-eng.asp Canada's Air Force:  417 "City of Windsor" Combat Support Squadron]
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{{Canadian Forces Air Command}}
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{{Canadian Armed Forces}}

[[Category:Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons]]
[[Category:Canadian Forces aircraft squadrons]]