413 Squadron was created as the third RCAF squadron attached to the RAF Coastal Command and equipped with PBY Catalina flying boats. 413 Squadron flew reconnaissance and anti-submarine operations over the North Atlantic under RAF Coastal Command until transferred to South East Asia Command. Stationed in Ceylon, it made reconnaissance flights over the Indian Ocean until 1945 when it was transferred to RAF Bomber Command. The squadron gained fame for the actions of Squadron Leader Leonard Birchall, who detected a large Japanese task force approaching Ceylon. This allowed time for the defenders to prepare, and foiled what could have been a major blow to the Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean. The squadron was disbanded in February 1945. Reformed at RCAF Rockcliffe on April 1, 1947, it took over the duties of No. 13 Squadron. It operated in this role until November 1, 1950. The squadron reformed again on August 1, 1951, as a fighter squadron at CFB Bagotville. Equipped with the F-86 Sabre they deployed to Zweibrücken, Germany. The squadron stood down on April 7, 1957, and was then reformed on May 1 operating the Avro CF-100 Canuck at Bagotville. The squadron again disbanded on December 30, 1961. The squadron was reactivated at CFB Summerside on July 8, 1968, in its current role of a Transportation and Rescue Squadron. With the closure of Summerside, the squadron relocated to CFB Greenwood on June 10, 1991. On July 13, 2006, 413 Squadron suffered the first fatal crash of a Cormorant in Canadian service when a CH-149 based at CFB Greenwood crashed while conducting a night training exercise near Canso, Nova Scotia. Killed in the incident were Sgt. Duane Brazil, 39; Master Cpl. Kirk Noel, 33; and Cpl. Trevor McDavid, 31, four other crew members were injured. On Aug 21st, 2015, LCol Scott Murphy handed over command of 413 Sqn to LCol James Marshall.
Operations
413 Transport and Rescue Squadron conducts search and rescue and airlift throughout an 1,800,000 square mile area in eastern Canada. The unit is made up of approximately 200 personnel including aircrew, an Aircraft maintenance section and administrative support. As the primary air search and rescue unit on Canada's East Coast, 413 Squadron crews cover an area extending from the south of Nova Scotia, north to Iqaluit on Baffin Island as far west as Quebec City and east out to the middle of the Atlantic. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Halifax operationally controls one Hercules and four Cormorant Aircraft for primary Search and Rescue response. 413 Squadron has crews on standby 24-hours a day to respond to marine vessels or Aircraft in distress, to carry out medical evacuations, or search for missing persons year round. 413 Squadron has an intimate working relationship with the non-profit Civil Air Search and Rescue Association in the Maritimes and Newfoundland/Labrador. Both the Hercules and the Cormorant carry out annual visits to each of the zones in the Halifax Search and Rescue Region to assist in the training of CASARA member as spotters. 413 Squadron is also tasked by 1 Canadian Air Division to provide one Hercules for global strategic transport. Missions include humanitarian airlift and support of other units of the Canadian Forces. Generally the destinations are in North America, the Caribbean, or Western Europe, but could be anywhere in the world.
