916 Starfighter

439 Squadron CAF posing for the Tiger Meet at RAFG Gutersloh 1982

439 Squadron arrived at Bournemouth, England in December, 1943, as the overseas successor to 123 Army Cooperation Training Squadron.
After a short stay at Wellingore, the Squadron moved to Ayr, Scotland in January, 1944 (it was in Ayr that 439 joined 143 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force).
Three months later the Tigers moved to Hum, on the south coast of England.
Throughout these deployments, 439 carried out operational training in the ground attack role on Hurricane IVs and Typhoons.
The Squadron carried out pre D-Day operations from Hum and Funtington. On 27 June they moved across the Channel to Lantheuill, France.
During the Battle of Normandy the Squadron flew 1063 sorties on Typhoons in support of the ground forces.
The Squadron finally returned to England on 22 August 1945 and was officially disbanded. In all, 13 Squadron pilots had won DFCs.
439 Squadron was reactivated in 1951 at Uplands Air Force Base in Ottawa, Canada.
Only one year was spent flying the new F-86 MK II Sabre in preparation for an overseas deployment.
In May 1952, the Ferry operation dubbed Leap Frog 1, saw 439 move to Luffenham, England.
Three years later the Squadron took their new MKV Sabres to Marville, France until the Squadron was deactivated in 1963.
439 Squadron was not in retirement for long. In March 1964, again in Marville, the Tigers acquired the new CF-104 Starfighter.
Working in conjunction with other NATO forces, 439 flew the reconnaissance/attack role.
The Squadron remained in Marville until March, 1967, at which time it moved to Lahr, West Germany.
In July 1970, 439 moved to Baden-Soellingen, West Germany and assumed the role of ground attack in July 1972.
November 29, 1984 signified the end of an era for 439 Squadron as it ceased operation with the CF-104 Starfighter on that date.
During the following year the Tigers converted to the CF- 18 Hornet at 410 Operational Training Squadron at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.
On 29 November 1985, 439 reformed at CFB Baden-Soellingen as part of Canada's contribution to NATO in Europe.
439 Squadron was the final CF-18 Squadron in Europe and disbanded on May 15, 1993.