404 Maritime Air Patrol and Training Squadron Badge

404 Maritime Air Patrol and Training Squadron Badge

Blazon

A buffalo's head.
(Glossary of Heraldic Terms)

Significance

While the official description of the badge is somewhat succinct, it might also be described in a more expanded form as Argent, a buffalo s head proper, couped and facing to the dexter. The buffalo's head is used as the main device for this badge because of the reputation of this native of Canada as a fierce and powerful fighter. In its natural habitat, elder members of the buffalo herd will form a barrier between the calves and any predator. This squadron adopts much the same principle, for their fighting capabilities are used to create a barrier formidable to those who try to attack anything within, and secure to those depending upon it for survival.

Remarks

This squadron was originally formed as a coastal fighter unit on April 15, 1941 in Toomey Island, Hants, England. It was disbanded on May 15, 1945. The squadron was reformed on April 30, 1951 as a maritime reconnaissance squadron at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, and redesignated maritime patrol on July 17, 1956. Still operational the squadron, VP-404, trains aircrews on the CP-140 Aurora in CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Motto

Ready to fight

Battle Honours

Atlantic, 1941-1945; English Channel and North Sea, 1941- 1945; Biscay, 1943-1944, Normandy, 1944; Baltic, 1944-1945.

References

Badges Of The Canadian Navy by Arbuckle, J. Graeme. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1987.