Home  |   Museum  |   Bomber Command  |   Aircrew Chronicles  |   Aircrew Losses  |   Nose Art  |   BCATP  |   Lancaster  |   Media

No. 6 Group and the Canadian Squadrons
Bomber Command

No. 419 (Moose) Squadron

Commanding Officers W/C J. Fulton DFC and Bar 21 December 1941 - 28 July 1942 (KIA) W/C A. P. Walsh 5 August 1942 - 2 September 1942 (KIA) W/C M. M. Fleming 8 September 1942 - 8 October 1943 W/C G. A. McMurdy 11 October 1943 - 22 October 1943 (KIA) W/C W. P. Pleasance 25 October 1943 - 21 August 1944 W/C D. C. Hagerman 22 August 1944 - 25 January 1945 W/C M. E. Ferguson 26 January 1945 - 6 August 1945 W/C R. F. Dyer 7 August 1945 - 5 September 1945

419 Squadron was formed at Mildenhall on 15th December, 1941. W/Cdr John 'Moose' Fulton was appointed its commanding officer but, sadly, was lost on operations during the night of 28/29 July, 1942. Described as, "highly capable and charismatic, freckled, ginger-haired, soft-spoken, and slow-gaited, he was a tireless, fearless, and popular commander who led from the front and fully shared the risks with his men, in spite of orders at the time to C/O's to, "minimize their operational flying."

Moose's dedication and concern for his men led the squadron to take his nickname for its own. No. 419 'Moose' Squadron is the only Canadian squadron to be named after a person and, even today, squadron members refer to themselves as 'Moosemen'.

The squadron motto, written in Cree rather than the traditional Latin, is "Moosa Aswayita" that translates to, "Beware of the Moose."" A fierce fighter, the moose is indigenous to Canada.

419 Squadron was transferred to No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Group on 1 January, 1943, moving to various bases throughout the war. From Mildenhall, the unit moved to Leeming, Topcliffe, and Croft until finally relocating to Middleton St. George in November, 1942.

Initially operating Wellington bombers, 419 Squadron later converted to Halifaxes and then Lancasters for the remainder of its operations. In a period of just over three years the squadron carried out 400 missions involving 4325 sorties and dropped "well over 14,000 tons" of bombs. The squadron code "VR" indicated the plane was with this unit.

Canadian Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, one of only sixteen servicemen awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War, served with 419 Squadron. Among the aircrew, 194 service awards were distributed, including Mynarski's Victoria Cross. 419 Squadron became one of the most decorated RCAF units of the war.

419 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force.



419 Squadron Lancaster



419 Squadron Halifax



419 Squadron Wellington