by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region council is excited about the possibility of a cenotaph honouring the fallen heroes and the 75th anniversary of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron being erected in Cobden Park.
Squadron Honourary Colonel Del Lippert spoke to council about the project at a committee-in-council meeting held Wednesday, Feb. 15.
This project has been worked on for the past year, he said. This is the 75th anniversary of the squadron and there has never been a cenotaph erected to honour the fallen heroes of the squadron, he said.
H/Col. Lippert provided a history of the squadron, noting it was formed on November 7, 1942, as the eighth of 15 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Bomber Squadrons formed overseas. The squadron flew Wellington aircraft out of Croft, Yorkshire; and then Halifax and Lancaster bombers out of Leeming from May 3, 1943. Its first Commanding Officer was Group Captain Dudley Burnside.
In information provided to council, it was noted the Lion Squadron amassed an enormous amount of flying hours and won an impressive list of Battle Honours and individual distinctions. In 3,200 sorties comprising 26,000 flying hours, they dropped an incredible amount of high explosives on Fortress Europe and its ports. There were a total of 557 427 Squadron aircrew shot down or interred in WW II from the Squadron’s inception to the end of the war. Of these, six became internees in Ireland, 14 evaded capture and 118 were POWs. However, 419 lost their lives.
Indicative of the selfless bravery of the Lion crews were four Distinguished Service Orders, two Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, 16 Distinguished Flying Medals, and 147 Distinguished Flying Crosses.
On May 24, 1943, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adopted the Squadron and allowed the names of such stars as Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Joan Crawford, Heddy Lamarr, and others to be displayed on the aircraft.
Another highlight was the adoption of one of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s lion cubs, named Mareth. In addition, MGM presented a bronze lion to the Squadron. This gift and the affiliation with the MGM lion mascot strengthened the Squadron’s nickname.
“We are the lion squadron and became the lion squadron when we were adopted by MGM in 1943,” he said.
He noted that all Squadron 427 members receive a coin that allows them to get into MGM theatres throughout the world for free.
In 2007, the 427 Squadron became part of Canada’s Special Operations, which supports various operations throughout the world, H/Col. Lipptert said. The most recent activities were in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Usually we’re the first in, as are all special operations, when there’s a conflict that Canada is exposed to,” he said.
The cenotaph is a 20-foot diameter black dyed concrete base; two crossed walls, approximately seven feet in height and seven feet wide, bearing the names of the fallen and a picture of all the aircraft flown in the Squadron and the names of the fallen; on top of this will stand a seven foot diameter, eight-inch thick polished granite surface, crowned by a seven foot life sized bronze lion, which is the 427 Squadron Crest.
“The lion itself is a piece of fine art,” H/Col. Lippert said.
While it would have been preferable to have a Canadian artist create the lion, H/Col. Lippert noted the cost would have been more than $20,000 above what a Utah artist was charging.
The project is $150,000, and the funds are now being raised, he said. The seven-foot bronze Lion on top of the cenotaph costs $50,000.
Initially the cenotaph was going to be erected in Memorial Park at Petawawa Garrison. The committee discussed the location, and since the garrison is locked down nights and weekends, decided it would not be an appropriate place, as people could not get in to see it when it was always convenient for them, H/Col. Lippert explained. The next option was beside the flag pole in Cobden Park, he said.
The committee feels having it on Highway 17 in the park, close to the road would be a more appropriate place for the cenotaph, and that’s why he’s at the meeting to ask for the local approval.
The only maintenance the cenotaph requires will be the lions being washed and waxed twice a year, and personnel from Squadron 427 would come and do this, H/Col. Lippert stated.
Because of the change in location, there is a time constraint to find a location, he said. The unveiling of the cenotaph would be at the Gathering of the Lions, when previous members of 427squadron from across Canada and get together at the garrison. This year’s gathering is Oct. 14 and it’s hoped the unveiling of the cenotaph would occur on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Mayor Johnson is in favour of the cenotaph going in Cobden Park.
“I think this is a great honour for our municipality to be selected, or thought of even,” he said. “I definitely have a great deal of respect for 427, they have just been amazing throughout conflicts,” he said. “It’s an honour to have the base close and have this lion selected to be in our park.”
H/Col. Lippert said, “More important to us is not the lion, but the cenotaph itself.”
Councillor Cathy Regier agreed with the mayor’s thoughts on having the cenotaph in Cobden Park.
“I think this will be a real honour to have here and I would certainly support this,” she said, adding, “I wish you well.”
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said a report will be brought back to the March 15 council meeting, with an agreement to confirm ongoing maintenance and a site plan.
Mayor Johnson agreed saying, “We will look after getting you the paperwork at the next meeting.”
More Information about 427Squadron
by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region council is excited about the possibility of a cenotaph honouring the fallen heroes and the 75th anniversary of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron being erected in Cobden Park.
Squadron Honourary Colonel Del Lippert spoke to council about the project at a committee-in-council meeting held Wednesday, Feb. 15.
This project has been worked on for the past year, he said. This is the 75th anniversary of the squadron and there has never been a cenotaph erected to honour the fallen heroes of the squadron, he said.
H/Col. Lippert provided a history of the squadron, noting it was formed on November 7, 1942, as the eighth of 15 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Bomber Squadrons formed overseas. The squadron flew Wellington aircraft out of Croft, Yorkshire; and then Halifax and Lancaster bombers out of Leeming from May 3, 1943. Its first Commanding Officer was Group Captain Dudley Burnside.
In information provided to council, it was noted the Lion Squadron amassed an enormous amount of flying hours and won an impressive list of Battle Honours and individual distinctions. In 3,200 sorties comprising 26,000 flying hours, they dropped an incredible amount of high explosives on Fortress Europe and its ports. There were a total of 557 427 Squadron aircrew shot down or interred in WW II from the Squadron’s inception to the end of the war. Of these, six became internees in Ireland, 14 evaded capture and 118 were POWs. However, 419 lost their lives.
Indicative of the selfless bravery of the Lion crews were four Distinguished Service Orders, two Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, 16 Distinguished Flying Medals, and 147 Distinguished Flying Crosses.
On May 24, 1943, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adopted the Squadron and allowed the names of such stars as Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Joan Crawford, Heddy Lamarr, and others to be displayed on the aircraft.
Another highlight was the adoption of one of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s lion cubs, named Mareth. In addition, MGM presented a bronze lion to the Squadron. This gift and the affiliation with the MGM lion mascot strengthened the Squadron’s nickname.
“We are the lion squadron and became the lion squadron when we were adopted by MGM in 1943,” he said.
He noted that all Squadron 427 members receive a coin that allows them to get into MGM theatres throughout the world for free.
In 2007, the 427 Squadron became part of Canada’s Special Operations, which supports various operations throughout the world, H/Col. Lipptert said. The most recent activities were in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Usually we’re the first in, as are all special operations, when there’s a conflict that Canada is exposed to,” he said.
The cenotaph is a 20-foot diameter black dyed concrete base; two crossed walls, approximately seven feet in height and seven feet wide, bearing the names of the fallen and a picture of all the aircraft flown in the Squadron and the names of the fallen; on top of this will stand a seven foot diameter, eight-inch thick polished granite surface, crowned by a seven foot life sized bronze lion, which is the 427 Squadron Crest.
“The lion itself is a piece of fine art,” H/Col. Lippert said.
While it would have been preferable to have a Canadian artist create the lion, H/Col. Lippert noted the cost would have been more than $20,000 above what a Utah artist was charging.
Please see IF, Page 4
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The project is $150,000, and the funds are now being raised, he said. The seven-foot bronze Lion on top of the cenotaph costs $50,000.
Initially the cenotaph was going to be erected in Memorial Park at Petawawa Garrison. The committee discussed the location, and since the garrison is locked down nights and weekends, decided it would not be an appropriate place, as people could not get in to see it when it was always convenient for them, H/Col. Lippert explained. The next option was beside the flag pole in Cobden Park, he said.
The committee feels having it on Highway 17 in the park, close to the road would be a more appropriate place for the cenotaph, and that’s why he’s at the meeting to ask for the local approval.
The only maintenance the cenotaph requires will be the lions being washed and waxed twice a year, and personnel from Squadron 427 would come and do this, H/Col. Lippert stated.
Because of the change in location, there is a time constraint to find a location, he said. The unveiling of the cenotaph would be at the Gathering of the Lions, when previous members of 427squadron from across Canada and get together at the garrison. This year’s gathering is Oct. 14 and it’s hoped the unveiling of the cenotaph would occur on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Mayor Johnson is in favour of the cenotaph going in Cobden Park.
“I think this is a great honour for our municipality to be selected, or thought of even,” he said. “I definitely have a great deal of respect for 427, they have just been amazing throughout conflicts,” he said. “It’s an honour to have the base close and have this lion selected to be in our park.”
H/Col. Lippert said, “More important to us is not the lion, but the cenotaph itself.”
Councillor Cathy Regier agreed with the mayor’s thoughts on having the cenotaph in Cobden Park.
“I think this will be a real honour to have here and I would certainly support this,” she said, adding, “I wish you well.”
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said a report will be brought back to the March 15 council meeting, with an agreement to confirm ongoing maintenance and a site plan.
Mayor Johnson agreed saying, “We will look after getting you the paperwork at the next meeting.”
More information regarding 427 Squadron
1952: Re-Activated as Fighter Squadron
On August 1, 1952, the Lions were reactivated as a Fighter Squadron flying F-86 Sabres at St-Hubert, Quebec, before moving to Zweibrucken, Germany. The Squadron subsequently served in France, Morocco and Sardinia, as ambassadors for Canada, before becoming the first Canadian squadron to be equipped with the CF-104 Starfighter in 1962. The Squadron was again disbanded on July 1, 1970.
1971: Re-Activated as Tactical Helicopter Squadron
The Lions returned on January 1st, 1971, as a Tactical Helicopter Squadron based at Petawawa, Ontario, where they are to this day. Originally equipped with the L-19 Bird Dog, they received soon after the CH-136 Kiowa light observation helicopter, as well as the CH-135 Twin Huey utility helicopters. The Squadron has participated in numerous overseas operations such as Norway, Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula (Operation CALUMET), as well as a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Central America (Operation SULTAN). In 1992, 427 Squadron switched to a uniform fleet of CH-135 Twin Hueys. Soon after, in March 1993, a flight of Lions deployed to Somalia in support of Operation DELIVERANCE where they distinguished themselves in day and night operations. Maintaining its versatility in deployed operations, 427 supported United Nations support missions in Haiti from 1995 to the present on Operations PIVOT and STABLE.
427 Squadron retired the Twin Huey in July 1997, while receiving the last of the newly purchased BELL CH-146 Griffon Fleet. The Lions have used the Griffon in a number of operations to date, including Operation RECUPERATION (1998 Ice Storm), Operation CENTRAL (Honduras 1998), Operation HURRICANE (Arctic 1999), Operation PALLADIUM Roto 5 (1999-2000), Roto 7 in 2000-2001, and was the driving force behind Roto 11/12, Bosnia 2002-2003, Afghanistan from 2003 to 2012 and most recently in Iraq.
On February 1, 2006, the unit was renamed 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron and became a part of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). As part of this newly formed command, 427 SOAS provides an aviation capability to the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR), The Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit, Joint Task Force 2 and the Canadian Special Operations Training Centre.
Battle Honours:
• English Channel and North Sea 1943–1945
• Baltic 1944–1945
• Fortress Europe 1943–1944
• France and Germany 1944–1945
• Biscay 1944
• Biscay Ports 1943–1944
• Ruhr 1943–1945
• Berlin 1943–1944
• German Ports 1943–1945
• Normandy 1944
• Rhine
• Afghanistan
Immortalize your name on a plaque in the vicinity of the Cenotaph by donating:
Diamond – $10,000 Platinum – $1,000 Gold – $500 Silver – $200
How to donate
By mail: Cheques or money orders may be made out to the “RCAF Association Trust.” Please write 427 Association Cenotaph Fund in the memo portion of the cheque. Mail to:
Office Manager
RCAF Association Trust Fund
222 Somerset Street West, Suite 405.
Ottawa, ON, K2P 2G3.
In person: We encourage anyone who would like to make a public presentation for publicity purposes e.g. Garrison Newspaper. To do so, contact Honorary Colonel Del Lippert (613) 646-7904 or email at [email protected] or [email protected]. He will be pleased to arrange a meeting complete with oversized cheque and photographer.
Online: Go to www.canadahelps.org
• Go to Get Started Find a Charity
• Search by Keywords Royal Canadian Airforce Association
• Select Royal Canadian Air Force Association Trust
• Scroll down to Donate to this Charity Now
• Complete Donation Amount
• Select from dropdown menu: 427 Lion Squadron Association Memorial Cenotaph Cause
• Include a message if desired. Tax receipts will be sent by the RCAF Association Trust.
Due to privacy legislation, the RCAF Association is not permitted to inform 427 Squadron of your name without receiving first your permission. If you have donated or in the process of, please email Wenjun Song ([email protected]) at the RCAF Association and indicate that you agree to having your name forwarded to the Squadron and that you would like your name to be inscribed on the plaque of donors.
