Prelude - Operation Leapfrog

The Sabre Era

Finally "S" for Sabre day arrived on the 10 November 1951 when S/L Bricker flew number 19128 to officially begin operational training for the Squadron. From this day flying began in earnest to prepare for their coming transfer to overseas duty in Luffenham, England, where 410 and 441 Squadrons were already operating.

 

And of course this is the first contingent of ground-crews to stand-up in the newly reformed 439 Sabre-Tooth Tiger Squadron. Where are you in this photo ?

Front row: L-R 1 Sgt.C.L. Carrol  2 LAC W.A. Duncan  3 Cpl.J.H. Pedlar  4 LAC L.L. Mason  5 LAC J.B.Y. Garceau  6 LAC R.F. Reid  7 Cpl. G.Fafard  8 unknown 9 Cpl. B.A. Macdonald

 Second row. L-R 1 LAC J.C.G. Carignan  2 Cpl. G. Merkel

 Standing on the wing: L-R 1 Cpl. L.G. Graveline  2 Sgt. R.J.E. Parent

Standing on the step; LAC G,Gratton

Hanging onto the cockpit rail: Cpl. J. McNally

 Photo source: 439 Sqn Archives

Webmaster's Note: (18 Sep 05) J.G. (Jacques) Tardif was kind enough to advise me that I had originally and unintentionally posted a reverse image of this photo. As a result the names might somewhat askew.

On 15 April 1952, S/L Bricker informed the Squadron that they would be the first Canadian Squadron to fly jets across the Atlantic. Thus the stage was set for Leapfrog I, which was to begin 30 May 1952.

 

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Prelude - Operation Leapfrog

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