The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) played a huge part in the defeat of Germany during World War Two, fielding squadrons across all roles and Commands. No 407 was the second Canadian unit in Coastal Command and, unusually, has spent its whole career on maritime patrol duties. The squadron was formed at Thorney Island, Hampshire, equipped with Lockheed Hudson Mk.IIIs and Vs under Wg Cdr Monty Styles as part of 16 Group Coastal Command on May 8,1941. July saw a move to North Coates, Lincolnshire where it became operational in the hazardous anti-shipping role on September 1, with its first attack on the night of the 7th, when the CO bombed a ship off Borkum, Germany. Thereafter 407 Squadron flew regular 'Rover' and anti E-boat patrols, and soon became expert in the anti-shipping task. It lost its first crew on 'ops' on October 10 when P/O Frank Hegarty and crew, on their fifth mission, were shot down in Hudson V AM586/RR-T while attacking an armed trawler. Three days later 407 had its first confirmed success when the dredger Hamm 109 was sunk off Terschelling, the Netherlands. The pace then quickened. On November 1, four Hudsons led by Sqn Ldr Peter Lewis damaged the 5,600-ton Braheholm off the Dutch coast, with the 190-ton Vios Ⅳ being sunk on the 11th. However, losses increased including P/O Jimmy Codville's crew in AE655 on the 5th, while others returned with flak damage. On November 21, the CO was awarded a DSO, the unit's first decoration. On December 9, it claimed its biggest ship when the Madrid (8,800 tons) was sunk, though three more crews were lost. By the end of the year 407 Squadron had created a Coastal Command record for tonnage of shipping hit and had been given the sobriquet 'Demon Squadron'.
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