Royal Canadian Air Force Great site here and start off with 409sq: Read more at the link: RCAF.com : Squadrons : No. 409 Squadron The War Years No. 409 Nighthawk Squadron formed at Digby in June 1941 for night operations with Boulton-Paul Defiants, moving in July to Coleby Grange, where in August Beaufighter IIf's arrived, allowing detachments to be maintained elsewhere. Two victories were claimed during the early days of the Squadron's existence, but in June 1942 Beaufighter Mk VI's were received and a greater degree of success was achieved. In February 1943 a move was made to Acklington, with detachments maintained in at least four other locations. In December a return to Coleby Grange was made, with the various detachments continuing their separate existences. Little was seen during the year, but in March 1944 the Squadron moved to Hunsdon, converting to the Mosquito Mk XII and joined No. 85 Group of the 2nd TAF (Tactical Air Force). Intruder and offensive patrols commenced and much action was seen over the Normandy beachhead in June, 11 victories were claimed during this month. After some action against V-1 Flying Bombs, operations over Europe re-commenced, and late in August the unit moved to Carpiquet in France. The first night fighters to be based on the mainland. By mid-October the Squadron had settled in the Lille area, where it was to remain until April 1945. On April 19 a move was made to the Rhine in Germany, and from here the unit was able to claim six victories in a single night. Shortly after this the war ended with the total victories at 61 1/2 claimed. The squadrons code letters during this period were KP. Defiant NFI (July 1941 - September 1941) Beaufighter II (August 1941 - June 1942) Beaufighter VIF (June 1942 - August 1944) Mosquito XIII (April 1944 - June 1945)
Mexico too contributed, I have seen reference to Mexican National Pilots flying American P-47's in the Pacific.
Heres one pilot Mike ........ !! Captain P. A. Reynaldo Perez Gallardo (Mexican Air Force, retired) The son of a distinguished General of the Revolution of 1910-1917 who later served as Governor of the state of San Luis Potosi, Captain Perez was born on August 10, 1923 in the city of San Luis Potosi. Educated in Mexico and the United States, Captain Perez became fluent in English at an early age. He acquired a love for aviation from the Army pilots at a military camp where his family was stationed. He served as an infantry soldier in the Mexican Army in the 1930’s, defending the constitutional government against the rebel forces of Saturnino Cedillo, distinguishing himself in combat. He attended and graduated from, the prestigious Mexican Military Academy – the West Point of Mexico - attaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and serving as a Cavalry officer. During this time, he was admitted to the Military Aviation School at Guadalajara. He then led a group of aviation cadets to the United States for advanced military flight training and proudly received his pilot’s wings from the U.S. Army Air Force in early 1944. He returned to Mexico as a flight instructor in the Mexican Air Force. In July, 1944, rated one of the top fighter pilots in the Mexican Air Force, he was chosen by was chosen by President Manuel Avila Camacho to join a select group of Mexican pilots to become Fighter Squadron 201 (Escuadron Aereo de Pelea 201) at Mexico City. With great publicity on both countries, the unit was sent to air bases in Idaho and Texas for advanced tactical combat training and instruction in U.S. Army Air Force operating protocol. Upon graduation in February, 1945, the Squadron, now part of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force, was sent to the Philippines by order of President Avila Camacho. It was the only military force in history to leave Mexico on a fighting mission. There the unit was attached to the United States 5th Air Force, in May, 1945, where it flew close air support missions, providing vital assistance to American and Filipino ground forces in the liberation of the main island of Luzon from the Japanese occupation. In addition to tactical close air support missions, Lt. Perez was one of the few pilots selected to fly hazardous Very Long Range missions to strike targets on the Japanese-occupied Chinese island of Formosa (now Taiwan). Lieutenant Perez flew 26 combat missions plus training, reconnaissance and ferry flights. The Expeditionary Air Force was highly decorated and received congratulations on its success from General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the Pacific Theater a Presidential Unit Citation from the Philippine Secretary of Defense and many other honors. The pilots became national heroes in Mexico. Lieutenant Perez Gallardo and his companions in Squadron 201 came home to a hero’s welcome on November 18, 1945, when they were honored and personally congratulated by President Avila Camacho in a national ceremony that was broadcast live by radio throughout Mexico. He and his fellow pilots were decorated by the President with the Medalla Por Servicio en el Lejano Oriente – a special medal that was the only decoration ever awarded for foreign combat by Mexican military personnel. He also received the Air Medal from 5th Air Force Commander General George Kenney, with Citation signed by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. In 1946, Lieutenant Reynaldo Perez Gallardo was promoted to Captain and given command of Fighter Squadron 201. He led the unit for five years. He proudly flew his personal P-47 fighter aircraft, which bore his apodo or nickname, “Panchito” Captain Perez left the Air Force in 1951 and began a career in civil aviation and transportation in Mexico and the United States that included service as a corporate pilot, airshow work, a transportation assignment with PEMEX, the Mexican oil agency and work as a civil aeronautics accident investigator. He also managed the aerial reconnaissance of narcotics growers’ operations for the government in the state of Michoacan, bringing his total logged flight hours to 12, 736. In the mid-1960’s he was hired as Chief of Security for the National Institute of Social Security. He served in that capacity until moving to the United States in 1984. Captain Perez is now semi retired and lives with his wife in Austin, Texas, where he owns a successful trucking company. He is the founder of the Binational Society of Military History and is the subject of a television miniseries based his life currently being filmed in Texas. The City of Austin recently honored him for his work in giving presentations and lectures on U.S.-Mexico history to schools, civic groups, government organizations and military units, by declaring a special “Reynaldo Perez Gallardo Day” on March 6, 2003. Captain Reynaldo Perez Gallardo
