Canada. Canadian Armed Forces. Transport Squadron, 436 : 436 Transport Squadron was formed in Gujrat, India on 9 October 1944. Equipped with the DC-3 Dakota, the Squadron`s primary task was that of supplying troops and material to the Allied 14th Army in Burma.
Belonging to 229 Group, 436 Squadron was part of a RAF-USAF-RCAF force known as "the Combat Cargo Task Force". On 31 August 1945 following cessation of hostilities, the squadron was relocated to Down Ampney, Glouchestershire in the UK. after having logged 32,000 flight hours and airlifting over 29,000 tons of supplies and 15,000 troops, casualties, and passengers.
Following ten months of transport work in post-war Europe, the Squadron flew home to Canada and was subsequently disbanded on 22 June 1946.
Increased Canadian post-war involvement in NATO and the United Nations necessitated an increase in RCAF transport ability and 436 Squadron was reformed at RCAF Station Dorval, Quebec, on 1 April 1953. Flying the C-119 Boxcar, the Squadron embarked on what would become a long tradition of support to the Army in the para-drop mission, international humanitarian aid, support to NATO and the U.N., and the life line to remote bases and outposts in the Canadian Arctic.
Following a hanger fire at Dorval, the Squadron moved to RCAF Station Downsview in Toronto in 1956. In 1964, the Squadron was once again on the move to Canadian Forces Base Uplands in Ottawa and re-equipped with it`s present Aircraft, the C-130 Hercules. Finally, in 1971, 436 Squadron move to their present home on the shores of Lake Ontario at Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
436 (Transport) Squadron has participated in every major airlift operation that the Canadian Forces have been involved in for the past 54 years. Today, as in the fifties, the Squadron`s two primary tasks remain: tactical transport / airdrop support of the army and global strategic airlift of personnel and equipment in support of Canada`s defence commitments.
The Squadron's motto, inscribed on the Squadron Colours is "ONUS PORTAMUS", meaning "WE CARRY THE LOAD".
