The Long Trip Home

419 Squadron
Returns to Canada

With the war in Europe over the Allies centered their attention on the Pacific War. In the back of someone's mind was "Tiger Force".
Tiger Force which was not open knowledge at the time was to have used modified Lancaster heavy bombers as a fighting force in the Pacific
The crews of 419 squadron were into training within days of V-E day. Their Lancasters were to be flown home to Canada by their crews.
The Canadian made Lancaster X's had been originally flown to Britian by members of Ferry Command, using a more Northerly route; to avoid ememy aircraft.
Now the route would take the Moosemen on a Southerly route. First cross country to RAF St. Mawgan in Cornwall England, then to Lagens in the Azores, finally a long leg to Gander Newfoundland and then to Yarmouth Nova Scotia.
This trans-oceanic route would be far different to the Navigators, Wireless Operators and Pilots then the missions to Europe. So learning to fly following beams and astro-navigation were the order of the day.
The first ten aircraft left Middleton St. George at 1000 hours on June 1st./45, followed by the other ten aircraft at 1200 hours on June 4th.
All twenty aircraft arrived save at Gander Newfoundland and then to RCAF Station Debert in Nova Scotia.