.Pennfield Ridge Air Station
No.127 Squadron - July 25, 1943-December 17, 1943

    Formed as a fighter unit at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on July 1, 1942 and was equipped with Hurricane aircraft. The squadron flew from Dartmouth, Gander NF and Pennfield Ridge NB on East Coast air defense. It's primary role was providing air defense for the Atlantic approaches to North America, especially Halifax's strategic harbour. In late 1943 No.127 Squadron was selected as one of six home fighter units for duty overseas; it was renumbered No. 443 (Fighter) Squadron at Digby, Lincolnshire, England on 8 February 1944. Flight Lieutenant "Wally" McLeod, No. 127 Squadron's last Commanding Officer and No. 443 Squadron's first Commanding Officer, became the RCAF's second highest scoring pilot during the Second World War with 21 enemy aircraft destroyed before he was killed over Holland on 27 September 1944.

August 21, 1943

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, 5655 attached to 127 (Fighter) Squadron, Yarmouth, NS - Pennfield Ridge aerodrome @ 1045 hours - Category "C"

Duty On Which Engaged: Local Flight

Nature Of Accident: Pilot error -  landed with U/C retracted, in spite of visual and R/T warning from Control Tower.

Classification: 7. Other.

Secondary or Contributory Factors: 32. U/C Drill - in air.

SOURCE: Accident Report Card (copy in archive holdings of "Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society").

"On returning from a local flight in Hurricane 1, 5655 attached here from No.127 F. Squadron, C25294 P.O. E. Piche landed with undercarriage retracted after having been warned visually and by R/T. The a/c. was damaged Cat. "C". The pilot was uninjured."

SOURCE: No.34 OTU Daily Dairy/ Library and Archives Canada/ Copy Number C-12364.

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