425 Squadron Les Allouettes

[GilletteNorth]

This squadron's badge features a lark and it's motto "Je te plumerai" means I will pluck you. It made me think of the children's song:

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la tête
Je te plumerai la tête
Et la tête, et la tête
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Did 425 Squadron pick their motto and squadron symbol based on a childrens' song? Or was the song created by a squadron member and eventually it became known as a childrens' song? I was unable to find out who wrote the song, only that it is a french-canadian folk song.

[Siddley Hawker]

Did 425 Squadron pick their motto and squadron symbol based on a childrens' song?

I'll be plucked if I know.

[just curious]

Yes. 425 squadron adopted the motto during the second world war when they were stood up as a fighter squadron. Their motto translates to "I will strike you down"

[GilletteNorth]

not according to online french-english translations...

frapper is "to strike", the literal translation of plumerai is "to pluck"

maybe the squadron 'loosely' translates it as "to strike" which would be surprising for a squadron based in Quebec, a province which defends language so fiercely.

[just curious]

Her ya go there Gillette:


Canada's Air Force

http://www.forces.gc.ca

Skip to content Skip to institutional links Common menu bar linksFrançaisHomeContact UsHelpSearchcanada.gc.ca
Air Force Home > History > 400 Series Squadrons > 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron

Air ForcePurpose Vision
Mission and Roles
Serving Canadians
Serving the World
Brochures & Posters
Structure CAS
1 Cdn Air Div
Wings & Squadrons
The Air Reserve
Central Band
Air Command Band
Air Cadets
News Room Wing News
Magazines
Operations & Training Operations
Training Programs
Exercises
Aircraft Historical Aircraft
Downloads
Air Shows Snowbirds Home
CF-18 Shows
Contacts
Image Gallery Image Search
Videos
Other Galleries
Contact Us
Recruiting
History Traditions
Timeline
RCAF Squadrons
History Articles
Historical Aircraft
Site Map



Note: Links to external sites open in a new browser window, and are indicated by this icon :425 Tactical Fighter Squadron
Motto:
JE TE PLUMERAI
(I shall pluck you)

Badge:
A lark volant wings elevated and adorned proper.


Battle Honours:
English Channel and North Sea 1942-1943, Fortress Europe 1942-1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, Biscay Ports 1943-1944, Ruhr 1942-1945, Berlin 1944, German Ports 1942-1945, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1942-1943, Sicily, Italy 1943, Salerno

History

On 25 June 1942, 425 Bomber Squadron formed at Dishforth, England. The squadron saw wartime service in England, North Africa and RCAF Station Debert, Nova Scotia, where they were disbanded on 5 September 1945. They reformed at RCAF Station St. Hubert on 1 October 1954 as an All-Weather Fighter Squadron. They spent a short time at RCAF Station Namao (from October 1961 to July 1962) as the CF-101 Operational Training Unit before moving to their present home at 3 Wing Bagotville. They are now known as 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron. It is now known as 425 Tactival Fighter Sqn and equipped with the CF-18.

425 Squadron has flown these Aircraft:

Vickers Wellington
Handley Page Halifax
Avro Lancaster
Avro CF-100 Canuck
Canadair (Lockheed) CT-33 Silver Star
McDonnell Douglas CF-101 Voodoo
McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet
Date Modified: 2003-10-01
Top of PageImportant Notices

[mellow_pilot]

It's supposedly more menacing en francais... in the spirit of skinning some one alive...

[grimey]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/117982/kids_in_the_hall/

/obligatory