| Unit Name: | No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron RCAF 432 All Weather Fighter Squadron RCAF |
| Dates: | 1943–1945 1954–1961 |
| Country: |  Canada |
| Branch: | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role: | Strategic bombing (1943–1945) Fighter-interceptor (1954–1961) |
| Command Structure: | No. 6 Group RCAF (1943–1945) |
| Nickname: | Leaside |
| Motto: | Saeviter ad Lucem ("Ferociously towards the light") |
| Identification Symbol: | QO (1943–1945) |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Squadron Code |
| Identification Symbol 2: | Argent in front of a full moon Argent a Cougar leaping downwards Sable armed and langued Gules. |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Squadron Badge |
| Aircraft Bomber: | Vickers Wellington Mk.X Avro Lancaster Mk.II Handley Page Halifax Mk.III & VII (1943–1945) |
| Aircraft Fighter: | Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (1954–1961) |
No. 432 Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force formed during the Second World War.
It was first formed at RAF Skipton-on-Swale in May 1943, as part of No. 6 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The unit was equipped with Wellington Mk.X bombers.[1]
The squadron deployed to RAF East Moor in mid-September, equipping with Lancaster Mk.IIs in October. In February 1944 they changed to Halifax Mk.IIIs, upgrading these to Halifax Mk.VIIs in July.[1] [2]
As part of a Royal Canadian Air Force public relations plan, the town of Leaside officially "adopted" No. 432 Squadron RCAF. Formed and adopted on 1 May 1943 the squadron took the town's name as its nickname, becoming 432 "Leaside" Squadron RCAF. The sponsorship lasted the duration of the war.[3]
The squadron was disbanded at East Moor in May, 1945.[1]
On October 1, 1954, it was reformed as a fighter squadron at CFB Bagotville flying the Canadian designed Avro CF-100. The squadron was again disbanded on October 15, 1961.[4]
Manuel Sharko and Jack Stacy were mid-upper gunners in their respective Halifax bombers during the war.