During a brief ceremony at RCAF Station Greenwood on April 27, 1951, 404 Squadron was reformed in a Maritime Reconnaissance role. Air Commodore Gordon, CBE, CD, the Air Officer commanding Maritime Air Group, presented a framed replica of the Buffalo coat of arms to the acting commanding officer of the unit, Squadron Leader SS Mitchell. Also present at this ceremony were the first three 404 crews who had just graduated from Number 2(M) Operational Training Unit. Although these crewmen were ready and willing to carry the squadron emblem into the air, it would be a few more months before the first of the Mark X Lancaster assigned to the squadron would arrive on the station. For the present, there was more than enough work for everyone to do bringing the squadron spaces up to scratch.
Number 6 Hangar had been allocated to 404 and the next few weeks saw every squadron member involved in a general clean up. Soon there were people everywhere painting, washing, and tidying-up. Lockers and workspaces were constructed for both the aircrew and servicing personnel. The exterior of the hangar was not neglected, receiving a fresh coat of paint and having the surrounding grassy area re-sodded – a process that would finally be completed in July.
During the first few months of the squadron’s rebirth aircrew were kept busy with local area training including accompanying other Greenwood units for extra experience. When a 405 Squadron Lancaster proceeded to Frobisher Bay on a northern training flight it was accompanied by F/O Hannington and S/L Rolfe. Soon thereafter, F/O Luchka was off with 405 to Resolute Bay, and S/L Rolfe, newly-returned from Frobisher Bay, did some flying with 103 Rescue Unit. There were also several opportunities for members of 404 to display their skills to the Canadian public such as when F/L Gordon and crew took part in a formation flying display for the opening of Old Home Week at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
In July 1951, members of the squadron participated in Operation Nanook ’51. The purpose of the operation was to provide aircraft reconnaissance of the area between Resolute Bay, Thule Greenland, Alert and Eureka to look for ice. A naval task group from the United States was carrying supplies to the artic outposts. F/L Gibson reported to a U.S. icebreaker to act as the RCAF representative and, considering the weather conditions, he probably would have much rather stayed at home.
