Royal Canadian Air Force Station Watson Lake:

Originally opened in the the 30s as a civilian airport, the Watson Lake Airport was taken over by the RCAF in 1941 as part of the Northwest Staging Route. An operations building was built and the runways were paved.

Watson Lake remained an RCAF aerodrome after WWII, but the primary user was Canadian Pacific Arilines. Seven PMQs were constructed for families living at the aerodrome, along with the wartime facilities already present: a curling rink, a theatre, a hobbyshop, messes, barracks and a large sports field.

The RCAF departed the airport in April 1957 and by 1961, the barracks and storage buldings had been removed. The sports fields were re-developed for housing.

********************************************************************* Royal Canadian Air Force Detachment Snag:

Opened January 1945.

Closed May 1956.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Detachment Teslin:

Opened January 1945.

Closed May 1955.

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Canadian Forces Station Whitehorse:

Originally opened by the Department of Transport, the airfield was taken over to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 as part of the Northwest Staging Route.

Designated as RCAF Station Whitehorse, the station had detachments at Teslin, Aishihik, and Snag and in 1946, at Watson Lake.

After World War II, RCAF Station Whitehorse continued to function primarily as a refueling point on the Alaska route.

The Department of Transport took over the operation of the airport, but the RCAF remained. The station's function changed to primarily a Radio Unit, No. 5 Radio Unit. The station became part of the Canadian Forces Supplementary Radio System in 1966.

Also in 1966, the station was renamed Canadian Forces Station Whitehorse, but this would be short lived as CFS Whitehorse closed in 1968.

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OUTSIDE CANADA

BERMUDA

Canadian Forces Station Bermuda:

Opened 3 July 1963 on the former site of a World War II Royal Navy Radio Station, Naval Radio Station Bermuda served as a radio station in Canada's National Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) organization. The establishment of the station was a logical progression, as the Royal Canadian Navy had been using the former Royal Navy Dockyard in Bermuda almost continuously as a training base since the RN withdrew in 1951. A Canadian Forces Liaison Office had previously been established to co-ordinate training activities.

With the Unification, the station was re-named CFS Bermuda in 1968, becoming one of the first Canadian Forces Stations to be staffed by unified forces personnel.

The station closed on 31 December 1993. The former station is now the Daniel's Head Beach Park.

Nothing remains of CFS Bermuda today. Daniel's Head Village Hotel opened on the site in 2000, but has since closed.

Source Material: Communications & Electronics Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org, Bermda Vacation Guide - http://www.bermuda.com/info/history/1900sI.html, Bermuda Vacation Guide - http://www.insiders.com/bermuda/main-beaches3.htm, Canadian Forces Station Bermuda web site - www.bermuda-online.org/canadianforcesstationbda.htm & Canada's National Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) organization web site - www.tscm.com.cse.html.

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GERMANY

Canadian Forces Base Baden-Soellingen:

Originally opened June 1952 to accommodate a brigade of the French Air Force (Arm�e de l'Air or AA) which arrived in August for the first operational use of the base. However NATO headquarters determined that the base would instead be occupied by the RCAF, thus the station became as RCAF Station Baden-Soellinggen in 1953 and the home of 4 Wing.

Following the France Government announcment in 1963 that all nuclear weapons located on French soil (NATO or French) would be controlled by France itself, 421 Squadron of 2 Wing moved to Baden.

With the Unification of the Forces, the station was re-named CFB Baden.

With the closure of RCAF Station Zweibr�cken, its units consolidating at Lahr and Baden. Further defence cuts and consolidation saw the Canadian Army units of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group based in Soest area of northern West Germany moved to CFB Lahr. However, a mechanised infantry battalion was stationed alongside the fighter squadrons at Baden-Soellingen. From 1970-1977 it was the 3rd Mechanized Commando, The Canadian Airborne Regiment; th 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment from 1977-1984; the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry from 1984-1988 and the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment from 1988-1993.

In addition, there was also a communications squadron, and after 1987, an air defence battery. A multi-force airfield repair unit formed in the late 80s to fix the runways if needed.

The cuts resulted in a drawback of the air force from 6 squadrons to 3 which were reorganized under the new 1 Canadian Air Group banner.

The ramp-up in defence spending during renewed Cold War tensions in the late 1970s and 1980s saw CFB Baden-Soellingen receive much-needed new infrastructure, including updated quarters for its personnel and their dependents. The year 1984 saw squadrons at CFB Baden-Soellingen begin to re-equip from the CF-104 Starfighter to the CF-18 Hornet with 1986 being the close-out year for the Starfighter on base.

In October 1989 the Berlin Wall came down and by the end of 1990 Germany had reunited, thawing Cold War tensions and removing the role for Canada's active units stationed in Western Europe under NATO command.

The base was downsized to a Detachment of CFB Lahr on 31 July 1993. The base closed along with Larh on 31 August 1994. It is now known as the Baden Airpark.

Visit "Remembering CFB Baden-Soellingen" at http://www.badenremembered.com for the full story on one of Canada's former German bases.

Source Material: "Remembering CFB Baden-Soellingen" - www.badenremembered.com and the Communications & Electronics Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org.

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Canadian Forces Base Lahr:

Opened in 1951 as RCAF Station Lahr. Home of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron. Closed 31 August 1994.

Source Material: Communications & Electronics Museum site Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org

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Closed Bases That Still Have A Military Presence

(Author's note: for this category I have been somewhat selective. As you have read in the "Abandoned Bases" section, some still have cadet units that train at the former bases. For my purposes, I consider a former base to still have a military presence if there is a permanent full-time contingent still on site, such as the former RCAF Station Gimli's Royal Canadian Air Cadet Gliding School or Wolseley Barracks.)

ALBERTA

Canadian Forces Base Calgary:

Originally established as two separate army training barracks - Currie Barracks and Sarcee Barracks. Currie Barracks, named in honour of General Sir Arthur Currie, was established in 1934 on land near the Sarcee Indian Reserve. This was the home of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Headquarters and B Squadron (later replaced by the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) 2nd Canadian Armoured Regiment), the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Supply Depot, the Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Canadian Signals Communication Centre, and the headquarters for the 13th Military District.

In 1938, No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron and No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron moved to Currie Barracks from RCAF Station Ottawa (Rockcliffe), and occupied the portion of the barracks that later became Royal Canadian Air Force Station Lincoln Park.

On 15 February 1941, No. A-16 Advanced Canadian Infantry Training Centre opened at the barracks, remaining until the end of the War.

Over the years Currie Barracks would be home to several units including: The 1st & 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI & 2 PPCLI) arrived at Currie Barracks in 1946 and permanent married quarters (PMQ) were build in 1948. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada also made Currie Barracks their home from 1953 until the regiment disbanded in 1968. The 1st Battalion, Queens Own Rifles from occupied space at Currie from1953-1960 and The Fort Garry Horse, from 1965 until the unit disbanded in 1970.

2 PPCLI moved to Griesbach Barracks in Edmonton in 1958 and The Lord Strathcona's Horse relocated Sarcee Barracks the same year, remaining until transferring to Germany in 1965. 1 PPCLI re-located to Work Point Barracks in Victoria, B.C. in 1963.

Sarcee Barracks was established originally as a militia training camp in 1910. The government leased a parcel of land form the Sarcee Indian Reservation near the future site of Currie Barracks for the camp and training area. The camp, however, did not become a permanent military camp until 1957.

With the closure of RCAF Station Lincoln Park, the buildings, the hangars north of the airfield and the Lincoln Park PMQs all became part of Currie Barracks.

As a result of the Unification in 1968, Sarcee Barracks and Currie Barracks were merged into one base to become Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Calgary, although the names Sarcee and Currie continued to be used. Also in 1968, 1 Service Battalion was formed. In later years, CFB Calgary would become home to No. 10 Personnel Depot and 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG), consisting of 1 Service Battalion, 1 Field Ambulance, 1 Military Police Platoon, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps), the Regional Equipment Depot and 1 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Unit.

1 PPCLI returned to Currie Barracks in 1970.

Sarcee Barracks was re-named Harvey Barracks in 1981. The same year, the Sarcee Training Area was returned to the Tsuu T'ina First Nation, although the Army continued to lease part of the training area from 1985-1996.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, CFB Calgary closed on 21 June 1997. 1 CMBG relocated to CFB Edmonton's Grieshbach Barracks.

Area Support Unit Calgary, consisting of 26 Regular Force personnel, was established on a small section of the former Currie Barracks to provide the local Reserve, Cadet and remaining Regular Force units with administrative and logistical support. A new armoury was built to house the remaining Regular Force sections that make up Area Support Unit Calgary.

Also remaining at Currie are 41 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (41 CBG HQ), who occupy the former PPCLI building, the LGen The Honorable Stanley Waters Building, and The Museum of the Regiments, who maintain the Army's link to Currie Barracks.

Most of the original buildings remain at Currie Barracks today, which is now devoted to a variety of uses, including a full-service film and television production centre, "Canadian Forces Base Studio Centre", The Sun Centre, the National Hy Performance Training Centre and the Calgary Farmers Market, who occupy the former Lincoln Park Hangars, and the Currie Barracks school, now Master's Academy & College.

The former PMQ area is being redeveloped into a mixed upscale residential area called "Garrison Woods" featuring up to 600,000 residences, condominiums and a small shopping centre. None of the original Currie Barracks PMQ homes remain.

Harvey Barracks was returned to the Tsuu T'ina First Nation. All that remains are some of the PMQs, occupied by First Nations people, and the roadways. The rest of the former base was leveled. Future plans call for a casino to be built on the land.

Source Material: information supplied by Captain D. Sweeney, Deputy Commanding Officer, Area Support Unit Calgary (1999), information supplied by Carol Stokes, Archivist, The City of Calgary (1999), information supplied by Ken Craig, Volunteer Researcher, Museum of the Regiments, Calgary Alberta (1999), "The Politics of Contested Space: Military Property Development in Calgary" - a thesis paper by P. Whitney Lackenbauer, University of Calgary, Department of History, Faculty of Graduate Studies (1999), DND press release from November 1998, information supplied by Terri Griffin (2002), information supplied by Ian Gray, Calgary resident (2003), information supplied by June Flegg, Historian, Saskatoon Public Library (2000), Calgary Forces Base Studio Centre web site - http://www.cfbstudios.com, Canada Lands Corporation Web site - http://www.clc.ca, information supplied by the Tsuu T'ina Police Service (2004), the personal recollections of the author (2004) & "The Garrison" newspaper from March 1995 and Sept 1999.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Lincoln Park:

Originally established on the southern section of Currie Barracks in 1935 by the RCAF, where an unpaved landing strip had been built for their use. By 1939, No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron had moved to Currie Barracks from RCAF Station Sea Island, and No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron from RCAF Station Ottawa (Rockcliffe). The airmen were forced to share the only barrack block with the Lord Strathcona's Horse, which created problems as the Strathconas awoke to the sound of a bugler every morning at 0500 hours.

On 28 October 1940, a portion of Currie Barracks was sectioned off as a separate base and became No. 3 Service Flying Training School, part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Relief Landing Fields were constructed near Airdire & Inverlake.

No. 3 SFTS closed on 28 September 1945 and the station became No. 10 Repair Depot (with a Detachment in Moose Jaw) until 1947, when it too closed. The station then became No. 25 Air Material Base Calgary, but was later re-named Royal Canadian Air Force Station Lincoln Park.

During this period, Lincoln Park served as construction headquarters, a repair depot and NATO pilot refresher-training centre, who by this time had paved runways on which to land.

403 "City of Calgary". Squadron was re-formed at Linclon Park as a Fighter Bomber Squadron (Auxiliary) in 1948, remaining until it disbanded in 1964. NATO pilot training continued until 1958, after which the airfield was used only as an emergency landing strip.

In the early to mid 1960s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several Army, Navy and RCAF bases were either downsized, merged or closed. As a result, RCAF Station Lincoln Park closed in 1964. The buildings north of the airfield and the Lincoln Park PMQs became part of Currie Barracks. The reminder of the property was sold to the city of Calgary. Some of the row house PMQs were moved onto one of the former runways at the north end of the property.

From the 1960s to 1983, the abandoned north-south runway was used as a racetrack for sports cars and motorcycles under the name Calgary International Raceway.

Mount Royal College now occupies the part of the property where the airfield was once located, as it has done since 1972.

All that remains of RCAF Station Lincoln Park are the five north-side hangars and the six maintenance hangars south of the former airfield, once used as a part of the Repair Depot, now occupied by the ATCO Industrial Complex. The last portions of the runways disappeared in 2001; only the taxi area remain today.

As well, the Lincoln Park PMQ area is currently being re-developed into the "Garrison Green" residential community, modeled on an old "village style". Some of the former PMQ homes have been moved onto new foundations and extensively renovated. The developer is also including a park named "Peacekeeper Park", which includes a memorials to Canadian Peacekeepers who distinguished themselves and to those who died in the service of their country.

On 28 October 2000, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Mount Royal College held a plaque dedication ceremony to honour the men and women who served at the war-time school.

Source Material: information supplied by Captain D. Sweeney, Deputy Commanding Officer, Area Support Unit Calgary (1998), information supplied by Sherry Eastholm, Manager, Sidney (B.C.) Museum (1999), information supplied by June Flegg, Historian, Saskatoon Public Library (2000), History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm, Wings Over Alberty web site - http://collections.ic.gc.ca/flyboys/homefront/bcatp_sites.htm, information supplied by Hunter Wight, Executive Director, Public Affairs and Development, Mount Royal College (2001), information supplied by Deb Bramson, Mount Royal College (2001), the "Wings Over Alberta" web site - http://collections.ic.gc.ca/flyboys/homefront/bcatp_sites.htm, Grandville Island Publishing web site - http://www.granvilleislandpublishing.com/profile/sportscarracing/contents.shtm, the personal recollections of the author (2004) & information supplied by Carol Stokes, Archivist, The City of Calgary (1999).

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Griesbach Barracks (Edmonton Garrison):

Note: Edmonton Garrison, originally CFB Edmonton, was created by the amalgamation of RCAF Station Namao and Canadian Army�s Griesbach Barracks. The Namao site, now called Steele Barracks, remains open.

Established in 1950 as Griesbach Barracks, the base had its beginnings as an ordnance depot, later becoming the home of the Western Command Headquarters.

No. 14 Service Prison and Detention Barracks opened in 1958 at Griesbach. The prison closed briefly from 1968 until 1975. Also in 1958, the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry re-located to Griesbach from Currie Barracks.

As a result of the Unification, RCAF Station Namao was combined with the Army's Griesbach Barracks to form CFB Edmonton on 1 April 1966, falling under control of Air Transport Command.

The Canadian Airborne Regiment was formed at Griesbach in 1968. Two years later, the Canadian Parachute Training Centre re-located to Griesbach from RCAF Station Rivers. Also in 1970, the 1st Battalion, PPCLI re-located to Griesbach in 1970 from Work Point Barracks

In May 1970, 28 Canadian Forces Supply Depot re-located to Griesbach from CFB Shilo. Two months later, the depot was re-designated the Canadian Forces Parachute Maintenance Depot (CFPMD).

In later years, would become home to Land Force Western Area Headquarters and the Canadian Airborne Centre. However, the Canadian Airborne Regiment re-located to CFB Petawawa in 1977.

In 1995, with the disbandment of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, the three feeder units that once provided soldiers to the Airborne, the PPCLI, the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal 22nd Regiments (the VanDoos), each established parachute companies. The PPCLI established a Parachute Company at Griesbach Barracks.

In 1996, 1 PPCLI re-located to CFB Namao from CFB Calgary. The CFPMD re-located along with the Canadian Parachute Centre to 8 Wing Trenton in September 1996.

In 1996, corresponding with the move of 3 PPCLI to Griesbach, this parachute company was designated as A Company, 3 PPCLI. Also around this time, CFB Edmonton was re-named Edmonton Garrison.

By the mid 1990s, Department of National Defence cutbacks lead to questioning the necessity of maintaining two Army bases in the Edmonton area. CFB Edmonton (Namao), formerly an Air Force base, had been transferred to the Army in 1994. Ultimately, DND decided to consolidate all military operations at the Namao site, now known as Steele Barracks.

Griesbach Barracks closed in 2000. The site, including the 750 PMQs, were transferred to the Canada Lands Corporation in 2002, who have transformed the former base into "The Village at Griesbach", a residential community modeled in a village concept.

On 28 September 2001, the Canadian Forces Service Prison & Detention Barracks at Griesbach Barracks closed, having been replaced by a new facility at the Namao site.

Today, little remains of this once sprawling base. Most of the former army buildings have been demolished. All that remains is the former high school, now occupied by Land Force Western Area Headquarters; the north-side PMQs, now private rental homes; MGen Griesbach School, now a public school and the old church, now a community centre.

The Royal Canadian Artillery Band remained at Griesbach until September 2004, when they followed the other units to Steele Barracks.

The Dianne and Irving Kipnes Centre for Veterans opened 9 November 2005 on a five-acre site just off Castledowns Road and 153rd Avenue, on the northwest corner of the former Canadian Forces Base Griesbach.

Source Material: information supplied by Jenelle Turpin, Communications Officer - Council Services, City of Edmonton (1999), information supplied by Charles Denis, Manager Customer Services, Canadian Forces Housing Authority (2004), the CFB Edmonton web site - www.cfbedmonton.hstone.com, DND press releases from February 1994 and November 1998, 440 Squadron history web site - http://www.440sqn.com/frames.htm., "The Garrison" newspaper from March 1995, 1 Air Movements Squadron web site - http://www.mts.net/~rburke1/About%20Us.htm, Canadian Forces Parachute Maintenance Depot web site - http://www.8wing.trenton.dnd.ca/cfpmd/pmdhist.htm, the personal recollections of the author (2004), Real Estate Weekly web site - www.rewedmonton.ca/content_view2?CONTENT_ID=1205 & pamphlet printed by Studio High Techniques of Toronto (1998).

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Canadian Forces Base Edmonton - Penhold Detachment:

Originally established 11 miles southeast of Red Deer, Alberta in 1940 as a RCAF Manning Depot.

The Royal Air Force took over the property and formed No. 36 Service Flying Training School on 28 September 1941 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Relief Landing Fields were constructed near Inisifail & Blackfalds. The school and airfield closed on 3 November 1944 and only a military radio station remained on site at the time.

The post-war growth of the RCAF resulted in many WWII stations being re-activated. The station re-opened in late 1951 as RCAF Station Penhold and became home to No. 4 Flying Training School, a NATO Flying Training School. In later years, the station would be home to a cadet camp an Air Cadet glider training school and an Air Reserve Training Centre.

By the late 1950s, the threat of a nuclear war had become so great that the Canadian government decided to construct a secret underground bunker to house the major elements of the government in the event of an emergency. Most Provincial Governments followed suit by building their own bunkers. The Alberta Government chose RCAF Station Penhold for the site of their bunker, staffed by 703 (743??) Communication Squadron and also housing the Provincial Warning Centre. A 77,000 square foot bunker was secretly constructed at the station and opened in 1964.

All Government bunkers had a remote communications bunker, located some distance away. This second bunker, usually a single story structure, was staffed exclusively by communications personnel. Penhold's remote communications bunker (17,000 square feet) was constructed several miles south of the station.

43 Radar Squadron opened a Pinetree radar long-range station in February 1964 at a site 14 miles east of RCAF Station Penhold, who provided support to the facility.

In May 1965, flying operations ceased at RCAF Station Penhold and Air Defence Command assumed control of the Station. Penhold's airfield was taken over by the city of Red Deer in 1965 and operated as the Red Deer Reginal Airport, remaining so today.

In the summer of 1966, Regional Air Cadet Glider Training School opened at Penhold. Flying training was conducted at both Penhold and the former RCAF Detachment Innisfail.

As a result of the Unification, the Station was re-named CFB Penhold in 1966.

By 1973, the CF Junior Leadership School and the FPS-27 Radar School had opened at the base. The schools remained at the base until disbanded on 23 June 1986.

In the early 1980's, the Air Cadet School began making use again of the former RCAF Detachment Netook as an alternate airfield to the Gliding School at Innisfail. By 1986, the Gliding School moved permanently to Netook. In 1985, DND announced that the Pinetree Line would be shut down as a part of the North American Air Defence Modernization Plan. Radar equipment at many Canadian Forces Stations was replaced with a new automated system. As a result of this and overall reductions in Canada's Air Force, 43 Radar Squadron disbanded on 1 August 1986 and the radar site was closed.

CFB Penhold was downsized to a Detachment of CFB Edmonton in 1990.

In June 1994, the Air Force Junior Leadership School re-located to CFB Borden and was re-named the Air Command Professional Development Training Centre.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, Detachment Penhold closed in 1995. The former base is now the community of Harvard Park.

The communications facility was automated and the personnel responsible for running it were transferred to CFB Edmonton. The bunker was sold to a private developer, but was bought back by the Federal Government and demolished in June 2001 after it was rumoured that a chapter of the Hells Angels was an expressing interest in aquiring it.

The airfield is now the Red Deer Regional Airport. Most of the original buildings remain in use, including all six hangars, the combined mess, several barracks the firehall, the transportations building and the PMQ homes. The former Penhold School however, now sits vacant.

Although no longer military establishment, the military have not completely abandoned Penhold. A portion of the former base was sectioned off and functions as the Penhold Cadet Summer Training Centre. With a permanent staff of 114 members, the centre carries on the tradition of training airmen and women at Penhold. The former base headquarters building is used by the cadet school.

Nothing remains at either the radar site nor the remote communications bunker site.

All that remains of RCAF Detachment Blackfalds is one hangar.

Source Material: DND press releases from May 1989 & February 1994, the Air Cadets Glider Training web site - http://www.mts.net/~rgspra/hist.html, "Bunkers, Bunkers Everywhere" by Paul Ozorak, information supplied by Janet Mawson, local resident of Penhold, Alberta (2001), Sea, Army & Air Cadets web page - http://www.cadets.dnd.ca/intro_e.asp, information provided by the Innisfail Flying Club (2004), information provided by, Judy Carleton, President of the Blackfalds Historical Society (2005), the personal recollections of the author (2004), the Pinetree Line web site - www.pinetreeline.org & "Sentinel" Magazine from April 1968.

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No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School (Lethbridge) & No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School:

Opened at the Kenyon Field Airport near Lethbridge in 1940 as No. 5 EFTS, a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The school operated from the aerodrome at Lethbridge until it re-located to High River in 1941.

In its place, No. 8 B&GS opened on 13 October 1941 to train air bombers and air gunners. By the time the school closed in 1944, over 1600 students had graduated.

The aerodrome reverted back to a civilian airport and is now the Lethbridge County Airport. A new terminal building opened on 19 October 1979, replacing the former RCAF mess which acted as the terminal.

All that remains of the former school are the four World War era II hangars and the mess hall, now occupied by 702 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association. SRI Homes occupies one of the WWII-era hangars, while Triple M Housing occupies the other three hangers. Only runways 05-23 and 12-30 remain active.

The 18th Air Defence Regiment occupies what appears to be the former drill hall, now known as the Vimy Ridge Armoury.

Source Material: information supplied by The Sir Alexander Gault Museum & Archives (2002), information supplied by Scott Butchart, Lethbridbge County Airport (2004) & the "Wings Over Alberta" web site - http://collections.ic.gc.ca/flyboys/homefront/bcatp_sites.htm., information supplied by Norm Lund, local resident of High River (2001), "Wings For Victory - The Story of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada", by Spencer Dunmore, information supplied by The Sir Alexander Gault Museum & Archives (2002), the personal recollections of the author (2004) & "Canada Flight Supplement 1999"

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No. 130 Non-Permanent Active Militia Training Centre / No. A-20 Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Advanced Training Centre:

Opened in 1940 east of Red Deer as No. 130 Non-Permanent Active Militia Training Centre.

On 15 February 1941, the camp became No. A-20 Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Advanced Training Centre. The Camp closed in 1945.

The camp then became No. 8 Canadian Vocational Training Centre, which was charged with the purpose of providing training opportunities for returning veterans. The 78th Field Battery, a sub-unit of the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (Militia), took over part of the former camp. As well, both the Red Deer Public and Separate School Boards have operated schools at the site. The old barrack blocks were incorporated into the Lindsay Thurber High School.

Several of the camp's other buildings remain, including the old drill hall, now occupied by the 78th Field Battery and 749 Communications Squadron, and the transportation & maintenance hangars, now the Central Alberta Theatre and the Red Deer Public School Maintenance Division Building.

Source Material: Royal Canadian Legion "Fort York News" from August 2000, the personal recollections of the author (2004) & the Archives Alberta web site - http://asalive.archivesalberta.org:8080/.

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Netook Gliding Centre:

(Author's note: although Netook does not have a permanent, year round presence, I have placed it in this category as the property is owned by the Air Cadet League.)

Opened as a Relief Landing Field for No. 32 EFTS at Bowden, where student pilots used turf runways for flying training. RCAF Detachment Netook closed in 1944 along with No. 32 EFTS.

In the early 1980s, the Air Force made a return of sorts to the former RCAF Detachment Netook when the Royal Canadian Air Cadets began using the site as an alternate airfield to the Gliding School at Innisfail.

By 1986, the Gliding School moved permanently to Netook where the Netook Gliding Centre carries on the tradition of training airmen and women of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. In 1990, the Air Cadet League bought the Netook Airfield, cementing the return of the Air Force to Netook.

Besides the grass airfield, all that remains of the WWII school today is one shed/hangar, currently used as an office and storage building for the air cadets. A new steel sided hanger also sits on the property.

Source Material: Netook Air Cadet Gliding Centre web site - http://www.cadets.net/pra/netookgc, the "Wings Over Alberta" web site - http://collections.ic.gc.ca/flyboys/homefront/bcatp_sites.htm, "Wings For Victory - The Story of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada", by Spencer Dunmore & the personal recollections of the author (2004).

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack:

Established on 15 February 1941 at Vedder Crossing as Camp Chilliwack for the purpose of defending the West Coast against attacks by the Japanese forces. Camp Chilliwack was also designated as a recruit-training centre, No. 112 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre, and as the new home for A6 Canadian Engineering Training Centre, originally from Camp Dundurn. The camp�s rugged terrain and pleasant climate provided an excellent location for continuous training throughout the year.

After the war, Camp Chilliwack became a permanent Army training establishment, with the additional duties of providing administrative and logistical support to the Regular and Reserve Force Army units on the British Columbia mainland. The engineer school was re-designated as the Canadian Forces School Of Military Engineering. The RCSME at Camp Chilliwack also included a fire-fighting school for the training of Army fire-fighters.

Camp Chilliwack was also the home of the 58th Field Engineer Squadron (re-named 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in 1977), who moved to the site from Victoria in 1957.

As a result of the Unification, Camp Chilliwack was re-named CFB Chilliwack and its support role was expanded to include all the Regular and Reserve Force units on the British Columbia mainland, included taking over administrative control of the Jericho Beach Garrison in Vancouver.

The Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering was re-named the Canadian Forces School of Mechanical Engineering (CFSME) and in 1970, the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School (CFOCS), the successor of the officer training schools of the three former services, moved to the site from Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt.

In 1994, the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), an amalgamated Reserve-Regular Force Battalion who are responsible for Reserve infantry training in B.C., moved to CFB Chilliwack from Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, CFB Chilliwack closed in 1997. CFOCS moved to CFB St-Jean to merge with the basic recruit school. CFSME re-located to the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown and 3 PPCLI moved to Edmonton Garrison prior to the Base closure. The Chilcotin training area and the firing ranges continue to be used by the local reserve units.

Area Support Unit Chilliwack was established 2 September 1997 on a small section of the former base to provide the administrative and logistical support to Reserve and the remaining Regular Force in British Columbia. The remainder of the former base is rented out to various companies. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police purchased a portion of the former base, including the area once occupied by CFOCS. Approximately $10M dollars in upgrades were spent modifying the facilities to create the RCMP Pacific Region Support Services Centre, which opened in February 2002. Future plans include constructing additional facilities to for the RCMP's fleet maintenance section.

Source Material: information supplied by Captain Audette, Public Affairs Officer, Land Force Western Area Headquarters (1999), information supplied by Sergeant Sylvain Tardif, Military Police Section, Area Support Unit Chilliwack (1999), "Sentinel" Magazine from January - February 1966, Pg. 6-8, information supplied by Barry Miller, Regional Director, Assets & Procurement, RCMP Pacific Region (2001), DND Web Archives - http://www.dnd.ca/admfincs/organiz/cfsuo/csss/ro/ro1997/20ful_e.asp & "The Garrison" newspaper from March 1995.

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Jericho Beach Garrison:

Originally opened by the Canadian Air Board in 1920 as the Jericho Beach Air Station. The site was turned over the newly formed RCAF in 1925 and re-named RCAF Station Jericho Beach, one of several Flying Boat Stations that would be established on the west coast.

Also in 1925, No. 1 Signal Squadron was formed at Jericho Beach and later; No. 4 and No. 6 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadrons would be stationed at Jericho Beach.

Jericho Beach also has the distinction of being the first seaplane base in Canada to have a unique element attached to it - a division of homing pigeons. Major Clarence MacLaurin began using homing pigeons aboard flying boats at Jericho in 1920. Shortly after the first hangers were completed, Major MacLaurin constructed several pigeon lofts to house and train pigeons for use by aircrews. By 1928, the RCAF had 8 pigeon lofts, the largest located at RCAF Station Ottawa (Rockcliffe). Defence Department cutbacks in the 1930's resulted in the elimination of all pigeon lofts except the ones at Jericho Beach and RCAF Station Dartmouth.

In 1930, RCAF Station Jericho Beach became the RCAF Centre for Seaplane and Flying Boat Training.

In 1940, Jericho Beach's role changed and it became the home of No. 3 Repair Depot. The seaplane squadrons moved to RCAF Station Sea Island. No. 3 Operational Training Unit was established at Jericho Beach, with a detachment at Patricia Bay in 1942, and remained until 1945 when it and No. 3 Repair Depot closed.

The Army's Pacific Command Headquarters moved to RCAF Station Jericho Beach from their location at Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt in 1942. Jericho Beach officially became a permanent fixture of Canada's west coast military in 1946, and control of the base was transferred to the Army. Although RCAF Station Jericho Beach ceased to exist 1 March 1947, No. 12 Group, North-West Air Command, maintained an RCAF presence. No. 12 Group was re-designated No 12 Air Defence Group in 1951 and No. 5 Air Division in 1955.

In later years, the base would become the home of Pacific Command's successor, British Columbia District Headquarters (BC HQ), as well as 442 "Caribou" Squadron, 74 Comm. Group, 744 Comm. Regiment, 12 Medical Company, Canadian Forces Technical Services Detachment, Special Investigative Unit Pacific Detachment and a Recruiting Centre.

In 1964, the PMQ houses connected to the now closed RCAF Station Vancouver (Sea Island) became part of the Jericho Beach.

The base was downsized to a detachment of CFB Chilliwack in 1968, re-named Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack - Vancouver Detachment.

Between 1968 and 1972, the detachment's size was reduced when 72 acres along the waterfront, north of Fourth Avenue, was transferred to the City of Vancouver for recreational use. Most of the former military buildings, including the four hangars that once housed the flying boats were demolished. The PMQ houses formerly belonging to RCAF Station Vancouver were sold and moved onto First Nations Reserves along Georgia Strait.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, the Jericho Beach Detachment closed in 1996. A portion of the former Detachment was sectioned off and functions as the Jericho Beach Garrison. The former headquarters building remains in military hands, occupied by 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (formerly BC District HQ), the 12 Medical Company and 744 Communication Squadron. There are currently plans to re-establish a small military engineering presence on the base.

While several of the Detachment's vacant buildings were torn down, some do remain: the former Junior Ranks barracks is now a youth hostel, the old base recreation hall is now the Jericho Arts Centre and the former Officers' mess is now the West Point Grey Community Centre. Additionally, some WWII-era buildings also remain.

The former PMQ area is being re-developed into Garrison Crossing, an upscale community with a mix of new homes and renovated PMQs.

The 12 Medical Company Museum remains to help preserve Jericho Beach's military heritage.

Source material: information supplied by Sergeant Sylvain Tardif, Military Police Section, Area Support Unit Chilliwack (1999) , pamphlet printed by Studio High Techniques of Toronto (1998), information supplied by Sherry Eastholm, Manager, Sidney (B.C.) Museum (1999), "Sentinel" Magazine from May 1974, Pgs 12 - 15, "Jericho Beach and the West Coast Flying Boat Stations" by Chris Weicht, Heritage BC web site - http://www.heritagebc.ca/military.htm#Barrett, the personal recollections of Vince Bissonnette, former Commanding Officer CF Detachment Jericho Beach (2004), information provided by Major J.D. Barrett, Jericho Beach Garrison (2004), Garrison Crossing web site - http://www.garrisoncrossing.ca/English/Default.htm & "The Garrison" newspaper from March 1995.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Patricia Bay:

Established on 26 October 1939 when the aerodrome at Patricia Bay was taken over by the RAF and RCAF for use as a combined seaplane-landplane station.

During World War II, Patricia Bay was an extremely busy base. The station was divided into three sections: the West Camp, the East Camp and the Seaplane base.

The West Camp housed No. 3 Operational Training Unit from 9 November 1942 until 3 August 1945.

The East Camp housed No. 32 Operational Training Unit (Royal Air Force) from 1 June 1944 until it re-located to RCAF Station Comox. No. 6 Operational Training Unit was established in its place.

The Seaplane base housed a detachment from No. 111 Coastal Artillery Co-operation (No. 111 CAC) who relocated from RCAF Station Sea Island on 19 May 1940, becoming the first squadron to be stationed at Patricia Bay. In August 1940, No. 111 CAC was re-designated No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron. No 120 Bomber Squadron arrived at the station on 1 August 1940.

Some of the other units during and after WWII were: No. 13 Operational Training Unit (RCAF), No. 115 (Fighter) Squadron, with their C-22 Fairchild Bolingbrokes until re-deployed to Annette Island in May 1942, No. 133 Squadron who re-located form Boundary Bay in 1943, No. 135 (Fighter) Squadron, No. 149 (Bomber Torpedo) Squadron, No. 7 Radio Detachment, the 1st Battalion, Edmonton Fusiliers, the 9th & 10th Anti-aircraft Batteries of the Royal Canadian Artillery, No. 122 (Composite) Squadron, with their C-126 Noorduyn Norsemans, and a detachment of the Royal Norwegian Naval Air Force, who arrived in March 1941 for seaplane training. The Ground Warfare School and No. 1 School of Flying Control ran short courses at the station.

In July 1942, No. 132 (Fighter) Squadron arrived at the station.

In July 1944, an Air Cadet Camp was established at Patricia Bay and a month later, the station became a temporary movie studio when MGM arrived to film scenes for the film "Son of Lassie."

RCAF Station Patricia Bay closed on 31 March 1945. The Victoria Flying Club took over the hangars once occupied by 32 OUT at the East Camp on 14 November 1946. The Federal Department of Transportation assumed control of the aerodrome in May 1948, naming it the Sydney Airport. The airport was re-named the Victoria International Airport in 1950.

In 1954 the Royal Canadian Navy assumed control of the West Camp as a naval air station. RCN VU-33 Squadron, a lodger unit of Canada's West Coast Navy Station HMCS Naden, was formed here on 1 November 1954, equipped with a fleet of CP121 Trackers and CT133 Silver-Star jet trainers. VU-33 Squadron was given the responsibility of conducting ship gunnery practice and radar calibration, coastal surveillance, search and rescue and Sonobouy Proving and Testing Service (SPATS). VC-922 Squadron, Royal Canadian Naval Air Reserve was formed at Patricia Bay on 1 December 1953 and manned by reservists from HMCS Malahat Naval Reserve Division in Esquimalt.

VU-33 Squadron re-located to CFB Comox in August 1974, ending over 30 years of military presence at the Victoria Airport. However, this absence of military personnel would prove to be short lived.

In 1985, 443 Anti-submarine Warfare Helicopter Squadron, originally from CFB Shearwater, re-located to the Victoria Airport to provide Sea King helicopter support aboard 2 Navy Frigates and one Helicopter Destroyer stationed at CFB Esquimalt - Naden. The Squadron took over the quarters once occupied by VU-33 Squadron. On 31 January 1995, 443 Squadron changed their name to 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron.

The former RCAF Station Patricia Bay has seen quite a lot of change since the first plane took off from its runways, but some links to the past remain: several of the World War II era hangars remain in use today.

Source Material: the personal recollections of Petty Officer 2nd Class John Slor (Ret'd) (1999), the personal recollections of Master Warrant Officer R.G. Mastin , 443 Squadron, Patricia Bay (1999), pamphlet printed by Studio High Techniques of Toronto (1998), "Sentinel" Magazine from April 1968 & September 1974, pg. 28, information supplied by Sherry Eastholm, Manager, Sidney (B.C.) Museum (1999), "The Impact of Public Policy on a Naval Reserve Division" by Michael Hadley (1982), information supplied by Ian Waterlow, Archivist & Historian, Sydney, BC, "Badges of the Canadian Navy" by LT (N) Graeme Arbuckle, the RCAF Station Commox web site - http://www.rcaf.com/stations/comox.shtml, Boundary Bay Airport web site - http://www.czbb.com, History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm & the 12 Wing Shearwater web page - www.achq.dnd.ca/12wing/Wing/Shear.htm.

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Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre:

Originally opened in 1909 as a militia training camp for units of the Okanogan Valley. During World War I, the camp was a very busy place for the training of units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. After the war, the camp returned to being a militia training camp.

In 1940, the Camp was once again taken over by the Regular Force and became the home of No. 110 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre and the Canadian Battle Drill School for the duration of the war. After serving as a demobilization centre for returning soldiers, the camp closed in 1947.

The camp re-opened in 1949 as a summer training centre for the Royal Canadian Army Cadets and remains so to this day, as do the World War II era buildings. However, the professional soldiers have not completely abandoned their former turf as both Regular and Reserve Force Army units utilize the training area on a year round basis.

Historian Francois Arseneault describes the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre as "...perhaps the best preserved example of a WWII H-hut camp in left Canada, if not the largest. The buildings are remarkable well preserved given the mild winters and dry, relatively bug-free summers".

Source Material: information provided by Francois Arseneault, Historian (2003) & The Canadian Army WWII Training Establishments web site - www.canadiansoldiers.com/wwiitrain.htm.

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MANITOBA

Canadian Forces Base Portage La Prairie:

Established as No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School on 28 October 1940 - 3 July 1942, a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. On 28 April 1941 No. 7 Air Observers School also opened at the aerodrome.

In July 1942, No. 14 EFTS disbanded and No. 7 AOS expanded to take over the entire station.

No. 7 AOS closed on 31 March 1945, corresponding with the termination of the BCATP. Immediately afterwards, No 3 Air Navigation School was established at Portage La Prairie, but this was short lived as it was disbanded 31 August 1945.

The station remained open after the war, and in March 1946, No. 1 Manning Depot re-located the Toronto Exhibition Grounds to recruit new pilots. However, this too would be short-lived as the Manning Depot closed one year later. The station continued to be occupied by No. 2 Construction Maintenance Unit as a storage depot and No. 2 Radio wave Propagation Unit, originally from RCAF Station Torbay. In 1949 the station closed and only a small caretaker staff remained. The Federal Department of Transportation assumed control of the airfield.

The post-war expansion of the RCAF resulted in many former aerodromes being re-opened and RCAF Station Portage La Prairie did so on 15 September 1952. No. 2 Advanced Flying School (No. 2 AFS) was established to train RCAF and NATO pilots, first setting up operations at RCAF Station MacDonald on a temporary basis, then re-locating to Portage La Prairie in October 1952. Jet flying training began in 1953 with the arrival of the Lockheed designed T-33 Silver Stars but by 1964, propeller driven aircraft training replaced the jet trainers.

No. 2 AFS relocated to RCAF Station Moose Jaw in August 1964 but the station gained two schools that same month. No. 1 Advanced Flying School re-located from RCAF Station Rivers as did No. 1 Flying Instructors School (basic) from RCAF Station Moose Jaw, making Portage La Prairie a centre for pilot selection, basic helicopter training and flight instructor training for both RCAF and Royal Canadian Navy pilots. No. 1 AFS was later re-named No. 3 Flying Training School.

RCAF Station Portage La Prairie was also the home of two of the RCAF�s precision flying teams, The Red Knights from 1959-1969 and the Golden Centenaries from 1966-1968.

In 1959 RCAF Station Portage La Prairie assumed responsibility for the storage depot detachment established at the former RCAF Station MacDonald.

No. 3 Advance Flying School, originally from RCAF Station Gimli, re-opened at Portage La Prairie in 1965.

As a result of the Unification, the station was re-named CFB Portage La Prairie in 1966. The base gained a school when the newly designated No. 3 Canadian Forces Primary Flying Training School moved to the base from CFB Borden in July 1970, but lost another one year later when No. 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School moved to CFB Moose Jaw.

In the late 1980s, DND budget reductions lead to the contracting out of flight training to civilian agencies. As a result, CFB Portage La Prairie closed on 1 September 1992.

The site is now the Southport Aerospace Centre, a commercial-industrial centre. Most of the former base's buildings remain. A new air control tower was constructed on the opposite side of the airfield and a new barracks, the Lt. Alan McLeod Building, houses the Air Force student pilots.

Although no longer an Air Force base, No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, a Detachment of 17 Wing Winnipeg, remains at the former base to oversee Primary Flight Training and Helicopter Training, conducted by the Canadian Aviation Training Centre. A permanent contingent of 41 military personnel remains at the former base, commanded by school Commandant LCol S.H.R. Bannister.

It could be said that RCAF Station Portage La Prairie has finally come full circle, as many of the instructors who trained the student pilots under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan were in-fact civilians working under contract to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Source material: DND press release from July 1989, "Sentinel" Magazine from May 1970, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan site -http://www.ualberta.ca/EDMONTON/CONTRIB/airmuseum/aambcatp.html, the RCAF Station Moose Jaw site - http://www.rcaf.com/stations/moosejaw.shtml, & "Portage La Prairie" Fifty Years of Flying Training: 1940-1990� by Major Gordon Greavette, CD, information provided by No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (2003), the personal recollections of the author (2003) & the Southport Aerospace Centre web site - http://www.southport.mb.ca, Canadian Forces Air Navigation School history - www.cfans.com & http://www.southport.mb.ca/commercl/canforces.htm.

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Canadian Forces Base Gimli:

Established on 6 September 1943 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as No. 18 Service Flying Training School, with a relief landing field at Netley. The School closed on 30 May 1945 and the station was put on a care and maintenance basis.

RCAF Detachment Netley was abandoned at the end of the war.

Post-war expansion of the RCAF resulted in several WWII aerodromes being re-activated. RCAF Station Gimli re-opened in 1950 as a jet fighter training station. Several schools were formed, including No. 1 Flying Training School.

In June 1953, No. 2 Flying Training School transferred to the newly re-opened RCAF Station Moose Jaw and No. 3 Advanced Flying School was established at Gimli.

In 1964, No. 3 AFS was re-designated No. 1 Flying Training School.

No. 1 Advanced Flying Training Unit, with their T-33 jet trainers moved to RCAF Station Gimli from Moose Jaw in December 1969.

As a result of the Unification, the Station was re-named CFB Gimli.

CFB Gimli closed in September 1971 and the Advanced Flying Training Unit moved to CFB Cold Lake. In 1972, the Gimli Industrial Business Park was established at the former Air Base. Most of the station's buildings have been torn down, but some do remain, including all the hangers. Only runway 14-32, the taxiway and a small part of another runway remain of the original triagle pattern airfield. A new 7000 ft runway was built parallel to 14-32, but it is closed to aircraft now; instead it used as a racetrack today. CN Railway had a training centre at Gimli Industrial Park from 1977 until 1995.

Current tenants of the Gimli Industrial Business Park include, the Government of Manitoba's water bomber squadron, Manitoba Hydro, the Winnipeg Skydiving Club and two pilot training schools, The Interlake International Pilot Training Centre and Interlake Aviation, who utilize the airfield. As well, the Gimli Motorsport Park conducts motorcycle and sport car racing on runway 32L, which is now closed to aircraft.

The Private Married Quarters, now called the Aspen Park Condominiums, also remain but are all privately owned. Many have been refurbished with new siding.

Although no longer military establishment, the military have not completely abandoned Gimli. 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron based out of 17 Wing Winnipeg use the Gimli Airport when they conduct training exercises over Lake Winnipeg. As well, the Gimli Gliding Centre carries on the tradition of training airmen and women of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at Gimli. Originally established in 1984, the Gliding Centre remained at Gimli until moving to CFB Penhold in 1987. The school returned to Gimli in 1998 and remains here today. A small permanent staff remains at the site year round, but during the summer months, the military population rises to approximately 200 staff and students. The current student barracks is the former CN Rail building.

As well, Gimli Industrial Business Park hosted The National Search and Rescue Competition, SAREX 97 in September 1997. Competing at the annual skills competition were the Canadian Forces' five SAR units: Winnipeg's 435 Squadron, Trenton's 424 Squadron, Greenwood's 413 Squadron, Comox's 442 Squadron and Gander�s 103 Squadron.

The former RCAF Station Gimli has also become somewhat of a movie studio, with two TV movies having been filmed at the site - "My Life As a Dog" and "The Avro Arrow Story". Gimli was even made front-page news in 1983 when an Air Canada Boeing 767 ran out of fuel near Red Lake, in northern Ontario. The pilot, an experienced glider pilot, glided the plane over 150 miles and landed safely at Gimli. All 60 passengers aboard the "Gimli Glider" survived unharmed.

Source Material: Gimli Industrial Business Park web site - http://www.rmgimli.com/ipark/index2.htm, "Sentinel" Magazine from October 1968 & November 1969, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan site - http://www.ualberta.ca/EDMONTON/CONTRIB/airmuseum/aambcatp.html & www.airmuseum.ca the 15 Wing Moose Jaw web site - www.15wing.msjw.dnd.ca/15his.htm, the RCAF Station Moose Jaw site - http://www.rcaf.com/stations/moosejaw.shtml, Town of Gimli Community Profile - http://www.communityprofiles.mb.ca/cgi-bin/csd/index.cgi?id=4618033, History of 2CFFTS web site - http://www.moosejaw.dnd.ca/2his_e.asp#to_top, pamphlet printed by Studio High Techniques of Toronto (1998), �Portage La Prairie � Fifty Years of Flying Training: 1940-1990� by Major G.E.I. Greavette, CD, DND press release from September 30, 1997, Sea, Army & Air Cadets web page - http://www.cadets.dnd.ca/intro_e.asp, information provided by the Gimli Gliding Centre (2003), the Winnipeg Sport Car Club web site - http://www.wscc.mb.ca/roadracing.php & the personal recollections of the author (2003).

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NEW BRUNSWICK

Camp Sussex:

Opened in 1928 as a tented Army Training Camp, used by the 28th Cavelry.

During World War II, the camp served as the home to No. A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre. "Temporary" H-huts were built at the camp for barracks and administration buildings. In early 1944, No. A-34 Special Officers' Training Centre also opened at the camp.

The camp remained open after World War II, serving as the headquarters of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's).

The camp began downsizing in the early 1950s when the nearby Camp Gagetown was established and finally closed in 1965. The rifle range continued to be used until the early 1980s, when it too closed due to nearby residential development. The former camp's hospital was used as the local hospital until 1979, when it was demolished.

Although nothing remains of Camp Sussex today, the last tank hanger being demolished years ago, the Department of National Defense still owns part of the property. The Brigadier Milton Gregg, VC, Armoury occupies a small portion of the former camp, serving as the home to "B" Squadron of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) and the training area continues to be used by troops from CFB Gagetown.

The remainder of the former camp is a recreational park, industrial park and educational campus. A future housing development is also planned for the area.

As a nod to the property's military past, the local sports centre is named the 8th Hussars Sports Centre.

Source Material: Town of Sussex - http://www.townofsussex.com/sussex/history.html, the Blacks Harbour Historical Society - http://geocities.datacellar.net/blacksharbour/utopia.html, information supplied by Doug Briggs, Sergeant-at-Arms, Royal Canadian Legion, Sussex Branch(2003), Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume III: Atlantic by Paul Ozorak & New Brunswick Historic Images - http://www.rootsweb.com/~nbpstgeo/stge9armycamp.htm.

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NOVA SCOTIA

Royal Canadian Air Force Station Debert:

Opened in April 1941, RCAF Station Debert was the home to the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Operational Training Unit (opened on 3 June 1941), a Communications Storage Facility and the Royal Canadian Navy's No. 31 Naval Air Gunners School. A Relief Landing Field was also constructed near the Town of Maitland.

No. 31 OTU was later taken over by the RCAF and re-designated No. 7 OTU. RCAF Station Debert closed on 20 June 1945.

Although the Canadian Army continued to use the neighboring Army camp, the airfield sat unused until the RCAF resumed using it for flight training in 1954.

In 1960 the RCAF again departed and the airfield was taken over by the Royal Canadian Navy as a training facility for Navy fighter pilots. Markings were painted on the runways so that the Navy pilots could practice simulated carrier take-offs and landings. By 1969, the Navy had departed and the airfield was once again abandoned. It was sold off in 1970.

From 1968-1973, the abandoned runways were used as a racetrack for sports car and motorcycle racing.

In 1974, the Truro Flying Club took over management of the airfield, now known as the Debert Airport. Two of the original runways and one partial remain in use today.

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Camp Debert:

Opened adjacent to RCAF Station Debert in April 1941 as a staging area and training area for units deploying overseas, as well as an ammunition storage facility. Regiments that trained at the camp included The Regina Rifle Regiment, the Winnipeg Rifles, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, The North Nova Scotia Regiment, The Glengarries and The Duke of York Hussars. A-23 Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft Advanced Training Centre conducted radar training for the army.

After WWII, Camp Debert continued to be used as an Army training facility for the 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1948-1958) and the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada (1950-1952) served as the home of the 12th Ordinance Ammunition Depot (1948-1958), the 31st Ordnance Ammunition Depot (1948-1965).

The late 1950s and early 1960s were a busy time for Camp Debert for not only the Canadian Army but the Royal Canadian Navy too. The Royal Canadian Navy re-located their Regional Medical Equipment Depot from the HMC Dockyard at HMCS Stadacona to Camp Debert in 1959, taking up residence in one of the former RCAF hangars.

By the late 1950s, the threat of a nuclear war had become so great that the Canadian government decided to construct a secret underground bunker to house the major elements of the government in the event of an emergency. Most Provincial Governments followed suit by building their own bunkers. The Nova Scotia Government chose Camp Debert for the site of their bunker in the early 1960s. The Provincial Warning Centre, the Regional Emergency Government Headquarters and 720 Communications Squadron also took up residence in the bunker. All Government bunkers also doubled as a communications station, and thus had a remote communications bunker located some distance away. This second bunker, usually a single story structure, was staffed exclusively by communications personnel. Debert's remote transmitter bunker site was constructed near Great Village.

In the mid 1960s, Debert began to downsize, beginning with the closure of the ammunition depot in 1965. The overall size of Camp Debert was reduced in 1971 when a large portion of the camp were sold, reducing the camp to 300 hectares from a war-time high of 6000 hectares.

With the Unification of the late 1960s, Camp Debert became a Detachment of CFB Halifax.

Post-unification, the Camp's main function was as a strategic communication station for DND, serving as an Automated Defence Data Network (ADDN) Communications Node site and a station in the NATO Integrated Communications System (NICS), situated in the bunker and under the command of unit 72 Communications Group at CFB Halifax.

In 1994, the Regional Emergency Government Headquarters closed.

In 1995, Camp Debert separated from CFB Halifax, becoming an autonomous station, but this would be short-lived.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, Camp Debert closed on 15 July 1996.

Communication Detachment Great Village was established at Debert's remote transmitter bunker site at Great Village. The detachment, which falls under command of 726 Communication Squadron at CFB Halifax, carries out Debert's communication duties.

Although Debert is no longer a military establishment, a small military presence does remain in the form of a Construction Engineering Detachment, the Debert Military Family Resource Centre and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Regional Gliding School (Atlantic), who today carry on the tradition of training airmen and women at Debert. The communications bunker at Debert is now a cold war museum, similar to the "Diefenbunker" at the former CFS Carp. It also serves as the headquarters for the air cadet gliding school and is occasionally used as a barracks by military units transiting through the area.

The Colchester Development Corporation owns the former camp, now the Debert Air Industrial Park.

Also remining at Debert are both ammunition depots (but empty), the PMQs (9 remain are still used by military families), Hangar No. 3, the guard hut and 3 of the old drill halls. The barracks site is slowly being consumed by vegetation.

The Debert Military History Society opened its doors at the former camp in November 1997 in the only remining "H-hut", to preserve the military history of the former Camp Debert, replacing the CFS Debert Museum which closed in 1995.

In 2005, the bunker at CFS Debert is home to the cadet regional gliding school in the summer, is available to other groups throughout the year, and is occasionally used as a barracks by military units in transit across Nova Scotia. The last Commanding Officer of CFS Debert, Major David Quick, was eager to say in his closing speech that CFS Debert was the best kept secret in the military (Whitaker, 1997).

Source material: "Sentinel" Magazine from August 1974, pg. 29, "Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment of the Closure of CFS Debert Nova Scotia, Project No. 11522", prepared by Jacques Whitford Environmental Ltd. (July 1997), "Comprehensive Study Summary report Closure of CFS Debert Nova Scotia", prepared by Jacques Whitford Environmental Ltd. (November1997), "Where has the Station Gone? Or What ever happened to CFS Debert?" (15 Jan 97), the Communications & Electronics Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org, "Bunkers, Bunkers Everywhere" by Paul Ozorak, "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume III: Atlantic" by Paul Ozorak, The Debert Military History Society web site - http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/debert.museum, Colchester Park web site - www.colchesterpark.com, "History of Canadian Airports" by T. M. McGrath & "CFS Debert - The End of an Era" (24 Oct 96), by Warrant Officer R.J. Whitaker, Detachment Commander, Communication Detachment Great Village, NS at http://www.dnd.ca/commelec/nwslettr/vol34/debert.htm.

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Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis:

Originally opened in May 1942 in Halifax as a Royal Canadian Navy recruit-training centre named His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Cornwallis. This location would be short lived and Cornwallis moved to Deep Brook in April 1943 where it would become the largest new entry training facility in the Commonwealth.

The end of WWII saw a reduced need for Naval trainees, and as a result, HMCS Cornwallis closed on 28 February 1946. This would prove to be a short-lived closure, as the RCN re-opened the base in November 1948. A new 19 week course was designed to train sailors for the post-war RCN, a course that would include women (WRENS) by the early 1950s.

After the closure of the Sea Cadet summer camp HMCS ACADIA at the Point Edward Base in 1964, a new Sea Cadet camp was established at Cornwallis. However, the name HMCS Acadia wouldn't follow the cadet camp. The name HMCS Acadia was revived as the name of the Cornwallis cadet school in 1978.

As a result of the Unification in 1968, the base was re-named CFB Cornwallis and expanded their recruit training courses to include all three service branches.

Due to a reduction in recruiting levels, as a part of the overall reduction in the personnel levels in the Canadian Forces, CFB Cornwallis closed in 1994. The recruit school moved to CFB St-Jean to merge with the other CF recruit school. 14 Wing Greenwood now provides the local Reserve and Cadet units with administrative and logistical support.

Today the site is known as Cornwallis Park, a commercial and residential complex and most of the former military buildings remain. Amongst the many commercial tenants of Cornwallis Park are the Lester B. Pearson International Peacekeeping Training Centre - a joint DND - Department of Foreign Affairs venture that provides peacekeeping education, training and research.

Although Cornwallis is no longer a base, a Navy presence does remain in the form of the HMCS Acadia Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre, who today carries on the tradition of training young sailors at Cornwallis.

The HMCS/CFB Cornwallis Military Historical Society acquired the former St Georges Chapel and opened it as the Cornwallis Military Museum in 1997. An application has been made by the Society to the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board to have Cornwallis made a national historic site by Parks Canada.

Source material: DND press release from February 1994, "Sentinel" Magazine from August 1974 & "Badges of the Canadian Navy" by LT (N) Graeme Arbuckle, The HMCS/CFB Cornwallis Military Historical Society web site - http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/capcom/cornmilmus.html, "The Maple Leaf" - Vol. 4, No. 36, 2001, "Abandoned Military Installations in Canada Vol III: Atlantic" by Paul Ozorak & Kespuwick Developments' Cornwallis Park Web Site - www.cornwallis.ns.ca.

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Naval Radio Section Mill Cove:

Officially opened as Canadian Forces Station Mill Cove on 19 December 1967, replacing Naval Radio Station Albro Lake as the Royal Canadian Navy's east-coast radio communications station. CFS Mill Cove was constructed as three distinct sites - the "Upper Site", consisting of the operations site, the "Lower Site", consisting of several administrative buildings and the PMQ's, and the transmission facilities at Newport Corner.

Department of National Defence cutbacks in the early 1990s saw many bases across Canada close, merge or downsize. As a result, the "Lower Site" closed n 1 June 1995. The "Upper Site" and the transmission facilities at Newport Corner remained operational, but were downsized to a remote broadcast control station and a Detachment of Maritime Forces Atlantic Stadacona (CFB Halifax).

The radio unit was re-named Naval Radio Section Mill Cove in March 1998 to officially recognize its naval heritage.

On 10 April 2001 the Navy's radio communications facilities returned to the Halifax area for the first time since 1968 when Naval Radio Section Mill Cove re-located to the new Remote Operations Communication Centre at Stadacona. The Mill Cove and Newport Corner receiver and transmitter sites remain active, controlled remotely from Stadacona.

At Mill Cove, the radio building, the administration buildings, the gym, the fire hall, the Jr. Rank's Mess, the Living Quarters and the workshop buildigs remain, but are vacant and deteriorating. The lower level PMQs are still there and occupied (not by the military), and where the trailers used to park behind the Admin Building is now the home of a beautiful new school. The commissionaires at the main gate are the only personnel that remain at Mill Cove. Newport Corners is staffed only by repair technicians.

Both the Aldergrove and Matsqui radio stations can be remotely controlled by CFB Halifax. Similarily, both Mill Cove and Newport Corner can be remotely controlled CFB Esquimalt

Source Material: "Trident" magazine from June 3, 1987 and June 15, 1995, "The Maple Leaf" Magazine from April 2001, information supplied by Ronald J. Yaschuk, CD (CPO Ret'd) (2007) & information supplied by the Maritime Command Museum, City of Halifax (1999).

For the full history of CFS Mill cove, visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~jproc/rrp/mc_mill_cove.html *********************************************************************

No. 60 Canadian Infantry (Basic) Training Centre:

Originally opened as a basic training centre in March 1941 at the Yarmouth Exhibition grounds. The camp was converted into an infantry training centre in November 1943. By the time the camp closed on 31 October 1945, over 20,000 men had been trained in the art of warefare.

The former drill hall remains and is occupied by the 84th Independent Field Battery (RCA) and a Cadet unit. Some of the H-huts remain also, but with new siding.

Source material: "Abandoned Military Installations in Canada Vol III: Atlantic" by Paul Ozorak and informaion provided by Christina Blake, Town of Yarmouth (2005).

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ONTARIO

Canadian Forces Base Toronto:

Established on land occupied by DeHavilland's aircraft factory and airfield in Downsview in 1947 as Royal Canadian Air Force Station Toronto. The base served as a supply base of Air Material Command, in addition to providing operational and logistical support to the RCAF's Regular and Reserve Force squadrons in the Toronto area, including the RCAF Staff College (later the CF Staff College) and the Avenue Road Detachment. The station would also become home to several former World War II squadrons.

In 1946, 400 Auxiliary Squadron was re-activated as a part of the Auxiliary Air Force, with the squadron's Headquarters Unit occupying space at the Avenue Road Detachment. The Squadron was equipped with Vampire MKIII jet fighters, flying them initially from the RCAF Station Malton (now Toronto Pearson International Airport). In acquiring land for the new air station, the RCAF found it necessary to close Sheppard Avenue, so as to expand the airfield. The remains of the former Sheppard Avenue became the main east-west road across the station, renamed Carl Hall Road.

When DeHavilland moved into their new facilities at the south end of the airfield, the RCAF took over the old plant facilities, except for Plant #3 which was still occupied on a leased back basis, an arrangement that would continue until 1989.

Included in this takeover was the original DeHavilland Plant #1. This is where the first DHC-1 Chipmunk, DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter were built.

On 1 October 1950, 411 Auxiliary Squadron was also re-activated and both squadrons began training for their role as auxiliary fighter-bomber squadrons on various fixed-wing aircraft, including the Avro 621, the Tomahawk, Mustang, Mosquito, Spitfire, Sabre and others over the years. The base also became the home of No. 1 Repair Depot and No. 1 Construction Engineering Depot. No. 1 Supply Depot moved from the Weston Road Site in September 1953, as did the Canadian Air Crew Selection Unit. 436 (Transport) Squadron re-located from RCAF Station Dorval on 1 July 1956.

VC-920 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service Reserve arrived in 1953 with their fleet of Grumman Avengers and later Trackers. Markings were painted on the runways so that the Navy pilots could practice simulated carrier take-offs and landings. VC-920 Squadron disbanded in 1964.

Some of the other units in the early days of RCAF Station Toronto were 14 Wing Headquarters, later renamed 2 Tactical Aviation Wing and No. 14 Movement Control Detachment. The Defence Research Medical Laboratories, later re-named the Defence Research Establishment Toronto, was established at the Avenue Road Detachment on 1 May 1950. The facility moved to Downsview in October 1953.

In 1954, the RCAF officially assumed control of the airfield from DeHavalland and flight activity increased at the station. The C-10 Heavy Transport Aircraft, flown by 436 (Transport) Squadron, were active at the station from 1956 until 436 Squadron relocated to RCAF Station Uplands in 1964. The last Lancaster Bomber, FM104, was flown to Downsview for retirement in 1964. It sat on the Toronto waterfront for years as a memorial to the RCAF, but is now at the Toronto Aerospace Museum undergoing restoration.

In 1955, the William Baker Park and Stanley Green Park PMQ areas were officially opened.

The station was re-named RCAF Station Downsview on 1 October 1958 and re-designated as a base of Air Transport Command. By early 1958, 400 and 411 Squadrons took on a new role as transport-search and rescue squadrons and the Beechcraft C-45 Expeditors replaced the fighter aircraft. No 1 Mobile Support Equipment Maintenance Depot, who had the responsibility of maintaining the RCAF's fleet of vehicles, moved to Downsview in 1965. Following the disbandment of VC-920 RCN Squadron, the Headquarters Unit of 400 Auxiliary Squadron moved to Downsview in October 1964 and occupied the VC-920�s former quarters.

In July 1966, with the impending closure of RCAF Station Centralia, aircrew selection training was transferred the RCAF Personnel Applied Research Unit (RCAF PARU) at Downsview's Avenue Road Detachment, a part of the Aircrew Selection Unit located at Downsview itself.

As a result of the Unification in 1968, the base was re-named CFB Toronto and its support role was expanded to include all Regular Force, Reserve and Cadet units (Army, Navy and Air Force) in the Toronto Garrison. The RCAF PARU was re-named the Canadian Forces PARU.

CFB Toronto also assumed administrative control of Canadian Forces Reserve Barracks Hamilton, establishing a detachment at the site.

Central Militia Area Headquarters (CMA HQ) moved to Downsview after CFB Oakville closed in 1971. 400 and 411 Squadrons were re-named 400 "City of Toronto" Squadron and 411"County of York" Squadron and both became part of 10 Tactical Air Group, a unit of the army's Force Mobile Command. The Defence Research Establishment Toronto merged with the CF Institute of Environmental Medicine to form the Defence and Civil Institute for Environmental Medicine in 1971. In 1979, Aircrew Selection Unit was re-named the Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre.

When the Allen Expressway was built in 1971, Downsview's east-west runway was closed and a quarter of its eastern portion dissected by the new highway. Toronto Police now use the severed portion of the runway as a driver training area for their police vehicles.

In 1980, 400 and 411 Squadrons switched from fixed-wing aircraft to CH-136 Kiowa helicopters, and by 1982, both squadrons had been re-named as 400 Tactical and Training Helicopter Squadron (400 T & THS) and 411 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (411THS). The role of both squadrons by this time was to conduct security and transport duties during such events as the visit by Pope John Paul II to CFB Toronto in 1984 and the Toronto Economic Summit in 1988.

In 1990, a restructuring of the Armed Forces resulted in the base being transferred from Air Command to the Army's Mobile Command. Although this transfer ended 43 years of Air Force control of the base, CFB Toronto was still very much an active Air Force Base. Land Force Central Area Headquarters (LFCA HQ) was formed at Downsview the same year as part of a new regional command structure for the Army, replacing CMA HQ, which was disbanded.

The Army's Toronto District Headquarters (TDHQ) moved to Downsview in 1994 from the Avenue Road Detachment, taking up residence in the Otter Building, which was the original station headquarters. TDHQ was disbanded in March 1997 and replaced by 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters.

The introduction of the Wing Concept at Air Bases in 1993 resulted in CFB Toronto being designated as 2 Wing, although this was to be short lived as more change was in the wind. By 1994, CFB Toronto's operational importance was declining and along with a reorganization and consolidation of Canadian military bases in the mid 1990s, there was little interest in maintaining a full size base. Combined with the desire of local politicians to acquire some of the land for development, Downsview's fate was effectively sealed. Plans were made to reduce CFB Toronto to a Detachment of CFB Kingston, but this was later changed to outright closure of the base.

CFB Toronto closed on 1 April 1996, the 72nd anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, along with its Avenue Road Detachment. 400 T & THS re-located to CFB Borden, where they currently fly the CH-146 Griffon helicopter, and now fall under the command of 1 Wing Kingston. 411 THS, 2 Tactical Aviation Wing and 2 Tactical Aviation Support Squadron were disbanded and 1 Canadian Forces Supply Depot closed. LFCA HQ had previously re-located to leased office space on Yonge Street in 1994. The Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre relocated to 8 Wing Trenton in 1997. Canada Lands Corporation assumed control of the property and began the process of its disposal.

Garrison Support Unit Toronto, later re-named Area Support Unit Toronto, was established at the former base in 1996 to provide the local Reserve, Cadet and remaining Regular Force units in the Toronto Garrison with administrative, logistical, medical and Military Police support services.

On 26 May 2000, the former base officially became Downsview Park, Canada's first Federal Park within a city.

Today, a significant portion of the former base remains. The east side is a commercial-industrial centre, with tenants including DeHavilland, who continue to occupy the airfield (the oldest active airport) and two hangers on the west side of the airfield. Area 51 Paint Ball, Grand Prix Kartways and an indoor soccer field occupy part of the Plant 2 hangar. The former Supply Depot building is currently used as a movie studio and the Toronto Aerospace Museum occupies the original De Havilland Plant 1, the oldest aircraft factory left in Canada, having stood since 1929.

Gone from the west side of the former base are all the barracks, messes, the Otter Building, the guard house, the curling club and the recreation centre, all of which were torn down to create a passive park. The former row-house quarters on the south-west corner of Keele Street & Sheppard Avenue were also torn down and replaced with luxury townhomes.

The former 1970's era headquarters building is now the headquarters for the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, but the former Military Police guardhouse, once occupied by the Toronto Wildlife Centre is currently vacant.

In July 2002, the Department of National Defence opened a new armoury, named The Denison Armoury, on a vacant piece of land at the former CFB Toronto to house all elements of ASU Toronto, 32 CBG HQ, 2 Intelligence Company, 2 Field Engineer Regiment, 25 (Toronto) Service Battalion and The Governor General's Horse Guards as well as their respective cadet units. The old Denison Armoury, located just south of Downsview's airfield on Dufferin Street, formerly occupied by 25 Service Battalion and The Governor General's Horse Guards, was closed and demolished a year later. Most of the PMQs are still occupied by military families and will be for the foreseeable future. As well, DCIEM remains at the corner of Sheppard and Allan Road.

In 2002, Downsview Park hosted the World Youth Day festivities, including a big outdoor mass hosted by Pope John Paul II. On 30 July 2003, a SARS relief benefit concert was held, with the Rolling Stones headlining the daylong event.

In December 2006, Downsview Park was officially turned over to Parc Downsview Park Inc., the Federal Crown corporation which oversees the park. However, park management has stated that the former base could possibly be used in the future as a staging area for crisis management for terrorist, war or disaster response. Is it possible that CFB Toronto could be reactivated someday?

In September 2007, 2 Military Police Unit (2 MPU) stood up, officially all Military Police units (Regular & Reserve Force) in Ontario, with the exception of Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) Military Police Platoon. The unit’s headquarters is located at the Denison Armoury, along with 32 Military Police Platoon (Reserve).

Source Material: DND Press releases from August 1988 & February 1994, "The Garrison" Newspaper from March 1995, "Borden Armed Forces Day and Air Show - June 26 & 27, 1999" program guide, The Downsview Family Tree. - A Historical Summary of the Downsview Lands by Wayne Kelly (1998), the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre web site - http://www.pathcom.com/~tmfrc/, Toronto Police web site www.torontopolice.on.ca, Toronto Star Newspaper 25 May 2000, 8 Wing Trenton web site - http://www.8wing.trenton.dnd.ca/archives/news110897.htm, information supplied by the Alberta Aviation Museum (2004), the Toronto Sun "Downsview Remains At The Ready", published 9 June 2006 & the personal recollections of the author (1998 - 2009).

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Canadian Forces Base Ottawa (North):

Originally established as a the Rockcliffe Air Station for the new Canadian Air Force in 1919 on the shores of the Ottawa River, the same grounds as a former Army rifle range and training camp that had existed since 1898.

The small airfield, east of the village of Rockcliffe, was home to No. 3 Operations Squadron and an aerial photographic survey unit, later re-named No. 7 General Purpose Squadron, who conducted the first experiments in aerial photography. Rockcliffe was also the only aircraft facility in Canada at the time that housed both land and sea-borne aircraft and was one of six stations for the new Canadian Air Force.

By 1928, Rockcliffe also featured a pigeon loft, the largest of 8 such sites across Canada for the purpose of housing and training homing pigeons for use by RCAF aircrews. Defence Department cutbacks in the 1930's resulted in the elimination of all pigeon lofts except the ones at RCAF Stations Jericho Beach and Dartmouth.

In 1930 the RCAF Test Flight was formed at Rockcliffe, but sadly two years later, on 12 March 1932, the Test Flight saw its first casualty when Colonel William Barker, V.C., co-founder of Bishop-Barker Airplanes Limited, was killed in a test flight accident.

Also during the 1930s, permanent married quarters and an aircraft hangar (hangar #1) were constructed, as was the "White House", the home of the RCAF Photographic Establishment. The large white building was originally built beside the airfield as a Depression make-work project, eventually becoming a landmark at Rockcliffe.

After going through several name changes, (RCAF Unit Ottawa, RCAF Technical Depot Stores), the station had was re-named Royal Canadian Air Force Station Ottawa in 1936. This name change would be short lived as the station was again re-named RCAF Station Rockclifffe in 1940. Some of the station's other units at this time consisted of No. 7 General Purpose Squadron, Air Transport Command, No. 124 Communications Squadron and the newly opened RCAF Hospital.

With the outbreak of World War II, activity greatly increased at RCAF Station Rockcliffe. Three additional wooden hangars were built for the numerous squadrons now based at the station, and The RCAF Women's Division Manning Depot relocated to Rockcliffe from Toronto in 1943.

In 1940 the RCAF Test and Development Establishment was formed to replace the RCAF Test Flight and in 1943 the Heavy Transport Squadron was formed at Rockcliffe to deliver mail and other supplies using converted B-17 bombers.

Post-war, RCAF Station would remain a very important base of operations. In 1945, the RCAF's first jet fighter, a Gloster Meteor F-111, was test-flown at Rockcliffe. No. 408 (Photo) Squadron, later re-named 408 Tactical Fighter Squadron, re-formed at RCAF Station Rockclifffe in January 1949, and remained until it moved to RCAF Station Rivers in 1964. In 1950, Rockcliffe gained a school when the Air Photo Interpretation Centre (APIC) was formed, but lost one when the RCAF School of Photography re-located to RCAF Station Camp Borden the same year. By 1960, APIC merged with the Joint Air Photo Interpretation School from RCAF Station Rivers and the centre became fully responsible for training photo-interpreters. No. 22 (Photographic) Wing was also based at Rockcliffe briefly from 15 December 1953 to 1 April 1957. 412 (Transport) Squadron, who have the distinction of being the first users in the world of jet passenger liners on scheduled transatlantic flights, also made Rockcliffe its home until it moved to RCAF Station Uplands on 1 September 1955. The Central Experimental and Proving Establishment, formed in 1951 to replace the RCAF Test and Development Establishment, also moved to Uplands in 1957.

Rockcliffe also had the role of providing administrative and logistical support to the RCAF's Ottawa area units and squadrons. The headquarters of No. 9 (Transport) Group was formed here in February 1945. Re-named Air Transport Command in April 1948, the headquarters remained until moving to RCAF Station Lachine in August 1951. Air Material Command Headquarters was also located at Rockcliffe from April 1949 until August 1965.

In 1961, the RCAF Hospital closed and was replaced by the National Defence Medical Centre, located outside downtown Ottawa.

The predecessor of the current of the National Aviation Museum, originally opened at RCAF Station Uplands in October 1960, moved to Rockcliffe in 1965 where it remains today.

Military flying ended at Rockcliffe in 1964, leaving behind a legacy of more than 40 years as a military flying station. While RCAF Station Rockcliffe was now solely an administrative base, the airfield remained in use by the Rockcliffe Flying Club. The collection of historic military aircraft at Rockcliffe moved into the hangers on the south end of the airfield in 1965.

As a result of the Unification in 1968, the station was re-named CFB Rockcliffe, but this was changed on 2 October 1972 when it was merged with CFB Uplands. Rockcliffe was designated CFB Ottawa (North) and the former RCAF Station Uplands in the south end of Ottawa, was re-designated CFB Ottawa (South).

The 197s saw a civilian regional passenger carrier operate briefly from the Rockcliffe airfield. Air Transit ran an Ottawa to Montreal flight service from 1974-1976, making it the only commercial passenger air service to have operated at Rockcliffe.

From 1970 -1983, Parliament Hill's Ceremonial Guard used Hangar #1 as their headquarters and drill practice area.

Department of National Defence cutbacks in the early 1990s saw many bases across Canada close or downsize and even though Rockcliffe was in the Nation�s capital, it was not spared a similar fate. Both Rockcliffe and Uplands closed in 1994.

Rockcliffe is now almost completely abandoned. Most of the buildings have been torn down and the roadways encircle empty weed-covered fields. The former RCAF hangars on the south side of the airfield were torn down in 1989. Only the PMQs, the Canadian Forces Housing Agency and the Military Family Resource Centre are still in use by the Canadian Forces at Rockcliffe. Some former military buildings are currently used as part of the National Research Council's campus. One of the buildings even has the Royal Canadian Corps of signals emblem in stone above a doorway. This building was once occupied by E Squadron of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals.

Future plans call for the complete abandonment of Rockcliffe and consolidation of activities at National Defence Headquarters and small sections at Uplands. Some of the PMQs have already been sold for civilian use. Other than the airfield, very little remains at Rockcliffe. The National Aviation Museum continues to serve as a permanent display facility for military and civilian aircraft at Rockcliffe.

In 2006, all of the former base except the airfield was sold to private interests for condos and other developments.

In it's heyday, Rockcliffe had as many as 16 Air Force squadrons at any one time, more than any other Air Station in Canada.

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Canadian Forces Base Ottawa (South):

Originally established on 5 August 1940 as No. 2 Service Flying Training School under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, with Relief Landing Fields located at Carp and Edwards.

No. 2 SFTS closed on 14 April 1947, but flying training continued until in 1947, when the Station became home to Maintenance Command Headquarters.

Flying activities resumed at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Uplands in the early 50s with the arrival of various fighter squadrons, some of which were re-activated from World War II squadrons. 439 "Saber Toothed Tiger" Squadron, the first squadron to use the F-16 jet fighter who, re-formed on 1 September 1951, as did 416 Linx Squadron. Both Squadrons departed for Europe the following year, 439 Squadron to 1 Wing North Luffenham and 416 Squadron to 2 Wing Grostenquin, France. 422 Fighter Squadron re-formed at RCAF Station Uplands on 1 January 1953, but re-located to 4 Wing Baden-Soellingen on 27 August 1953. Others who called Uplands home were 3 Air Movement Unit and 428 Ghost Squadron, who flew the Canadian designed Avro CF-100, 434 Fighter Squadron, originally a bomber squadron, re-formed at Uplands on 1 July 1952 but transferred to 3 Wing Zweibrucken less than one year later. 412 Transport Squadron, who have the distinction of being the first squadron to fly jet passenger liners on scheduled transatlantic flights, arrived from RCAF Station Rockcliffe on 1 September 1955. The Central Experimental and Proving Establishment, later re-named the Aeronautical Evaluation and Test Establishment (AE & TE) moved to Uplands from Rockcliffe in 1957. Today the AE & TE is based at 4 Wing Cold Lake.

410 Squadron, disbanded at 1 Wing in Marville, France on 1 October 1956, re-formed a month later at Uplands as an All-weather Fighter Squadron for the North American Air Defence Command. The squadron disbanded again on 1 April 1964. Four months later, 426 Transport Squadron re-located to Uplands from RCAF Station Downsview.

The predecessor of the current of the National Aviation Museum opened at RCAF Station Uplands in October 1960. Later on, its aircraft collection was merged with those of the RCAF and the Canadian War Museum. This led to the creation of the National Aeronautical Collection. This Collection came under the control of National Museum of Science and Technology in 1968 and was renamed National Aviation Museum in 1982. The museum moved to Rockcliffe in 1965. In 1968, the base was re-named CFB Uplands as part of the Unification, but by 1972 the name was again changed to CFB Ottawa (South).

In 1970, 450 (Heavy Transport) Squadron, formerly No. 1 Transport Helicopter Platoon of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, moved to Uplands from RCAF Station St Hubert (along with their detachment from RCAF Station Namao) with their squadrons of Huey, Labrador, Voyageur and Chinook helicopters. The Squadron was again re-designated, this time simply 450 (Transport) Helicopter Squadron. 436 Transport Squadron re-located to CFB Trenton on 11 August 1971 where they currently fly the CC-130 Hercules aircraft.

The 1970s and 1980s were a busy time for Uplands. The Canadian Forces Airborne Sensing Unit was established in 1971 to conduct testing using various aircraft including the CF-100 Canuck, Dassault Falcon and Dakotas. The unit was replaced by a civilian agency, the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing in 1975.

By the 1980s, the Electronic Warfare Squadron, 414 Squadron at CFB North Bay had opened a detachment at CFB Ottawa (South). 412 (T) Squadron was providing air services for the Prime Minister, as well as VIP transportation around the world.

450 Helicopter Squadron, who were now the only combat ready Ottawa area squadron, were training as a part of the RCMP Special Emergency Response Team. The first CF-18 fighter aircraft brought into service was presented to the Air Force by then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at CFB Ottawa (S) on 25 October 1982.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and even though Uplands was in the Nation�s capital, it was not spared a similar fate. As a result, both Uplands and Rockcliffe closed in 1994.

In their place, a support unit named Canadian Forces Support Unit Ottawa was established at Uplands and National Defence Headquarters to provide the local Reserve, Cadet and remaining Regular Force units with administrative and logistical support. 450 (Transport) Helicopter Squadron re-located to 1 Wing St. Hubert in August 1994.

Today, only small sections at Uplands remain in military hands. The PMQs, the CF Band, the CF Photo Unit, the Military Police, the CFSU Transportation & Maintenance Section, the Central Material Traffic Terminal, the CF Crypto Support Unit and the Military Family Resource Centre remain at Uplands. None of the World War II hangers remain, but two of the post-war "Arch" hangers and assorted administrative buildings do remain. Large sections of the former base contain only empty fields.

412 (Transport) Squadron downsized from 120 personnel to only 29, and relocated to the civilian side of the former Uplands airport. Their current Headquarters, The Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr Annex officially opened on 11 January 1995. Transport Canada now has the responsibility for the maintenance of the Squadron's remaining four CC-144 Challenger jets. The airfield remains in use as the Ottawa International Airport.

412 (Transport) Squadron web site - http://www.airforce.forces.ca/8wing/squadron/412hist_e.asp

For information on CFB Ottawa South, visit Terry Martin's "CFB OTTAWA-UPLANDS" web page - www.totavia.com/terry/cyow/uplands. This site also has links to pages on 450 and 412. Sqns.

Source Material: DND Press Releases from May 1987 & June 1989, "Sentinel" Magazine from April 1970, pg **, & Summer 1971 & May 1974, pgs 12 - 15, the personal recollections of the author (1998), information supplied by Renald Fortier, Curator, Aviation History, National Aviation Museum, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 8 Wing Trenton News Archive - www.8wing.trenton.dnd.ca/archives/news110897.htm, Terry Martin's "CFB OTTAWA-UPLANDS" web page - www.totavia.com/terry/cyow/uplands, "Farewell To Rockcliffe" by Buzz Bourdon, Airforce Magazine, Fall 2004 & 450 Squadron web page www.totavia.com/terry/cyow/uplands/450sqn.htm.

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Wolseley Barracks:

Established near London in 1885 on farmland belonging to John Carling, son of the famous brewer, as a training camp for "D" Company of the Infantry Corps, later re-named The Royal Canadian Regiment - Canada's oldest infantry regiment. The Militia had used the site for summer training camps since the mid-1860's. The camp was named Wolseley Barracks in honour of Field Marshall, the Right Honorable Viscount Wolseley in 1894. The Regimental Headquarters of The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) moved to Wolseley Barracks in 1923.

Wolseley Barracks, named in honour of Field Marshall, the Right Honorable Viscount Wolseley, was picked for the site in 1894. The Regimental Headquarters of The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) moved to Wolseley Barracks in 1923.

On 1 November 1936, the Canadian Tank School was established at Wolseley Barracks with Captain (later Major-General) Frederic ("Worthy") Worthington, MC, MM, PPCLI as its first Commander. However it was later determined that Wolseley Barracks lacked the proper facilities for tank training, so the school was re-located to Camp Borden on 1 May 1938.

Although this was the training camp for the RCR, this function was relinquished from 1914-1923 and again from 1939-1953 when Woseley Barracks was used as a training camp for all of the regiments in the southwest Ontario region. The RCR resumed training their own in 1953 with the establishment of the Regimental Depot at Wolseley Barracks.

In 1954, the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR), a Militia Regiment consisting of members from the Canadian Fusiliers and The Oxford Rifles, was established at Wolseley Barracks to serve alongside the Regular Force 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment.

As a result of the Unification, the barracks was re-named CFB London in 1966, although the name Wolseley Barracks continues to be used today, and it's function changed to that of a Material Command support base for southwestern Ontario. The Regimental Depot closed in 1968 and a new tri-service basic training school was established at CFB Cornwallis. In 1970, 3 RCR was re-designated as 4 RCR while a new Regular Force 3 RCR was formed at CFB Petawawa.

In 1992, CFB London was downsized to a detachment of CFB Toronto. 1 RCR departed for CFB Petawawa later that year.

On 1 April 1996 Detachment London closed, but a small portion of the former base was sectioned off and still functions as a military establishment, as does the nearby Highbury Complex. The units still occupying Wolseley Barracks are The 1st Hussars (RCAC), 22 Service Battalion, 31 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters, 4 RCR, 31 Military Police Platoon, and Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford - London Detachment. The Vehicle Maintenance Section of 22 Service Battalion remains at the Highbury Complex. As well, the RCR Regimental Museum and the RCR Regimental Headquarters remain in "A" Block, otherwise known as Wolseley Hall. Wolseley Hall has been designated as a national historic site. All the PMQ's were sold and are now privately owned residences.

Of the closed section of the former base, only three buildings remain: the base gym, which is now the Carling Heights Optimist Community Recreation Centre, the former century house used as the "Military Stores", now offices for Block Parents and a maintenance garage, now empty but used briefly by the City of London Parks & Recreation Department. All other buildings were torn down.

Garrison Support Unit London (GSU London) was established at Wolseley Barracks in 1996 to provide the local Reserve, Cadet and remaining Regular Force units with administrative and logistical support. GSU London was re-named Area Support Unit London in 1998.

In March 2006, a new support complex opened at Wolseley Barracks to house the units located at the Highbury Complex. The six buildings formerly occupied by these units were demolished, thus ending the military occupation of the Highbury Complex. Building 52 at Wolseley Barracks will also be demolished and it's occupants re-located to the new support complex.

Source Material: Information supplied by K. Noble, Administrator/HR Support Officer, Area Support Unit London (1998), information supplied by MCpl G.H. Johnson, Assistant Curator, The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum (1999), Armour School History web page - http://www.brunnet.net/armourschool/History.htm, DND news release - 23 December 2004 & the personal recollections of the author (1998 & 2001).

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Camp Picton:
(No. 31 Bombing & Gunnery School)

Originally opened 28 April 1941 by the RAF as No. 31 Bombing & Gunnery School, part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The school closed on 17 November 1944. On 18 November 1944, the RCAF established No. 5 Reserve Equipment maintenance Unit for the storage and disposal of surplus aircraft. The unit ceased operations in January 1946.

The Royal Canadian School of Artillery then took over the aerodrome, although the RCAF kept a small detachment on site.

The aerodrome officially became Camp Picton on 1 July 1961 and the Royal Canadian School of Artillery shortly afterwards. The camp then became home to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Guards. Camp Picton was re-named CFB Picton as part of the Unification in April 1966, but this would be short-lived. In the early to mid 1960's, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several Army, Navy and RCAF bases were either downsized, merged or closed. As a result, CFB Picton closed in September 1969.

Most of the former Camp, now the Loch Sloy Industrial Park, remains as it was the day it closed, although not all the buildings are occupied. 851 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron has been making regular use of the Camp year-round since the late 1970s, including the airfield for a Glider Training School.

Source Material: "Abandoned Military Installations Of Canada Volume I: Ontario" by Paul Ozorak, the personal recollections of the author (1997) & The Ontario Ghost Towns web site - http://www.ghosttownpix.com/ontario/towns/cfbpicton.shtml.

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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Canadian Forces Base Summerside:

Opened 23 April 1941 as RCAF Station Summerside, the home of No. 9 Service Flying Training School, a flight school founded under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Two relief landing sites were also established at the same time as No. 9 SFTS, and one in Wellington, PEI and the other one at Mount Pleasant, PEI, although it was later became the site of No 10 B&G School. No. 9 SFTS stay at Summerside would be short lived as it moved to RCAF Station Centralia in July 1942 and No. 1 General Reconnaissance School opened in its place. The school was re-designated No. 1 Reconnaissance and Navigation School in 1945.

RCAF Station Summerside was effectively closed in 1946. Only the Air Cadet Summer Training Camp and a small caretaker staff, whose job it was to maintain the buildings, remained at the Station. The Relief landing field at Wellington was also closed at the end of the war and today, nothing remains of it.

In 1948, RCAF Station Summerside was re-activated as part of the post-war RCAF. No. 1 Air Navigation School (No. 1 ANS) was established at the station a NATO training facility. When the school left Summerside for RCAF Station Winnipeg in 1953, the Central Navigation School, which had been disbanded at RCAF Station Rivers in 1945, was re-activated at Summerside. This new school remained at Summerside for a year, before following No. 1 ANS to Winnipeg. No. 2 Maritime Operational Training Unit was then established to train aircrews in anti-submarine warfare.

In 1949, Permanent Married Quarters were built, named Slemon Park in honor of Air Marshall Roy Slemon.

Over the years Summerside would also be the home of 880 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron, 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, 31 Support Air Group (Royal Canadian Navy), 429 Maritime Patrol Squadron (2 (M) OTU designation when performing non-training operational duties) and 420 Air Reserve Squadron.

In 1959, the Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit (MP & EU) opened at RCAF Station Summerside. The unit's function was to develop and test equipment and procedures used by Maritime Air Command.

On 1 May 1961, the Royal Canadian Navy re-activated 415 Maritime Patrol Squadron at Summerside, an anti-submarine aircraft squadron and equipped it with the CP-107 Argus Aircraft.

The unification brought change to RCAF Station Summerside. The station was re-named CFB Summerside in 1966 and control was transferred to the newly created Maritime Command. By 1968, 2 (M) OTU had departed for CFB Greenwood switching places with Greenwood's No. 103 Rescue Unit. MP & EU also moved to CFB Greenwood in 1978, as did 415 Squadron in 1981, changing their fleet of Argus aircraft for the Aurora.

By the 1980s, the Summerside's primary role was surveillance support for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The remaining squadrons, the Tracker Squadrons 880 SAR Squadron and 420 Air Reserve Squadron, were tasked to conduct routine fisheries patrols. However, the Tracker Aircraft had long since exceeded their life spans and the Federal Government elected not to replace them. As a result of planned reductions in Canada's Air Force, Summerside's importance declined, especially given that its role as a Maritime support base could effectively be covered by CFB Shearwater and CFB Greenwood. As a result, CFB Summerside closed on 1 April 1991.

880 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron was disbanded, 420 Air Reserve Squadron re-located to CFB Shearwater and 413 Search & Rescue Squadron to CFB Greenwood.

The site is now a commercial-industrial centre named Slemon Park, home of the Summerside Aerospace Centre, the Summerside Airport, the Holland College School of Justice and Atlantic Police Academy. The Department of National Defence still owns some of the buildings, including the one occupied by "B" Squadron, The Prince Edward Island Regiment. As well, The Royal Canadian Air Cadets Atlantic Region Gliding School operates a summer Regional Gliding Centre at the airport.

Administrative & logistical support for the remaining Regular Force, Reserve and Cadet Units on Prince Edward Island comes from the Charlottetown Detachment of CFB Gagetown, established on 1 April 1991 and located at the West Royalty Industrial Park in Charlottetown.

Today, Argus, Voodo and Tracker aircraft sand on permanent display, serving as a reminder of Summerside's past.

Source material: DND press release from July 1990, the Slemon Park web site - www.peisland.com/slemon/park.htm, information supplied by Mike Thususka, City of Summerside, Economic Development (1999), 14 Wing Heritage web site - http://www2.14wing.dnd.ca/14wgheritage/index.html, the personal recollections of Major Harley Lang (Ret'd) (1999), Canadian Forces Air Navigation School history - www.cfans.com, "Abandoned Military Installations Of Canada Volume III: Atlantic" by Paul Ozorak & "Armed Forces Day 1990 - CFB Summerside" Program Guide.

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Downsized Bases or Bases That Have Changed Their Functction

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Work Point Barracks:

Opened in 1887 at the entrance to Victoria Harbour as the home for C Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), who moved here from Quebec. A military prison was built in 1904, featuring a 10 foot outer brick wall and barred windows.

B Company, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) were quartered here from 1920 until they left for England in 1939. Later the 58th Field Engineer Squadron (58 FER - re-named 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in 1977) made Work Point their home.

In 1957 C Battery, RCA departed, as did 58 FER to Camp Chilliwack. The 1st Battalion, PPCLI returned to Work Point Barracks in 1963 and remained until 1970, when the battalion was replaced by the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (1 QOR). On March 17, 1970, 1 QOR was re-badged the 3rd Battalion, PPCLI, and became an amalgamated Reserve-Regular Force Battalion, responsible for Reserve infantry training in B.C.

With the Unification of the Forces, Work Point Barracks became part of CFB Esquimalt. The officer training schools of the three former services were merged into one, the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School (CFOCS), and re-located to CFB Cilliwack in 1970.

In 1994, 3 PPCLI also moved from Work Point Barracks to CFB Chilliwack. The Naval Officer Training Centre Venture, moved to Work Point Barracks from the World War II era building it occupied at HMC Dockyard Esquimalt. By 1997, a new 2,000-square-metre building was constructed overlooking Victoria Harbour, including space for administration offices, instructional & training, sports facilities and a student lounge.

On 30 September 2005, the new Kingsmill building was officially dedicated. The six-story accommodation building provides 172 rooms for naval officer trainees. In the spring of 2006, the Officer's Mess and Quarters was declared surplus and despite a campaign by the local community to save the heritage building, it was demolished.

The old military prison closed long ago and is now used for storage.

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Naval Radio Section Aldergrove:

Originally established during World War II on the grounds of HMC Dockyard at His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Naden, the Royal Canadian Navy base for the Pacific Fleet. However, interference from the base created a problem for receiving radio signals and the radio station had to be relocated.

A Wireless Telegraph receiver station was established near the town of Aldergrove in December 1942, and the following November, a Wireless Telegraph broadcast station was established near the town of Matsqui Prairie. After World War II ended, activity at both stations was greatly reduced.

On 1 June 1955, the radio station resumed full operations, providing ship/shore and air/ground communications for Canadian and Allied Armed Forces on the Pacific coast. The station was re-named Her Majesty's Canadian Naval Radio Station Aldergrove, but a year later the name was changed to simply Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Aldergrove.

As a result of the Unification, HMCS Aldergrove was again re-named Canadian Forces Station Aldergrove in 1967.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, CFS Aldergrove was downsized to a remote broadcast control station and a Detachment of CFB Esquimalt (Naden). The Detachment was again re-named Naval Radio Section Aldergrove in 1996 to officially acknowledge the unit's naval heritage.

In 2001 Naval Radio Section Aldergrove returned to the HMC Dockyard at CFB Esquimalt (Naden) for the first time since 1942. The transmitter and receiver sites at Aldergrove and Matsqui remain operational, but several buildings at Aldergrive have been domolished including the single quarters, the stations water tower, and the junior ranks club.

Both Aldergrove and Matsqui can be remotely controlled by CFB Halifax. Similarily, both the Mill Cove and Newport Corner can be remotely controlled by CFB Esquimalt.

NRS Aldergrove remains the home to several Reserve and Cadet units: B Troop, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, B Company, The Royal Westminster Regiment, 746 "Lightning Hawk" Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, 169 COLUMBIA Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps & 1922 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, "Royal Westminster Regiment.

Source material: DND press release from February 1994, information provided by Michael DesMazes, Local Historian (2002) & information provided by Petty Officer 1st Class J. MacDonald, Information Systems Manager, Naval Radio Section Aldergrove (2000).

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Canadian Forces Station Leitrim - Detachment Massett:

Originally opened as a Royal Canadian Navy radio intercept station, Naval Wireless Station Massett (old spelling) on 23 February 1943. Situated at the top of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the station proved to be an ideal location for shop-to-shore communications.

Also during 1943, the RCAF's No. 9 Construction Maintenance Unit arrived and constructed an airfield and several buildings. The station even had a detachment of Cano Code trained Special Operators posted to the site in 1944.

The end World War II saw the closure of many military bases and Naval Wireless Station Massett was no exception, closing in the fall of 1945. The site remained in RCN hands on a care and maintenance basis.

Naval Radio Station Masset resumed operations in 1949 as a High Frequency Direction Finding and Signal Intelligence station at not one, but 3 sites. The Delkatla site was re-activated as the main operations centre, another operations centre and the accommodations block were situated at the "old site" in Masset and the transmitter/receiver site was in Haida Village. By the mid 1950's, married quarters had been constructed at the Masset site.

In 1964 operations were centralized at the Masset site and the Delkatla and Haida sites closed. A new antenna system was built and the station received a complete upgrade in it's facilities, including new married quarters, a new operations site, new barracks, mess and recreation facilities.

As a result of the Unification, NRS Masset was re-named CFS Masset and the station became part of the Canadian Forces Supplementary Radio System.

In 1971, Masset's importance was bolstered when the station assumed the area of responsibility once the control of the former Canadian Forces Station Ladner. As well, the United States Navy Security Group had a small contingent of personnel posted to Masset.

Department of National Defence cutbacks resulted in the station being downsized to remote operation on 4 April 1997. The station was re-designated CFS Leitrim Detachment Masset and only 10 military personnel remain for technical support, drawing support from 19 Wing Comox.

Most of the buildings at the former station have been sold to the Village of Masset, except for a few of the PMQs & the gym. A top floor was added to the Golf Clubhouse and that is the all ranks mess

All that remains of the "old Massett site" is a deserted roadway.

Source material: DND press release from February 1994, CFS Masset site - http://www.island.net/~labrador/cfsm.htm, CFS Masset site - http://geocities.datacellar.net/Pentagon/Bunker/7803/masset.htm & information personal recollections of Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Lamorie (2004).

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Camp Nanaimo:

Opened in 1939 as a militia training camp, Camp Nanaimo was also used as a Combined Operations base for the training of army and naval groups, until 1943.

The camp closed in 1946 and many of the buildings were sold for civilian use. The former military hospital became a Department of Indian Affairs hospital.

The camp later reopened as the home of the 5th Field Artillery, "B" Company of the Canadian Scottish Regiment, and the 748 Communications Troop.

By the late 1950s, the threat of a nuclear war had become so great that the Canadian government decided to construct a secret underground bunker to house the major elements of the government in the event of an emergency. Most Provincial Governments followed suit by building their own bunkers. The British Columbia Government chose Camp Nanaimo for the site of their bunker. A smaller transmitter bunker was built at Nanoose Bay.

By 1970, Camp Nanaimo began downsizing. Approximately half of the camp was sold and by 1973, the vacated portion of the camp had been taken over by Malaspina University College.

Today, most of the WWII era buildings hve been demolished. The former camp remains the home of 740 Communication Squadron and 748 (Nanaimo) Communication Squadron (Reserve), both housed since 1988 in a building named after RCMP Constable Scott Gordon Berry who was killed in 1986, and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), housed in a new armoury opened in late 2004. The camp's firing range also remains operational, but the bunker was demolished in 1999.

Camp Nanaimo is a Detachment of CFB Esquimalt.

Source Material: Malaspina University College web site - http://www.mala.bc.ca/www/discover/muchist/chpt3.htm, information supplied by Jerry Berry, resident of Nanaimo (2005) & the Heritage BC web stie - http://www.heritagebc.ca/heritage_bc04.htm.

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Camp Albert Head:

Originally an artillery coastal battery from 1938-1946. Post-war it was used by the militia, regular army and navy, including Naval Officer Training Centre and cadets.

Source Material: information supplied by Debbie Towell, Curator, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum.

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NEW BRUNSWICK

Moncton Garrison:

Originally established in 1940 as the home of No. 5 Equipment Depot, a supply centre for all the east-coast RCAF stations.

As a result of the Unification, the Station was re-named CFB Moncton and control of the base was transferred to Maritime Command in 1966. The role of the base was to provide administrative and logistical support to 5 Canadian Forces Supply Depot, a Recruiting Centre, the Eastern New Brunswick Militia District Headquarters and the local Reserve Force and Cadet units.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed and as a result, CFB Moncton was reduced to a detachment of CFB Gagetown in 1995. Command of the Detachment was transferred Land Forces Command. No. 5 Canadian Forces Equipment Depot closed on 1 April 1 1996.

In 1995, No. 1 Construction Engineering Unit re-located from Winnipeg�s Kapyong Barracks.

Currently occupying the detachment, re-named Moncton Garrison, are the 4th Air Defence Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, 37 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters, No. 1 Engineer Support Unit (formerly No. 1 Construction Engineering Unit), 32 Service Battalion, the 8th Hussars and Canadian Forces Support Establishment Moncton, who provide the local Reserve, Cadet and remaining Regular Force units with administrative and logistical support.

Some of the former CFB Moncton remains as it was, although not all the buildings are used. A small portion of the property was severed off and transferred to the Canada Lands Corporation. The Royal Canadian Legion now occupies the former Officer's Mess and the PMQs remain occupied by military families.

Source material: DND press releases from May 1989 & February 1994, information supplied by John Allain Corporation of the City of Moncton (1999), information supplied by Claude Despres, Corporation of the City of Moncton (1999), New Brunswick Military Heritage Project - http://www.unb.ca/nbmhp/02_NBMHPsites.htm, New Brunswick Military Heritage Project - http://www.unb.ca/nbmhp/02_NBMHPsites.htm, information supplied by Doug Zwicker, 1 Engineer Support Unit (2004), "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume III: Atlantic " by Author Paul Ozorak & information supplied by Bill Soucoup, Constable, RCMP Patrol Section Codiac Regional RCMP Detachment Moncton (1999).

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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Canadian Forces Station Alert:

Located on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island approximately 817 km from the North Pole, this is Canada's most northerly station. The Alert Wireless Station was originally established on 9 April 1950 by the RCAF as a part of the Joint Arctic Weather Station System, a co-operative effort of the Canadian Department of Transport and the United States Weather Bureau.

In 1958 the station took on the function of a High Frequency Direction Finding and Signal Intelligence station operated by the RCAF. In 1959, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals assumed control of the station. By 1961, members of the Royal Canadian Navy were also posted to the station.

Alert is named after the British ship HMS, which spent the winter 1875-1876 at Ellesmere Island near the site of the present station.

As a result of the Unification, the station was re-named CFS Alert and became a part of the Canadian Forces Supplementary Radio System.

In the mid 1990s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed. As a result, CFS Alert was downsized and converted to remote operation in 1998, along with CFS Masset and CFB Gander's Radio Station. Staffing levels at Alert were reduced from 215 to 74 personnel. In 2006, further reductions in the military staffing occurred.

Today, Alert's mission remains signals intelligence collection and radar station in support of search and rescue.

Source material: DND press release from February 1994 and September 1998, Communications & Electronics Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org & CFS Alert site - http://geocities.datacellar.net/Pentagon/Bunker/7803/alert.htm.

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Forward Operating Location Iqaluit:

Originally opened as Naval Radio Station Frobisher Bay in 1953 as a High Frequency Direction Finding Station, replacing the former NRS Fort Chimo, one of Canada's National Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) organization. The airfield at the station had existed since 1944, when it was build by American engineers and later transferred to the Canadian Government.

No. 926 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (USAF) operated the radar facilities at the station from 1953 to 1961. The RCAF assumed control of Frobisher Bay during the summer of 1958.

The "Upper site" of the station was abandoned in 1974. The "Lower site", renamed Iqaluit, has been a Forward Operating Location since the early 1990s. The airfield is still in use.

Source Material: Canada's national Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) organization web site - http://www.tscm.com/cse.html, Communications & Electronics Museum site www.c-and-e-museum.org & the Pinetree Line web site - http://www.pinetreeline.org/other/other17/other17a.html.

For the full story of NRS Frobisher Bay, visit Pinetree Line web site - http://www.pinetreeline.org.

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NOVA SCOTIA

12 Wing Shearwater:

12 Wing Shearwater has the distinction of being the birthplace of Canadian Naval Aviation. From 1948 until they were disbanded in 1975, Royal Canadian Naval Air Station HMCS Shearwater was the home base of Canada's naval air squadrons.

Originally established at Baker Point by the United States Navy in 1918 as United States Naval Air Station Halifax, it was shortly afterwards the station was taken over by the Royal Canadian Navy and re-named Royal Canadian Naval Air Station Dartmouth. However, Canada's first experiment with a Naval Air Service would be short lived as it was disbanded shortly after World War I ended.

The Station fell into virtual disuse by the military, becoming simply a storage depot for surplus war equipment. Flying operations at the Station were limited to aerial photography and fishery patrols conducted by the Canadian Air Board.

The Royal Canadian Air Force was established in 1924 and by the 1930's had grown to such a point that new Air Stations were needed. In 1934, the Station re-opened as RCAF Station Dartmouth and became the home of No. 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron, who conducted flying operations for the RCMP and the military. A pigeon loft was also constructed at the station, one of 8 such sites across Canada for the purpose of housing and training homing pigeons for use by RCAF aircrews.

Defence Department cutbacks in the 1930's resulted in the elimination of all pigeon lofts except the ones at RCAF Stations Jericho Beach and Dartmouth.

The onset of World War II brought about a whole new phase in the history of RCAF Station Dartmouth. The Royal Navy formed a Naval Air Section at Dartmouth and as a result, a new airfield was constructed. Several Air Force and Naval fighter, bomber and transport squadrons were moved to the Station, such as No. 5 and No. 11 Bomber Squadrons.

No. 118 (Coastal Artillery Co-operation) Squadron transferred from RCAF Station Saint John in April 1944, but later disbanded. 431 Bomber Squadron, RCAF, formed in England, re-located to RCAF Station Dartmouth at the end of World War II disbanding there on 5 September 1945. The Squadron was re-activated on 1 April 1978 as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, more commonly known as the Snowbirds, Canada's premier flyers.

In 1946 the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service, later re-named the Naval Air Branch, was formed and in 1948, RCAF Station Dartmouth was taken over by the Navy for use as a Naval Air Station. The Station was re-named Royal Canadian Naval Air Station, HMCS Shearwater, "...following the Royal Navy tradition of naming air stations after sea birds," (12 Wing Shearwater web page) and became home to the Atlantic Fleet's Aircraft Carriers and Naval Air Squadrons. The Shearwater Station Squadron Fleet Requirement Unit, later re-named VU-32 Squadron, was formed in May 1946 and VS-881 Naval Air Squadron in May 1947 as part of the 18th Carrier Air Group. In October 1947 No. 103 Rescue Unit relocated from Shearwater to RCAF Station Greenwood.

In 1951, HMCS Shearwater became the primary home to the Royal Canadian Navy's new helicopter squadrons and training units. It was the RCN in-fact who pioneered the concept of flying helicopters from destroyer size ships, a concept that was adopted by other navies of the world. No. 1 Helicopter Flight stood up in August 1951 and was tasked with search and rescue, aerial photography, recovery of ships' practice torpedoes and light transport duties.

On 5 November 1952, Experimental Squadron Ten (VX-10) was formed to test and evaluate maritime aircraft and related equipment. VF-870 Squadron and VF-871 Squadron were formed at Shearwater in January & May 1951 respectively, as was VT-40 Air Training Squadron in May 1954. By 1956, Shearwater also became the home of HS-50 Anti-submarine Helicopter Squadron, HU-21 Squadron and VS-880 Squadron, formerly from RCAF Station Summerside. VT-40 Squadron merged with VU-32 Squadron in May 1959.

In November 1955, VF 870 and VF 871 squadrons replaced their Sea Fury aircraft with the F2H3 Banshee all-weather jet fighter, the pride of naval aviation in Canada. However the Banshee would have a short career in the service of the navy. In 1962, the Canadian Government disposed of the Banshee aircraft and elected not to replace them and thus, VF 870 squadron disbanded in September 1962 (VF 871 merged with VF 870 on 16 March 1959). RCN fighter squadrons had lasted a mere 16 years.

As a result of the Unification in 1968, HMCS Shearwater was re-named CFB Shearwater. The Naval Air Branch was eventually disbanded and all flying duties became the responsibility of Air Force personnel. Canada's last Aircraft Carrier, HMCS Bonaventure was de-commissioned in 1970 and as a result, the Navy's fixed-wing aircraft were now all shore-based.

Also in 1970, VX-10 Squadron was disbanded and its personnel were transferred to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Uplands.

The disbandment of the RCN Air Arm led to a change of duties for many of the former aircraft carrier squadrons. VS-880 Squadron, with their fleet of Tracker aircraft, switched from an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role to surveillance duties in conjunction with the federal Department of Fisheries, operating out of Shearwater and their forward detachment at the Torbay Airport. 443 Anti-submarine Warfare Helicopter Squadron re-activated at Shearwater on 25 October 1974.

CFB Shearwater officially reverted back to an Air Force establishment in 1975, when control of the base was transferred to Air Command, although it's primary function was still to provide helicopter and aircraft support to the Navy. As the home of 420 (Fighter) Squadron, the Fleet Diving Unit, the Maritime Command Sea Survival School, 406 Squadron, 415 (Swordfish) Squadron, 413 Transport & Rescue Squadron and the Atlantic fleet's Sea King helicopters, 423 Squadron, Shearwater was an extremely busy Maritime Air Base.

The Helicopter Operational Test & Evaluation Facility (HOTEF) was established at Shearwater in 1980, charged with the responsibility of researching and testing operational equipment for the Sea King helicopters, as well and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and other support equipment trials, marking the return of a dedicated naval air testing facility for the first time since the disbandment of VX-10 Squadron in 1970.

In June 1992, VU-32 Squadron disbanded in a ceremony held at Shearwater, ending 46 years of service to the Canadian Navy. 434 Composite Squadron, originally a bomber squadron, re-formed on 4 July 1992. The squadron was later re-designated a Combat Support Squadron.

The introduction of the Wing concept at Air Force establishments resulted in the base being re-named 12 Wing Shearwater in 1993. However, more change in the wind due to the Federal Government's planned reductions in Canada's Air Force. As a result, Shearwater was downsized to a detachment of CFB Halifax in 1994, although it remained a component of No. 1 Canadian Air Division, Headquartered in Winnipeg.

12 Air Movements Squadron and the Helicopter Operational and Testing Evaluation Facility also remain at 12 Wing. When the Sea King replacement, the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone, comes on line in 2008, it will be HOTEF that will conduct the trials on the new helicopter.

443 Anti-submarine Warfare Helicopter Squadron re-located at the Victoria International Airport in British Columbia in 1985 as a detached squadron of 12 Wing. Shearwater's fighter-aircraft squadrons 434 and 420 Squadrons re-located to 14 Wing Greenwood.

12 Wing Shearwater is now solely a helicopter facility and remains the centre of naval aviation in Canada as the principal home of 30 CH-124 Sea King helicopters Maritime helicopters flown by 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron and 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. Runway 10-28 remains active for their use and the Shearwater Flying Club, but the rest of the airfield was abandoned.

Approximately three-quarters of the base property was turned over to the Canada Lands Corporation for disposal. The Air Force is also retaining all but one of the hangars, the messes, barracks, supply, transport, construction engineering buildings and the World War I era "Y" hangar (on the opposite site of Highway 322 down to the shore), currently used by the Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic).

Source Material: DND press release from February 1994, "Sentinel" Magazine from March 1967, pg **, June 1968, May 1970, September 1971, May 1974, pgs 12 - 15, June 1974, pg. 9, and February 1992, pg. 21, the personal recollections of Petty Officer 2nd Class John Slor (Ret'd), (1999), pamphlet printed by Studio High Techniques of Toronto (1998), information provided by The National Aviation Museum, Rockcliffe, Ontario (1999), 14 Wing Heritage web site - http://www2.14wing.dnd.ca/14wgheritage/index.html , "Badges of the Canadian Navy" by LT (N) Graeme Arbuckle, the 12 Wing Shearwater web page - http://www.shearwater.dnd.ca, information provided by Ernest Cable Shearwater Aviation Museum Historian (2003), The Manitoba Military Heritage Project - http://www.unb.ca/nbmhp/02_NBMHPsites.htm & the Shearwater Aviation Museum On-line - www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca.

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Naval Radio Station Newport Corner:

Naval Radio Station Newport Corner was established in 1942 near Newport Corner, Nova Scotia, as a transmitter station for Naval Radio Station Albro Lake.

NRS Albro Lake and its sub-unit NRS Newport Corner was renamed HMC NRS Albro Lake on July 1, 1956.

With the closure of CFS Albro Lake, Newport Corner became the transmitter station for CFS Mill Cove, functioning much as before.

Defence cutbacks in the late 1990s saw both the NRS Newport Corner transmitter and NRS Mill Cove receivers were automated. They are currently operated remotely HMCS Trinity at CFB Halifax and function as detachments to CFB Halifax.

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ONTARIO

Canadian Forces College (Armour Heights):

Originally established as a training base for the newly formed Royal Flying Corps in July 1917, one of three in the Toronto area. An airfield was constructed near the site of the present Avenue Rd and 401 interchange, and early the following year, the School of Special Flying opened. Student pilots received instruction on the basics of flight, aerial reconnaissance and aerial combat. However, the school had a short life as it closed around the time the Armistice was signed in November 1918.

In 1919, Bishop-Barker Airplanes Limited, founded by World War I Royal Flying Corps veterans William "Billy" Bishop and William Barker, took over the Armour Heights aerodrome. This business venture was also short-lived, closing in 1921, and one of Canada's busiest airfields at the time was simply abandoned.

The property came back into military hands in 1942, when the RCAF acquired the property for the RCAF War Staff College, which officially opened on 1 August 1943. When the War ended in 1945, the college was re-designated as simply the RCAF Staff College.

The college became a tri-service college in 1966, re-named the Canadian Forces College (CFC). Today, the CFC teaches the Command and Staff course to officers of all three service branches.

The Armour Heights property has changed greatly since 1917, and is now completely surrounded by residential and commercial development. Most of the college's original buildings have been demolished and replaced with modern ones like The Ralston Residence, a 95 suite barrack block and the Dextraze Fitness Centre. The only exception is the stone building currently housing the Armour Heights Officers Mess, built in 1914 as the home of Colonel F.B. Robins, Honorary Colonel of the Toronto Scottish Regiment.

Not the slightest trace remains of the airfield today.

Source Material: the Canadian Forces College web site: http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/home_e.html, information supplied by Major M.D. Pollard (Ret'd), Webmaster, Canadian Forces College (2004), the Lost Rivers web site - http://www.lostrivers.ca/points/air.htm, the National Archives of Canada - http://www.archives.ca/05/0518/05180203/0518020303_e.html & the personal recollections of the author (1998).

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22 Wing North Bay:

Originally established in 1933 as an emergency landing field, the aerodrome was later designated as RCAF Station North Bay. During World War II, RCAF Station North Bay served as an auxiliary training base and a whistle-stop for Liberator and Lancaster Bombers being transported across the Atlantic to England. RCAF Station North Bay closed at the end of WWII.

The post-war growth of the RCAF resulted in many WWII stations being re-activated and as a result, RCAF Station North Bay re-opened in 1951 as a flying training school and fighter base. Several fighter squadrons were established including 430 Day (Fighter) Squadron, re-formed at North Bay 1 November 1951, transferring to 2 Wing Grostenquin a year later, 445 All Weather (Fighter) Squadron, formed on 1 April 1953 and 443 All Weather (Fighter) Squadron, who arrived from RCAF Station Cold Lake in October 1955.

419 All-Weather Fighter Squadron re-formed at RCAF Station North Bay on 15 March 1955 and shortly afterwards moved to 4 Wing Baden-Soellingen. 445 All Weather (Fighter) Squadron also departed, re-locating to 1 Wing Marville, France in November 1956. 443 All-Weather Fighter Squadron moved to RCAF Station North Bay from RCAF Station Cold Lake on 15 November 1954. The squadron disbanded there on 1 August 1961.

In 1962, an underground communications complex and the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) operations centre opened at RCAF Station North Bay under the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) Command to provide surveillance, identification, control, and warning for the defence of Canada and North America. Air Defence Command Headquarters was established at the station, as was 446 SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) Squadron in with their BOMARC missiles. The BOMARC missiles remained at North Bay until they were decommissioned in 1973, after the disbandment of 446 SAM Squadron.

As a result of the Unification, the Station was re-named CFB North Bay in 1966. 414 (Electronic Warfare) Squadron was based out of North Bay from 1972 until 1992, with a detachment at CFB Ottawa (South), and the Air Weapons Control & Countermeasures School also made North Bay its home.

The introduction of the Wing concept at Air Force establishments resulted in the base being re-named 22 Wing North Bay in 1993.

In 1996, 22 Wing began the process of downsizing due to reductions in Canada's Air Force. All flying squadrons departed and 22 Wing ceased to be a fighter base.

Air Base Property Corporation took over the parts of the base now deemed surplus and established a new Aerospace Park. Some of the tenants of the Aerospace Park are Canadore College's School of Aviation, The Integrated Transport Initiative International Intermodal Center and Bombardier Aerospace. The airfield is now the Jack Garland Airport.

Although 22 Wing North Bay is no longer a fighter base, it remains Canada's NORAD base. 21 Aerospace Control and Warning (21 AC&W) Squadron, who moved to North Bay from CF Detachment St. Margaret's in 1988, provide monitoring of North America, including assisting the RCMP with surveillance in drug interdiction operations involving aircraft crossing Canadian territory. All NORAD information collected is forwarded to the NORAD Headquarters in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. As well, 51 AC&W (Operational Training) Squadron conduct training for Aerospace Control and Warning at North Bay.

22 Wing even hosts a United States Air Force unit, 922 Support Squadron and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Central Region Gliding School operates one of eight summer Regional Gliding Centre at the airport.

In February 2002, the Department of National Defence announced plans to replace the underground complex with one above ground.

Source Material: 22 Wing North Bay web page - http://www.city.north-bay.on.ca/22wing/22wing.htm, the Jack Garland Airport Web Page - http://www.city.north-bay.on.ca/airport, the North Bay Integrated Transport Initiative web site - http://www.city.north-bay.on.ca/nbiti/index.htm, History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm �The Maple Leaf� magazine, dated 6 February 2002 and "Sentinel" Magazine from July 1976.

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Canadian Forces Detachment Mountain View:

Originally opened on 23 June 1941 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as No. 6 Bombing & Gunnery School (No. 6 B&GS). The station was later re-designated RCAF Station Mountain View when No. 6 B&GS became known as the Ground Instruction School and was amalgamated with the Air Armament School No. 6 B&GS from RCAF Station Trenton. Both schools moved to RCAF Station Trenton in 1947.

In 1946, the RCAF Fire-fighting School moved to Mountain View from RCAF Station Trenton and remained until it moved again to RCAF Station Aylmer in 1951. That same year, Mountain View was reduced to a detachment RCAF Station Trenton and remains so to this day.

Units located at Mountain View include Trenton's Aircraft Development Maintenance Unit and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Central Region Gliding School, who operate one of eight summer Regional Gliding Centre at the airport.

Only two of the World War II era hangars remain (hangars 1 & 3). Hangars 2, 3 & 5 were torn down in 2007. The airfield remains in use, but all the barracks are long gone.

On 8 September 2000, the Canadian Parachute Centre at 8 Wing Trenton opened its new drop zone at Mountain View. Drop Zone Hodgson was dedicated to the memory of Chief Warrant Officer Robert Hodgson, MMM, CD, who died of cancer in November 1999 after 29 years service with the Royal Canadian Regiment. CWO Hodgson had served as the first Regimental Sergeant Major of the Canadian Parachute Centre after its move from CFB Edmonton to 8 Wing Trenton in 1996.

In 2006, a new gravel runway was constructed parallel to the existing runway provide Hercules aircraft crews a venue to hone essential skills of landing on austere landing strips such as in Afghanistan.

Source Material: "Sentinel" Magazine from July - August 1969, pg 17 & November - December 1971 pg 2, information supplied by the Camp Borden Museum, "Wings For Victory - The Remarkable Story of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada" by Spencer Dunmore, DND news release - http://www.8wing.trenton.dnd.ca/news/2000/11/cfbpec.htm, the Central Region Cadet Gliding School web site - http://www.8wing.trenton.dnd.ca/crhq/central-e.htm#top The Garrison. Newspaper from 18 October 2000, information supplied by Capt. Beth Wakulczyk, Public Affairs Officer, 8 Wing Trenton, information supplied by Drew A. Craig, 8 Wing Trenton, Wing Environmental Officer (2008) and the "RCAF Station Trenton" web site at www.rcaf.com.

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Canadian Forces Reserve Barracks Hamilton:

Commissioned on 1 October 1941 on the dockyards of Burlington Bay as His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) STAR, this was once the third most important Naval training facility in Canada and the fifth largest. As the new home for the Hamilton Half Company of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, later re-named HMCS STAR Naval Reserve Division, this was the first place many naval recruits saw during the Second World War.

In 1952, STAR's importance as a naval training facility bolstered by the establishment of the Great Lakes Training Centre. Two reserve training ships, HMCS Porte St Louis and HMCS Porte St. Jean, were permanently stationed at HMCS STAR. The following year the Commander of Naval Divisions (COND) moved to the STAR from Ottawa.

In 1953, a Naval Reserve air squadron was established at HMCS York in Toronto. Although HMCS STAR was not agiven its own squadron due to its close proximity to HMCS York, the unit maintained a support unit for ground crew and maintenance. No. 1 Training Air Group sent STAR one Hurricane and two Seafire aircraft for their use at RCAF Station Hamilton (now known as the Hamilton International Airport) and the unit conducted joint training with HMCS York at RCAF Station Downsview.

The Unification in the mid 1960s brought change to HMCS STAR. The Hamilton Service Battalion and The Hamilton Medical Company, later re-named 23 Service Battalion and 23 Medical Company, moved to the site after the closure of the Burlington Street Armoury in September 1967, taking over the COND building. COND moved to HMCS Stadacona in Halifax along with HMCS Porte St Louis and HMCS Porte St. Jean. The Great Lakes Training Centre was disbanded, as was the Air Arm maintenance unit (in 1964). HMCS STAR Naval Reseve Division was now simply a tenant on the base.

The name of the establishment was changed to Canadian Forces Reserve Barracks Hamilton in 1969 and was placed under control of CFB Toronto, an Air Force Base. The physical size of the base was reduced, with STAR's former sports field being turned over to the City of Hamilton. It is now known asEastwood Park. Later the Hamilton Militia District Headquarters moved to the site and stayed until it disbanded in 1995.

In the mid-1990s, CFRB Hamilton began to feel some of the effect of the Federal Government's commitment to revitalizing the neglected Naval Reserve. In May 1997, HMCS STAR officially opened their new state-of-the-art building, replacing all of the original World War II era "temporary" buildings that had housed the Division since its commissioning in 1941.

On 30 August 2003, CFRB Hamilton became the new home for HMCS Haida, the last of the 27 Tribal Class destroyers built for the Royal Canadian Navy between 1937 and 1945. HMCS Haida had been moored as a floating museum in Toronto Harbour since 1965.

Source Material: "HMCS STAR - A Naval Reserve History" by Commander Robert J. Williamson, CD, Commanding Officer, HMCS STAR - 1985-1988, "Sentinel" magazine from October 1966, HMCS Haida web site - http://hmcshaida.ca & the personal recollections of the author (1998-2006).

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SASKATCHEWAN

Camp Dundurn:

During World War II, Camp Dundurn became a major training centre and transit point for personnel going overseas. The RCAF also built a bombing range at the camp and the Canadian Womens' Army Corps established one of its first units in Canada at Camp Dundurn .

A27 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Centre re-located to Camp Dundurn on 28 January 1942 from Camp Borden. The school was re-named A27 Canadian Reconnaissance Training Centre.

Although A27 CRTC closed in March 1945, the camp would remain open as a permanent Army camp. No. 6 Ordinance Ammunition Depot opened at the camp in 1947 and Permanent Married Quarters were constructed.

In the early to mid 1960s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several Army, Navy and RCAF bases were either downsized, merged or closed. As a result, Camp Dundurn was downsized to a detachment of CFB Moose Jaw in 1966. No. 6 Ordinance Ammunition Depot was re-named Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Dundurn.

Today the camp continues to serve as the home of Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Dundurn, as well as a training area and rifle range for Militia and Regular Force units in Saskatchewan.

Dundurn is now a detachment of 17 Wing Winnipeg.

Source Material: information supplied by Will Chaburn, Member Regina Chapter, Canadian Aviation Historical Society (2001), CF Det Dundurn Detachment Fire Service web site - http://geocities.datacellar.net/platoontwo, History of the Air Cadets Glider Training web site - http://www.mts.net/~rgspra/hist.html & the Town of Dundurn web site - http://sesd.sk.ca/dundurn/town/default.htm.

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QUEBEC

Montreal Garrison - 5 Area Support Group:

CFB Montreal opened at Longue Pointe in 1966 as the home of No. 25 Supply Depot. The new base also assumed command of the HMCS Hochelaga, the Naval Supply Depot at Lasalle, re-designating the site as No. 4 Supply Depot.

In 1969, CFB Saint Hubert also became a detachment of CFB Montreal.

In 1995, CFB Montreal ceased to exist as an autonomous base when No. 5 Area Support Group was established. The Longue Point site became Montreal Garrison and today, the massive complex still functions as Eastern Canada's supply depot, No. 25 Supply Depot, as well as serving as the headquarters for Area Support Unit Montreal and No. 4 Intelligence Company.

Source Material: Information provided by Captain S. Latraverse, Staff Officer, Area Support Unit Montreal (2000) and the personal recollections of the author (2003).

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Saint-Hubert Garrison - 5 Area Support Group:

Originally opened in 1927 as the St. Hubert Airport, it served as Montreal's primary airport before Dorval International opened.

The airport was taken over by the RCAF on 1 September 1941 as the home of No. 13 Service Flying Training School under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. A Relief Landing Field was constructed near Farnham. No. 13 SFTS re-located to North Battleford, Saskatchewan in February 1944 and the station was re-designated RCAF Station Saint-Hubert.

RCAF Station Saint-Hubert remained open after World War II as part of the post-war RCAF. Numerous wartime squadrons were re-formed at Saint-Hubert, making it a very busy air station. However, RCAF Detachment Farnham was not included in this post-war growth and it was simply abandoned. Nothing remains of the Detachment today.

410 Squadron was formed at RCAF Station Saint-Hubert as a fighter squadron on 1 December 1948. The squadron later departed for 1 Wing in Marville, France to become part of No. 1 Air Division Europe. 441 Fighter Squadron re-formed on 1 March 1951 departing for 1 Wing in North Luffenham on 13 February 1952. 427 Fighter Squadron re-formed on 1 August 1952, departing for 3 Wing Zweibracken a year later. 444 Fighter Squadron, originally from RCAF Station Rivers re-formed on 1 March 1953, departing for 4 Wing Baden on 27 August 1953. 438 Squadron re-formed in April 1946, adding the title City of Montreal Squadron in 1950. 416 All-Weather Fighter Squadron re-located to Saint-Hubert from 2 Wing Grostenquin 1 February 1957, moving again 4 years later to RCAF Station Bagotville.

429 (Tactical Transport) Squadron formed at RCAF Station Saint-Hubert on 21 June 1967. Equipped with Buffalo aircraft, the squadrons roles included operational ground and aircrew training, transport, airborne support for the army and search and rescue (SAR) duties. A detachment of 429 Squadron was posted to RCAF Station Namao to support the army. No. 1 Transport Helicopter Platoon, a unit of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, moved to RCAF Station Saint-Hubert from RCAF Station Rivers in 1966. In 1968, No. 1 THP was renamed 450 (Heavy Transport) Helicopter Squadron moved to RCAF Station Uplands.

As a result of the Unification, the Station was re-named CFB Saint-Hubert. In later years, Saint-Hubert would become the home of Mobile Command Headquarters and 10 Tactical Air Group (10 TAG).

In the early to mid 1960s, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several Army, Navy and RCAF bases were either downsized, merged or closed. As a result, the base was downgraded to a detachment of CFB Montreal on 1 September 1969.

438 Squadron City of Montreal Squadron converted to a tactical helicopter squadron in 1981.

429 (Tactical Transport) Squadron relocated to CFB Trenton in 1990.

The introduction of the Wing concept at Air Force establishments resulted in the base being designated 1 Wing in 1993, although this would be short-lived as I Wing later re-located to CFB Kingston. 450 Squadron, now a Tactical Helicopter Squadron, returned to Saint-Hubert from CFB Ottawa South (Uplands) in August 1994. The squadron disbanded on 25 June 1996.

In the mid 1990s, another of many consolidations occurred within the Canadian Military. Several bases were either downsized, merged or closed. A result, Detachment Saint-Hubert closed in 1995.

A small section of the former base next to the airfield was severed off and still functions as a military establishment. Designated as a part of No. 5 Area Support Group, the facility is now known as Saint-Hubert Garrison. Units occupy some of the old hangers at St Hubert Garrison include 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (a combined Reserve-Regular Force Squadron), 51 Service Battalion and 2 cadet units, 643 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron and 2623 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.

The rest of the former CF Detachment Saint-Hubert was sold off and is now an Industrial Park including a film production studio, which spent nearly $30-million converting a hangar into a sound stage and building related facilities on 22 acres of the property.

The airfield reverted back to a civilian airport, the Saint-Hubert Airport.

Source Material: "The Garrison" newspaper from March 1995, pamphlet printed by Studio High Techniques of Toronto (1998), information provided by Captain S. Latraverse, Staff Officer, Area Support Unit Montreal (2000), "Sentinel" Magazine from March 1968, June 1968 and February-March 1971, pgs. 1-10, the 429 Squadron web page - http://www.secant.co.uk/bullseye98/429sqn.htm, History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm, "Wings For Victory" by Spencer Dunmore, the 450 Squadron web page - www.totavia.com/terry/cyow/uplands/450sqn.htm, the Globe & Mail from Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - Page B10, Montreal's Saint Hubert Airport Enthusiast�s Page - http://www.fortunecity.co.uk/shangrila/cannes/66/st-hubert.html & the personal recollections of the author (2003).

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Saint-Jean Garrison - 5 Area Support Group:

Opened on 7 July 1941 as No. 9 Air Observer School under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The site was later re-designated RCAF Station Saint-Jean.

Although No. 9 AOS closed on 30 April 1945, No. 13 EFTS re-located to the station from Saint Eugene, Ontario. Flying training ended at No. 13 EFTS on 23 August and by 17 September, the school closed.

While most WWII stations closed, Saint Jean remained open as part of the post-war RCAF. The station became the home of College Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean, as well as the Canadian Forces Technical, Recruit, Language and Management Schools.

As a result of the Unification, the Station was re-named CFB Saint-Jean. L'Ecole Technique des Forces Canadiennes (CF Technical School) was formed in April 1969 for language instruction.

The introduction of the Wing concept at Air Force establishments resulted in the base being re-named 16 Wing Saint-Jean in 1993. 16 Wing, originally formed in Hamilton in 1951 as 16 (Reserve) Wing and disbanded 13 years later, was re-formed at CFB Saint-Jean on 1 April 1993 as a non-flying Air Command unit. The unit relocated to CFB Borden in 1994, where it remains today and responsibility for the station was transferred to Land Forces Command.

By 1996 more change was in the wind for CFB St-Jean. DND budget reductions resulted in the closure of 2 of Canada's 3 military colleges, with Le College Militaire Royal being one of them. The Canadian Forces Technical School moved to CFB Borden and CFB Kingston and L'Ecole Technique des Forces Canadiennes relocated to various locations. CFB Saint-Jean was downsized and ceased to exist as an autonomous base when No. 5 Area Support Group was established. The base was re-named St. Jean Garrison.

Although some parts of the base were severed off and sold, most of it remains intact and continues to serve as the home of the CF Recruit School and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Regional Gliding School (Eastern). The airfield operates as the Saint-Jean Airport.

Source material: DND press release from February 1994, "Wings For Victory" by Spencer Dunmore, the 16 Wing Borden web site - www.bconnex.net/~wing-hq. & the personal recollections of the author (2003).

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THE PINETREE LINE:

In the early 1950s the Pinetree Line network of radar stations was established. This line, which stretched along the 50th parallel, down the eastern coast and into southern Ontario and Quebec, acted as an early warning detection system against a Soviet air attack. The Pinetree Line was shut down in the mid 1980s as part of the North American Air Defence Modernization Plan.

For the full history of the following former Pinetree Radar stations, visit the Pinetree Line web site - http://www.pinetreeline.org.

or read "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume I: Ontario", "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume II: Quebec" and "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume III: Atlantic by Author Paul Ozorak.

The source material that I used is from the above sources and any others listed in the individual entry.

Unless indicated, no military presence remains at the former Pinetree Stations.

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ALBERTA

43 Radar Squadron:

One of the last Pinetree stations to open, the facility opened in 1964 at a site 14 miles from RCAF Station Penhold. 43 Radar Squadron disbanded on 1 August 1986 and the radar site was closed.

Nothing remains of the radar station today. The station's FPS-6X Height Finder radar was moved and mounted at CFB Penhold as a monument to the men and women of 43 Radar Squadron.

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Canadian Forces Station Beaverlodge:

Opened in 1953 as Saskatoon Mountain Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 919 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in 1963, with the radar functions being run by No. 57 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named RCAF Station Beaverlodge, then CFS Beaverlodge. The station closed in 1988.

Several of the former CFS Beaverlodge's buildings remained until the mid 1990s, when they were all demolished. Nothing remains today.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Canadian Forces Station Kamloops:

Established as part of the Pinetree Line of radar stations in 1958 and designated No. 825 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron of the United States Air Force. The station was later transferred to the RCAF and re-designated No. 56 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, RCAF Station Kamloops.

After the Unification, the station was re-named CFS Kamloops.

CFS Kamloops closed on 1 April 1988, the 64th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Although all the buildings remain, the site is now virtually abandoned, except for two areas now used by BC Telephone and the Ministry of Transportation.

The Station briefly came back to life when the movie "Cadence", staring Charlie Sheen and Lawrence Fishburne, was filmed at the site in 1990.

Source Material: DND press release from July 1989.

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Canadian Forces Station Baldy Hughes:

Opened in 1955 Baldy Hughes Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 918 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in the early 1960s and radar functions taken over by No. 54 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron.

Re-named RCAF Station Baldy Hughes, then CFS Baldy Hughes.

The station closed in 1988. Some of the buildings remain occupied, some are in better condition than others.

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Canadian Forces Station Holberg:

Opened in 1954 as RCAF Station Holberg, with the radar functions being run by No. 501 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, later re-designated No. 53 AC & W Squadron. The station was re-named CFS Holberg.

CFS Holberg closed on 31 August 1990, one of the last Pinetree radar stations to close. Other than the radar towers, which remain as one of four Canadian Coastal Radar facilities, nothing else of the former CFS Holberg remains today.

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Puntzi Mountain Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1952 as Puntzi Mountain Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run first by No. 917 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, then 55 AC &W Squadron.

The station closed in 1966 and today, very little remains. BC Telephone use a small portion for their communications equipment.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Tofino:

Originally opened 1943 as a "Radio Detachment", part of a chain of radar stations conducting surveillance of the Pacific Coast. The chain was disbanded in 1945. Due to it's remote location, the station had its own airfield.

The station re-opened in 1955 using some of the WWII buildings, with the radar functions being run by No. 52 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. The station had a very brief existence as it closed on 10 January 1958. The airfield was transferred to the Department of Transportation.

Nothing remains of the former radar station today. A plaque was placed on Radar Hill to commemorate the men & women who served with No. 52 AC & W Squadron.

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MANITOBA

Canadian Forces Station Beausejour:

Opened in 1953 as Beausejour Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 916 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in 1962, with the radar functions being run by No. 48 Radar Squadron. The station was re-named RCAF Station Beausejour, then CFS Beausejour. The station closed in 1986.

The former station is now the Manitoba Regional Correctional Centre. Most of the buildings remain. The former gatehouse was converted into a staff lounge when a new gatehouse was built.

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Canadian Forces Station Gypsumville:

Opened in 1962 as RCAF Station Gypsumville, the last of the Pinetree radar stations to become operational, with the radar functions being run by No. 47 Radar Squadron. Re-named CFS Gypsumville in 1968.

The station closed in 1987. The only remains of the former station are the roadways, foundations and half-demolished buildings. A FPS 507 HF Radar remains at the entrance to the former station as a memorial to the men and women who served at RCAF/CFS Gypsumville.

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NEW BRUNSWICK

Canadian Forces Base Chatham - St Margaret's Detachment:

Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station St Margaret's, the home of No. 2 Aircraft Control & Warning Unit (AC&W), which replaced the disbanded 2 ADCC from RCAF Station Chatham.

In 1953, RCAF Station St Margaret's became part of the newly formed Pinetree Line, a network of radar stations established as an early warning detection system against a Soviet air attack.

As a result of the Unification, St. Margaret's became a Detachment of CFB Chatham.

In 1985, DND announced that the Pinetree Line would be shut down as a part of the North American Air Defence Modernization Plan. Radar equipment at many Canadian Forces Stations was replaced with a new automated system. As a result, CF Detachment St. Margaret's closed on 1 April 1988, the 64th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. 21 AC&W Squadron re-located to 22 Wing North Bay on 6 October 1988 and was re-designated as 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron.

Many of the former station's buildings and PMQs remain today.

The station's former receiver site located on Route 11 between Chatham and St. Margaret's still exists, but the small brick building that housed the radio equipment is to be demolished. The Transmitter site was demolished many years ago.

Additional Source Material: DND press release from May 1989 & information supplied by Sherman Fisher, local resident involved in the construction of RCAF Station Chatham and RCAF Station St. Margaret's (2001).

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NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Cartwright Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1953 as Cartwright Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 922 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron.

The station closed in 1968. Only concrete building foundations remain.

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Hopedale Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1953 as Hopedale Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 923 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron.

The station closed in 1968. Only concrete building foundations remain. Since 1992, the Canadian Forces have operated a Short Range Radar facility at a nearby site, a part of the North Warning System.

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Red Cliff Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1954 as Red Cliff Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run first by No. 108 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, then 642 AC & W Squadron. The station had a brief life, as it closed in 1961.

The former station in now used by local militia units as a Fighting in Built-up Areas (FIBA) training area. Some of the buildings remain, but abandoned.

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St. Anthony Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1953 as St. Anthony Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run first by No. 921 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, then 642 AC & W Squadron. The station had a brief life, as it closed in 1968.

Some of the buildings remain and in use, but many have been reduced to concrete foundations only.

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Ernest Harmon Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1953 as Ernest Harmon Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run first by No. 105 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, then 640 AC & W Squadron. The station closed in 1971.

The site is now used as a Commercial-industrial area and telecommunications centre. The operations area is now only a concrete foundation.

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NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES

Resolution Island Air Force Station (United States Air Force):

Opened in 1954 as Resolution Island Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 920 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Although officially a Pinetree site, it was rumored to be a listening post for spying on the Russians. The station closed in 1961.

The site was re-activated by the Canadian Government as an unmanned North Warning System radar site in 1991. Most of the original buildings remain, mixed with new radar towers.

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NOVA SCOTIA

Canadian Forces Station Sydney:

Opened as part of the Pinetree Line of radar stations on the On 15 March 1953, located on the northern fringes of the city, with the radar functions being run by No. 221 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. The station was re-named CFS Sydney.

Canadian Forces Station Sydney closed in 1993.

Today, the former CFS Sydney is known as Pinetree Estates. Carefield Manor, a nursing home, occupies part of the former station. Most of the station's buildings remain, but some are boarded up and unused.

An unmanned Canadian Coastal Radar station, one of three on Canada's East Coast, was also established to carry on with CFS Sydney's radar duties.

Additional Source material: The Communications & Electronics Museum site � www.c-and-e-museum.org, DND press release from July 1989.

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Canadian Forces Station Barrington:

Originally opened as a Royal Canadian Navy Radar site during World War II, the site was re-opened in 1957 as Barrington Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 627 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in 1962, with the radar functions being run by No. 23 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named RCAF Station Barrington, then CFS Barrington. The station closed in 1990.

An unmanned Canadian Coastal Radar station, one of three on Canada's East Coast, was established at the site (Fighter Group / Canadian NORAD Region - Detachment Barrington) to carry on with CFS Barrington's radar duties. The site is controlled remotely from the NORAD bunker at 22 wing North Bay.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Beaverbank:

Opened in 1954 as RCAF Station Beaverbank, with the radar functions being run by No. 22 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron.

The station had a short life as it closed in 1964. When the Royal Canadian Navy were looking for a replacement site for Naval Radio Station Albro Lake, the Beaverbank site was considered, but ultimately it was not chosen.

Today, only the operations building remains at the former station. The remaining buildings and PMQs were demolished in the fall of 2004.

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ONTARIO:

Canadian Forces Station Armstrong:

Opened in 1954 as Armstrong Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 914 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in the early 1960s, with the radar functions being run by No. 38 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron.

Re-named RCAF Station Armstrong, then CFS Armstrong.

The station closed in 1975. Some of the buildings remain occupied and some are in better condition than others.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Edgar:

Originally designated No. 204 RCAF Radio Station, RCAF Station Edgar was the southern most station in the Pinetree Line. No. 204 became operational in September 1952 and one month later, the unit was re-designated No. 31 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and the station itself RCAF Station Edgar. Although Pinetree stations were much smaller than full-size bases like Camp Borden, they were still self-contained cities featuring standard military housing & barracks, a school, a recreation centre with a bowling alley & swimming pool, an infirmary, a chapel, a firehall, a water treatment & distribution facility, a central heating plant, auto repair shops, cafeteria facilities and sports fields.

All Pinetree stations were equipped with one Search Radar, one Height-Finder Radar and a third back-up radar, and were situated at 150-mile intervals mostly along the 50th parallel, but also down the eastern coast and into southern Ontario and Quebec.

Unlike most Pinetree stations, RCAF Station Edgar also served as a Ground-Control Intercept station in addition to its primary function as an Early Warning Detection station. It was the job of No. 31 AC&W Squadron to track any incoming Soviet threats and then dispatch and direct fighter interceptors to head-off inbound Soviet bombers or missiles.

Overseeing No. 31 AC&W Squadron was No. 3 Air Defence Control Centre, also located at RCAF Station Edgar. No. 3 ADCC also coordinated the operations of No. 32 Squadron at RCAF Station Foymount, No. 33 at RCAF Station Falconbridge, No. 34 at RCAF Station Senneterre and 912th Squadron of and the United States Air Force' at the Ramore Air Station (later taken over by the RCAF and re-named RCAF Station Ramore). With the creation of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in the late 1950s, No. 3 ADCC was re-designated the Ottawa NORAD Sector Headquarters.

When the Pinetree Line was first established, the RCAF utilized a manual system of plotting the movement of all aircraft on a large plotting board in the Operations Control Centre, situated inside a large reinforced concrete building, with Fighter Control Operators directing this process. In 1961, this system was replaced by the new Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system. A computer now determined the height, speed and direction of enemy targets and relayed the information to the Sector Control Headquarters. This change of operating procedures also lead to No. 31 AC&W Squadron being re-named No. 31 Radar Squadron and RCAF Station Edgar being placed under supervision of the Syracuse NORAD Sector Headquarters.

In May 1963, Ottawa NORAD Sector Headquarters re-located to RCAF Station North Bay and No. 31 Radar Squadron was later put under control of the Detroit Sector.

Continued upgrades in radar equipment lead to greater coverage areas for Pinetree stations. As a result, stations like RCAF Station Edgar were now deemed unnecessary as neighboring RCAF Stations Foymount and Falconbridge were now able to cover Edgar's area of responsibility. As a result, operations at RCAF Station Edgar were terminated on March 20, 1964 and the station closed at the end of the month. A station disbandment parade was held on 8 April 1964, with the RCAF flag being lowered for the last time.

The Ontario Government purchased the property for just over $218,000 and in 1965, the former station became the Edgar Adult Occupational Centre for handicapped adults. This facility closed in 1999 and the Ontario Realty Corporation put up the property for sale, marketing it for possible industrial or institutional usage. It has yet to be sold.

Today the former station sits vacant, except for the security guards guarding the property. The Department of National Defence has made a return of sorts to Edgar, as various Army Reserve units occasionally utilize the property for training. All of the station's buildings remain except for the Operations Control Centre building and the radar towers (they were demolished long ago), but they are slowly deteriorating. It remains to be seen what will finally become of this once important Cold War relic.

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Canadian Forces Station Falconbridge:

Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station Falconbridge, with the radar functions being run by No. 33 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named CFS Falconbridge. The station closed in 1986.

The PMQs and some of the buildings remain occupied, but others, including the operations building are abandoned.

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Canadian Forces Station Foymount:

Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station Foymount, with the radar functions being run by No. 32 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named CFS Foymount. The station closed in 1974.

Portions of the former station remain in use as a commercial complex. The PMQ homes are private residences, but 3 apartment complexes are vacant.

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Canadian Forces Station Lowther:

Opened in 1957 as Lowther Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 639 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in the early 1960�s, with the radar functions being run by No. 36 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named RCAF Station Lowther, then CFS Lowther. The station closed in 1987.

The former station is currently used as a commercial-industrial testing centre. Only the abandoned roadways remain.

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Canadian Forces Station Moosonee:

Opened in 1961 as RCAF Station Moosonee, with the radar functions being run by No. 15 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named CFS Armstrong. The station closed in 1975. Parts of the station remain in use as the Northern Lights Secondary School, with the PMQs serving as housing.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Pagwa:

Opened in 1953 as Pagwa Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 913 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in the early 1960�s, with the radar functions being run by No. 37 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named RCAF Station Pagwa. The station closed in 1966.

Some of the station's buildings remain.

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Canadian Forces Station Ramore:

Opened in 1953 as Ramore Air Force Station of the United States Air Force. The station was later transferred to the RCAF. Re-named RCAF Station Ramore, then CFS Ramore. The station closed in 1975.

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Canadian Forces Station Sioux Lookout:

Opened in 1952 as Sioux Lookout Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 912 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in the early 1960s, with the radar functions being run by No. 39 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named RCAF Station Sioux Lookout, then CFS Sioux Lookout. The station closed in 1987. Most of the buildings remain, but unused.

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Canadian Forces Station Lowther:

Opened in 1957 as Lowther Air Force Station of the United States Air Force, with the radar functions being run by No. 639 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Control of the station was transferred to the RCAF in the early 1960s, with the radar functions being run by No. 36 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named RCAF Station Lowther, then CFS Lowther. The station closed in 1987.

Other that the abandoned roadways, nothing remains of CFS Lowther today.

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QUEBEC

Canadian Forces Station Senneterre:

Opened as RCAF Station Senneterre on 1 June 1953, the home of No. 34 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, one of Canada's Pinetree Line radar stations.

After the closure of CFS Val d'Or in 1976, CFS Senneterre took over Search and Rescue operations for Quebec's northwestern region.

In 1985, DND announced that the Pinetree Line would be shut down as a part of the North American Air Defence Modernization Plan. As a result, CFS Senneterre closed on 1 August 1988.

Source Material: DND Press Releases from June 1989.

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Canadian Forces Station Mont Apica:

Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station Mont Apica, with the radar functions being run by No. 201 Radio Station. No. 201 Radio Station was itself re-named No. 12 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Part of the Station's role was as a control centre for the fighter squadrons of Air Defence Command and a long-range radar station.

In 1963, The Intercept Controller School was established at the Station., remaining until disbanding in 1969.

CFS Mont Apica closed in 1990. Nothing remains of CFS Mont Apacia today. 12 Radar Squadron relocated to 3 Wing Baggotvile where it continues to provide radar tracking for fighter aircrew training.

Additional Source Material: DND press release from May 1989 & July 1989.

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Canadian Forces Station Val d'or, opened as RCAF Station Val d�Or (? - 1976)

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Canadian Forces Station Chibougamau:

Opened in 1962 as RCAF Station Chibougamau, with the radar functions being run by No. 10 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named CFS Chibougamau. The station closed in 1988. Most of the former station remains, with parts being used by the City of Chibougamau. The operations building was used briefly by Transport Canada, but was demolished in 1993.

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Canadian Forces Station St Sylvester:

Opened in 1953 as RCAF Station Ste.-Marie, with the radar functions being run by No. 206 RCAF Radio Station. The radar unit was later re-named No. 13 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. The station itself was re-named RCAF Station St.-Sylvestre, then CFS Station St.-Sylvestre. The station closed in 1964. The only remains of the former station are the guardhouse, recreation hall and the medical building.

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Canadian Forces Station Lac St Denis:

Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station Lac St Denis, with the radar functions being run by No. 201 RCAF Radio Unit, later re-designated No. 12 AC & W Squadron. The station was re-named CFS Lac St Denis. CFS Lac St Denis closed in 1986. The former station is now a commercial-industrial complex named Doman St Denis. Most of the former stations remains.

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Canadian Forces Station Moisie:

Opened in 1953 as RCAF Station Moisie with the radar functions being run by No. 211 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. The station was re-named CFS Moisie. CFS Lac Moisie closed in 1986. Unknown what remains today.

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Royal Canadian Air Force Station Parent:

Opened in 1953, with radar functions being run by No. 207 RCAF Radio Station. This was one of the last Pinetree stations to be built. The radar unit was later re-designated 14 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. The station closed in 1964. The PMQs remain today, but little else.

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SASKATCHEWAN

Canadian Forces Station Yorkton:

RCAF Station Yorkton opened as a Pinetree Line radar station on 15 October 1962, about 10 miles west of the former wartime training base No. 11 Service Flying Training School. 46 Radar Squadron was formed to handle the radar duties, reporting to the Central NORAD Region.

The station was re-named CFS Yorkton in May 1967.

CFS Yorkton closed on 1 August 1986. The site is now the Whitespruce Centre, a youth addiction facility. Most of the original buildings remain and are in good condition.

Source Material: "Sentinel" Magazine from June 1968, pg 46, History of 2CFFTS web site - http://www.moosejaw.dnd.ca/2his_e.asp#to_top, the Pinetree Line web site - http://www.pinetreeline.org & the Air Cadets Glider Training web site - http://www.mts.net/~rgspra/hist.html.

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Canadian Forces Station Alsask:

Opened in 1962 as RCAF Station Alsask, with the radar functions being run by No. 44 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. Re-named CFS Alsask in 1968, the station closed in 1987. Most of the station remains today. The gym and pool are used by residents of Alsask. The former Construction Engineering building is a mechanical shop and one of the old buildings is used as offices for the Alsask Golf Club and a craft centre.

The barracks were used for a period as a senior citizens residence, but the centre is now closed. One of the PMQ trailers is still occupied, but will be vacated in the near future. Most of the others were moved off site years ago.

All that remains of the operations centre is one lone radar tower (minus the radar unit), complete with radome. The radar tower had been used by Transport Canada for tracking civilian aircraft until 1996. A proposal to turn the old radar tower into a Radome museum never came to fruition.

Source material: Information supplied by Gord Chiliak, Mayor of Alsask (2004) & the personal recollections of the author (2004).

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Canadian Forces Station Dana:

Opened in 1962 as RCAF Station Dana, with the radar functions being run by No. 45 Radar Squadron.

Re-named CFS Dana in 1968.

The station closed in 1987. The site is now the Signal Hill Buffalo Farm. Most of the building remain but are unoccupied.

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THE MID CANADA LINE

Between the DEW Line and the Pinetree Line was the Mid Canada Line, consisting of 8 Sector Control Stations and approximately 90 unmanned Doppler radar sites. The line operated for a very brief time from 1958 until 1965, when improvements in technology made the line unnecessary. All the stations are now closed there is no military presence at any of the former stations today.

The Mid Canada Line sites were:

RCAF Station Dawson Creek:

Opened on 1 October 1956, as part of the Mid-Canada Line, the second of three Early Warning Lines under command of NORAD, which stretched along the 55th parallel. Like all MCL stations, Dawson Creek was responsible for the maintenance of ten Doppler Detection Stations, small unmanned stations consisting of radar and communications equipment.

As there was no airfield at RCAF Station Dawson Creek (only a helicopter pad), the local municipal airport, a former WWII RCAF station used as part of the North-West Staging Route, was utilized for aircraft.

With advances in technology, the MCL eventually became redundant and associated stations were closed. RCAF Station Dawson Creek closed on 31 March 1964.

Since September 1966, the former station has been the Dawson Creek Campus of Northern Lights College. Most of the buildings remain, including the helicopter hangar, which now houses the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering faculty, the communications building, which is now the college administration building, the messes, which house the Professional Cook faculty. The former barracks now serve as student residences.

Source Material: information supplied by Northern Lights College (2004).

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RCAF Station Cranberry Portage (Manitoba)

Opened in April 1957. Closed in January 1964. The property was bought by the Manitoba Government and converted into a residential high school, Frontier Collegiate. Only the hanger and radar tower remain today.

Source Material: Frontier Collegiate web site - http://home.merlin.mb.ca/~froncoll/fcihistory.htm *********************************************************************

RCAF Station Winisk (Ontario)

Opened near the mouth of the Winisk River in January 1957. The station closed in April 1965. Most of the station remains, but the buildings that remain are abandoned.

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RCAF Station Knob Lake (Quebec)

- the airfield is now the Schefferville Airport.

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RCAF Station Stoney Mountain (Alberta)

RCAF Station Bird (Manitoba)

RCAF Station Great Whale River (Quebec)

RCAF Station Hopedale Labrador (Newfoundland)

Source Material (for all): Larry Wilson Web site - http://www.lswilson.ca.

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THE NORTHWEST STAGING ROUTE:

Established during WWII, the Northwest Staging Route was a chain of aerodromes at 100 mile intervals from Edmonton to Fairbanks for the purpose of transporting aircraft and supplies from the continental US to Alaska and radio ranging stations at 200 mile intervals. There is no military presence at the former NWSR stations today.

RCAF Detachment Grande Prairie:

RCAF Detachment Fort St. John:

RCAF Detachment Fort Nelson:

RCAF Detachment Watson Lake:

RCAF Detachment Whitehorse:

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DISTANT EARLY WARNING LINE:

Construction began in November 1954. Operational July 1957. In all, 58 DEW Line stations were built, including 30 in Canada from Cape Dyer, NWT to Komakuk Beach, Yukon.

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ABANDONED ARMOURIES:

Not all communities have a full size base in the area, but years ago, even the smallest communities had an armoury or drill shed at which the local Militia trained. Some were large ornate buildings, and some were smaller that barn, but all served their purpose. In some cases, the buildings outlived their usefulness as a military facility, and others closed when the local militia unit disbanded. Some of the former Amouries that dot the country are:

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ALBERTA:

LCol W.C. Craig Armoury:

Opened in 1940 in Vermillion, Alberta. Closed in 1965. The former armoury is now a Legion Hall and also used by local cadets and the rifle club.

Source Material: information supplied by Bob Maggs, resident of Vermillion (2004).

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ONTARIO:

Mulcaster Street Armoury:

Opened in Barrie in 1888 at the corner of Mulcaster Street and Collier Street as the home for The Simcoe Foresters of Barrie. With the outbreak of war in 1914, it had become apparent that the Mulcaster Street Armoury was inadequate for the Forester's needs. A new Armoury was constructed at Queen's Park, the former site an armoury once occupied by Simcoe Foresters predecessor, No. 1 Rifle Company of Simcoe County.

The Barrie Armoury opened in 1916 and the main contingent of the Simcoe Foresters moved to the Armoury, although the Mulcaster Street Armoury would continue to be used as a satellite location until 1946 when the Battalion would finally depart. The building was taken over by the Board of Works.

From 1995 to 2007, the armoury served as the constituency office of Joe Tascona, Progressive Conservative Member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly for the riding of Barrie - Simcoe - Bradford, in addition to the Grey & Simcoe Foresters Museum The Grey & Simcoe Foresters still occupy the Barrie Armoury.

Today, only the G&SF Museum remains.

Source Material: "The Armoury / Farmers Market" Building - "36 Mulcaster Street" supplied by Heritage Barrie (2003), information supplied by LCol Lorne Williams, Honoury Lieutenant Colonel, Grey & Simcoe Foresters (2003) and the personal recollections of the author (2002).

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Niagara Falls Armoury:

Opened in 1911 in Niagara Falls to house the Lincoln & Welland Regiment and the 56th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA). The armoury closed on 21 November 1999 and was transferred to the Canada Lands Corporation.

Source Material: "The Garrison" newspaper from December 15, 1999.

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Durham Armoury:

Opened in the Town of Durham at the corner of Elgin St North and George Street East in 1910 to house the 31st Grey Battalion and later, with the outbreak of World War I, the 147th Grey Battalion. After the war ended, the armoury was used as a social hall for returning veterans, but by the late 1920�s, the armoury had fallen into disuse and neglect.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the armoury was re-activated as a recruiting and training establishment. The Grey & Simcoe Foresters, a battalion formed in 1936 with the amalgamation of the 147th Grey Battalion and the Simcoe Foresters from the Town of Barrie, took over the armoury and the surrounding land for a training area. When the war ended, the armoury remained an active part of the post-war militia.

Defence Department cutbacks in the late 1950s lead to the closure of many military establishments and the Durham Armoury were no exception. The armoury closed in 1960 and was sold to Don Pust, a local resident who would later spend 20 years as the Chief of the Durham & District Fire Department. The former Durham Armoury is now a chiropractic clinic and the land once used as the training area is now the Durham Conservation Area.

Source Material: History of the Town of Durham 1842-1994 by the Durham Historical Society (1994).

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Dennison Armoury:

The original Dennison Armoury opened in 1965 at the corner of Dufferin Street and Highway 401, as home to the Governor General's Horse Guards and the Toronto Service Battalion, later re-named 25 (Toronto) Service Battalion.

The Dennison Armoury closed in 2002 when a new armoury, also named Dennison Armoury, opened on a small plot of vacant land at the former CFB Toronto. The former armoury was torn down a year later and today, not the slightest trace remains.

Source Material: personal recollections of the author (2003).

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Major F.A. Tilston (VC) Armoury (The Windsor Armoury):

The original Tilson Armoury opened in 1900 near the corner of University Ave West & Oulette Ave in downtown Windsor. The armoury was originally named the Windsor Armoury, but this was later changed to honour WWII Victoria Cross winner Frederick Albert Tilston.

After one hindered years of use, the armoury was much too small for its tenants - The Windsor Regiment, The Essex & Kent Scottish Regiment, and the 21 Service Battalion. The armoury had originally been built to house one infantry unit, and was never intended to also house the vehicles that a mechanized unit would require.

In 2003, The Department of National Defence and the City of Windsor entered into a unique arrangement: a joint training facility for use by both the Army Reserves and the Windsor Police. The new armoury, located on the corner of Sandwich Street and Ojibway Parkway, opened in June 2004.

On 16 October 2004, The Windsor Regiment, The Essex & Kent Scottish Regiment, the 21 Service Battalion and the Windsor Police Service held an official march-out parade from the old Tilston Armoury to the new Major F.A. Tilston (VC) Armoury and Police Training Centre, formally closing the door on over 100 years of army presence in downtown Windsor.

Source Material: information supplied by Capt. Brian Chaney, Officer Commanding, 22 MP Platoon (2004), information supplied by the Windsor Police Service - www.police.windsor.on.ca & The Department of National Defence news release 12 June 2001.

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Cobourg Armoury:

Opened in 1904 as the home of the Cobourg Heavy Battery and the Northumberland Battalion of Infantry.

During World War II, the armoury was the HQ for the 14th Field Artillery, the 347th Field and the 36th Field. After the War, the 33rd Medium Regiment was stationed at the armoury. Summer recruit courses were held from 1957 - 1964.

The armoury was declared surplus and closed on 1 April 1970, ending 103 years of artillery in Cobourg.

Source Material: Cobourg: Early Days and Modern Times by John Spilsbury and the recollecitons of the author.

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Wallis House Armoury:

Former home of 28 (Ottawa) Service Battalion .

Source Material: Doug Perrault, Ottawa Residenct (2004).

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THE FUTURE

This web page has primarily focused on the military of the past and what we have lost in regards to military establishments. However, times are changing yet again, and the Canadian government is indeed spending money on revitalizing the military. New equipment is being bought, certain bases are being expanded and some new facilities are being constructed.

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ALBERTA

Camp Wainwright:

Established on the site of the former Buffalo National Park in 1941. As no permanent barracks existed at the time, the first occupants of the camp, the 6th Infantry Division, were quarters in tents.

In 1944 Internment Camp 103 was established on site and 1700 German POW's were imprisoned here until July 1946, after which the camp reverted to a training area for Regular and Reserve force soldiers.

In 1950, 25 Infantry Brigade, Canada's Army commitment to the UN's Commonwealth Contingent in Korea, began training here, but it wasn't until 1952 that the camp's first permanent buildings were constructed.

In July 1974, the First Canadian Mechanized Brigade Operational Training Detachment, the successor to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Regimental Depot, was established at Camp Wainwright. The Operational Training Detachment was re-named the PPCLI Battle School on 1 May 1984 and the Land Force Western Area Training Centre Battle School in 1996.

Today Camp Wainwright , featuring 609 square kilometers of training area, 25 weapon ranges from pistol to artillery and an airfield sufficient to land transport aircraft, is the largest training area in Western Canada and the primary training area for the Regular and Reserve Force Army and Air Force units of the Western area. Other users of the camp are Cadet units, the British Army, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Corrections Canada.

In April 2006 the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, officially opened at Camp Wainright, a unique training centre that prepares troops for deployment to such areas as Afghanistan.

In July 2008, 60 newly build PMQS were unveiled at Camp Wainright, the first PMQs built on any Canadian base since the 1950s.

Source Material: History of Buffalo National Park-Camp Wainwright - http://www.agt.net/public/ppclibsl/html_files/camp_wainwright.htm

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NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

9 Wing Gander:

The current 9 Wing Gander is the sole survivor of numerous military and civilian government sites in the Gander area. In 1938, the British Air Ministry established a radar station for monitoring Trans-Atlantic air traffic. As well, the RCAF established an Air Station on a site that is now the Gander International Airport. The Station was used throughout the war by British, American and Canadian pilots, and at the time of construction, was the largest airfield in the world.

By 1940, the station had became the responsibility of the federal Department of Transport and remained so for the remainder of the war. Personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy were assigned to monitor the station's radar. Naval Radio Station Gander was re-opened in 1949 as a HF-DF station. In 1954, the United States Air Force established an interceptor radar and signal intelligence collection station near Gander, although RCAF personnel staffed it.

As a result of the Unification, the Station 's name was changed to CFS Gander in 1966.

In May 1977 Air Command assumed control of the Station. The Supplementary Radio Station at the base was re-named 770 Communications Research Squadron became simply a lodger unit at the station.

By 1988 the Station, now the home of 103 Rescue Unit and 770 Communications Research Squadron had been upgraded to a full Base and was again re-named CFB Gander.

In 1985, the North American Air Defence Modernization Plan resulted in the radar equipment at many Canadian Forces Stations was replaced with a new automated system. The long-range radar equipment was replaced with a Minimally Attended Radar system in 1990.

The introduction of the Wing concept at Air Force establishments resulted in the base being re-named 9 Wing Gander in 1993. 444 Combat Support Squadron, originally a tactical helicopter squadron from CFB Lahr Germany, re-formed at Gander in 1993.

On 23 June 1997, Prince Phillip presented 103 RU with their colours and the unit was renamed 103 Search and Rescue Squadron. On 3 July 1997, the last American Exchange position departed 770 CRS, ending fifty-six years of American military presence on Newfoundland soil.

Another milestone in Gander's history was the August 1997 renaming of 770 Communication Research Squadron to Canadian Forces Station Leitrim Detachment Gander.

Today, 9 Wing Gander is the Search and Rescue centre for Newfoundland and Labrador. As well Gander is the home of NATO Tactical Flying Training School, playing host to aircrews from Germany, Britain and The Netherlands.

Source material: DND press releases from May 1989 & February 1994, the Communications & Electronics Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org, History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm and the 9 Wing Gander web sites - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/eng/wingf.htm#to_top & http://www.cancom.net/~sarsqn .

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Canadian Forces Station St. John's:

Originally established as a Naval Shore Station, His Majesty's Canadian Ship Avalon at Buchmaster's Field on 1 May 1951. The station served as the shore establishment for the Flag officer of St. John's from 31 May 1951 until 31 July 1955.

The establishment moved to the former United States Navy base at Pepperrell on 10 December 1962, remaining at this location until closing completely in April 1964. The site lay dormant until 1968, when it re-opened as CFS St John's.

CFS St. John's is an operational support base, housing 15 lodger units including 728 Communications Squadron, HMCS AVALON Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre and a detachment of the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School.

In its primary role, CFS St. John�s supports naval vessels deployed from CFB Halifax which patrol waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. The station also supports as many as 30 visiting NATO naval vessels each year.

Source Material: "Badges of the Canadian Navy" by LT (N) Graeme Arbuckle & DND press releases from May 1989 & July 2003 - http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Feature_Story/2003/jul03/03_f_e.asp.

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NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES

Canadian Forces Northern Area Headquarters:

Established on 15 May 1970 to assist and maintain sovereignty north of the 60th parallel and support CF operations in the north. CFNAH has responsibilty for almost 4 million swquare kilometres of territory.

440 Tpt Sqn relocated from 17 Wing Winnipeg in 1994.

Source Material: CFS Alert web site - www.dnd.ca/eng/archive/1998/aug98/CFSAlert, History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm.

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NOVA SCOTIA

Camp Aldershot:

Opened in 1904 as a militia training camp for infantry, cavalry and field artillery soldiers. At the time, most of the troops were house in tents, but a few temporary buildings were constructed. With the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, the camp became a very busy training facility, with upward of 7000 troops training there at any one time.

After the war, the temporary buildings were torn down, but the camp continued its role as a militia training camp. Only one building remained; Borden Hall, built in 1916.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the camp once again became a training facility for active service troops. Designated No. 14 Advanced Infantry (Rifle) Training Centre, the camp also included a School of Instruction, an Officer Training School and other trades training. Although numerous buildings were erected, the troops were still housed in tents, just like their World War I predecessors. After the war, the camp reverted back to a militia and cadet training camp.

From 1952 - 1959, various battalions of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada rotated through Camp Aldershot, and the Regimental Depot was on site until it relocated to Camp Sussex, New Brunswick in 1955.

For many years the camp sat relatively idle, with the exception of occasional weekend training by the West Nova Scotia Regiment and other militia regiments and cadet units. In 1973, a $535,000 renovation project was initiated to create a year-round militia training facility at Camp Aldershot.

As part of the Land Reserve Modernization Project in the late 1990s, Camp Aldershot was once again the recipient of an upgrade project. In 1999, Aldershot opened their new $30 million amenities including new barracks and training facility, a dining hall, a drill hall and weapons simulation centre, and a technical support centre, as well as road, electrical and water system upgrades, and installation of fibre optic cabling. Several of the camp's old World War II era buildings were demolished.

Camp Aldershot currently serves as the home of the Area Rank and Trade School.

Source Material: "Sentinel" Magazine from June 1973, DND Press Release dated 5 August 1999, "The Atlantic Soldier" newspaper, dated 22 September 1999 & information supplied by Captain G.A. Melville, Land Force Atlantic Area Headquarters (2003).

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ONTARIO

Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford:

Originally opened in 1942 as a detachment of Camp Borden, the Meaford Army Armoured Fighting Vehicle Range (also known locally as the Meaford Tank Range) served as a training camp for the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School, as well as a gunnery range for various artillery regiments.

The Camp would remain open as a part of the post-war Army. In 1955, the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School was given full responsibility for the Meaford AFV Range. The Field Training Section ran the training at the camp with their fleet of Centurions & Sherman tanks and 22 Sherman APCs.

Meaford was a very busy training camp until the late 1960's when all Armoured Corps activity ceased. The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School departed Borden for CFB Gagetown in 1970. Although the site never officially closed, only the guards at the main gate remained. Militia units in Southern Ontario began using the site as a training area in the early 1970s, although the derelict World War II-era barracks remained empty.

In 1973 the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce petitioned the Federal government to develop the land as a Federal park, to be named the Lester Bowles Pearson Memorial National Park, but the idea was rejected.

By the late 1980s, the Federal Government recognized a need to revitalize the neglected Militia. Subsequently, the Meaford Training Area was re-activated as a permanent establishment in 1989 for the purpose of training Militia soldiers. Named CFB Borden - Meaford Detachment, the base received more that $80 million for the construction of roads, barracks, messes, offices, recreational facilities and work-shops. The training centre was re-named Militia Training and Support Centre Meaford in 1992.

In 1995, the Headquarters Company of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle School relocated to MTSC Meaford from CFB Petawawa, allowing Meaford to become a major training centre in Ontario. That same year, MTSC Meaford was once again re-named Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford and all support elements at the base became the responsibility of a civilian company, Canadian Base Operators, Inc.

"Today the Centre is considered to be state-of-the-art. It's primary purpose: to revolutionize the training of reserves" (ATC Meaford - A Short Base History).

Source Material: ATC Meaford - A Short Base History, supplied by Lieutenant-Colonel M.P. Zuwerkalow, Commanding Officer, Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (1999), "The Owen Sound Sun Times" from 21 September 1995, ATC Meaford web site - http://www.meaford.com/atc2.html, the personal recollections of ex-Private Phillip Schwartz, Grey & Simcoe Foresters (2002), the Armour School web site - http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/Armour_school/histor_e.asp, information supplied by the Midland Huronia Museum (2004) & the personal recollections of Colonel J.C. Forsyth, OBStJ, CD, Honorary Colonel, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry - 1993-present (1999).

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QUEBEC

The Point-a-Carcy Naval Complex:

Opened in Quebec City in the spring of 1995 on the site of the former World War II Naval Shore Station HMCS Chaleur II, the Naval Complex brings together into one location Naval Reserve Headquarters, the Canadian Forces Fleet School, HMCS Montcaln Naval Reserve Division, the Compagnie franche de la Marine, the Naval Reserve Band, the Mobile Ship Command of the Coastal Defence, and the Naval Cadet Corp's Champlain. The $41 million complex serves as another training establishment for Naval Reservists and Regular Force officers throughout Canada, specializing in the Hard Sea trades. Complete with residences for 237 students, eating and recreational facilities, a big focus of the Point-a-Carcy Naval Complex is training sailors for duties on the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs).

Source material: "The Naval Reserve - Link" from May 1995 & "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume I: Ontario" and "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume II: Quebec" by Paul Ozorak.

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Camp Vimy:

In 1997, more permanent facilities were opened to facilitate training of reserves and to support the existing ranges and training areas.

Source material: "Le Fleur de Lys" from September 1999.

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SASKATCHEWAN

15 Wing Moose Jaw:

Originally opened on 1 June 1941 as No. 32 Service Flying Training School. Relief Landing Fields were also constructed near Buttress and Burdick. By the time the school closed 17 October 1944, 1,207 pilots had graduated. RCAF Detachments Buttress and Burdick were abandoned.

No. 2 Reserve Equipment and Maintenance Unit occupied the aerodrome until it closed in 1947. The aerodrome then became a civilian airport, but the Department of National Defence retained control of the property.

The post-war growth of the RCAF resulted in many WWII stations being re-activated. In July 1952 RCAF Station Moose Jaw re-opened as the new home of No. 2 Flying Training School, which re-located to the station from RCAF Station Gimli.

In 1964, RCAF Station Moose Jaw became the first all-jet training station with the arrival of the Canadian-built CT-114 Tutor jets, an aircraft still flown by 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, "The Sonwbirds".

As part of the Unification, the station was re-named Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw.

The end of the Cold War in 1991 placed that future of CFB Moose Jaw in doubt, but the base, re-named 15 Wing Moose Jaw in 1993, did survive.

Today, 15 Wing Moose Jaw is the home of the NATO Flying Training Centre, westablished in July 2000, whose mandate is to train pilots not only for Canada, but for her NATO allies and friendly, non-NATO countries.

On 27 May 2004, members of the Air Force Association of Canada and 15 Wing unveiled a plaque honouring the men and women who served at No. 32 SFTS.

Source Material: 15 Wing web site - www.moosejaw.dnd.ca.

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CAMP BORDEN AND THE RCAF

Military aviation in Borden goes back to early 1917 when a series of "temporary" hangars and aviation facilities were built to support the training of aviators for the Royal Flying Corps. After the Great War, Camp Borden became the central point around which military aviation would develop in Canada. In 1919, an Imperial Gift of over one-hundred war surplus aircraft found their way to Canada, most of them going to Borden to provide the nucleus of a national Air Force. Following the creation of the Canadian Air Force in 1920, Camp Borden was once again selected as the main training centre for aviation. During the Twenties, Camp Borden saw the birth of the Royal Canadian Air Force and claimed many firsts including the graduation of the first RCAF pilots in 1924. Camp Borden was also home to the first RCAF aerobatics team, the Siskins, in the early 1930's.

At the opening of World War II, the implementation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) resulted in the relocation of air and ground training to several new stations across the country. In Borden, No. 1 Service Flying Training School (1 SFTS) continued to provide aircrew training to RCAF pilots as well as other Allied countries.

The end of the BCATP and the downsizing of post-war RCAF meant the closing of No. 1 SFTS and the re-opening in Borden of No. 2 Technical Training School. By 1958, most aircraft maintainer training had returned to Borden. On February 1, 1968, the Unification of Canada's armed forces marked the end of the RCAF. Since that day, various Air Trade schools in Borden have provided basic technical training for most occupations of the Air Operations Branch of the Canadian Forces. Today, the members of 16 Wing take pride in preserving such a long tradition of excellence in training Canada's Air Force.

Eighty years after their construction, many of the Royal Flying Corp's "temporary" hangars still stand. They are the only remaining witnesses of the many great moments in the history of Camp Borden, the birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Read the book CAMP BORDEN - BIRTHPLACE OF THE RCAF 1917-1999, edited by Master Warrant Officer Norm Marion, published by 16 Wing Borden, ISBN 0-9684862-0-7, 198 pages, available from 16 Wing HQ, Bldg A-142, CFB Borden, PO Box 1000 Stn Main, Borden, Ontario, L0M 1CO, Attn: Lieutenant (N) Pat Cornect, $25 payable to 16 Wing History Book, or visit 16 Wing Borden at - http://www.bconnex.net/~wing-hq.

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Canadian Forces Base Borden:

Simcoe County has always had a proud military heritage. Canadian Forces Base Borden has been a fixture in the area since it opened on July 11, 1916. Named after Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of Militia under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, Camp Borden was originally established when 850 acres, a lot of it sand dunes, was converted into an infantry training centre. The first occupants of the camp, the 157th (Simcoe Foresters) Infantry Battalion, under command of Lieut-Col. D. H. MacLaren, and 177th (Simcoe Foresters) Infantry Battalion, under command of Lieut-Col. J. B. McPhee. Both Battalions, part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, were housed in bell tents, as there were no barracks at the time.

The Royal Flying Corps arrived the next year, establishing an aerodrome at the camp. On 2 May 1917 Canada's first military airfield officially opened, designated No. 42 Wing Camp Borden. By the time the Royal Canadian Air Force was established in 1924, RCAF Station Camp Borden would be the largest military flying station of its time and home to the School of Aviation.

The Depot of Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was established at Camp Borden in 1923. The Signals Corps re-located first to RCAF Station Trenton in 1936, then to the Signal Training Centre at Camp Barriefield in August 1937.

By the 1930s the two camps, operating as separate military establishments, would become home to numerous training schools including Signals, Armour, Infantry, Service Corps, Medical, Dental, Provost, Intelligence, Nuclear-biochemical schools, the School for Army Co-operation and the School for Air Armaments & Bombing.

In 1931, many of the RCAF's flying activies were re-located to the newly opened RCAF Station Trenton. It was around this time that Borden became a permanent training centre.

On 1 May 1938, the Canadian Tank School moved from Wolseley Barracks to Borden along with its founder, MGen Frederic Worthington, known affectionately to his troops as "Worthy". The school was re-named the Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicle School.

With the outbreak of WWII in 1939 the Canadian Government conceived a plan to train pilots, navigators, air gunners, air bombers and flight engineers for the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and other Commonwealth air forces. What became of this plan, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, was nothing short of remarkable.

The BCATP saw more than 130,000 personnel from Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand graduate from 107 training schools across Canada, � a remarkable feat by any standards. Canada was an ideal location to train aircrew as it was far enough away from the fighting, with plenty of land away from towns and cities to build training schools. Many of today's municipal airports were originally RCAF aerodromes.

No. 1 Service Flying Training School (1 SFTS) was established at RCAF Station Camp Borden on 22 July 1940. All flying training schools had one or two relief landing fields located nearby. The relief field, usually consisting of either grass or asphalt runways, one hangar, maintenance facilities and barracks for overnight stays, allowed pilot trainees to conduct circuit training on landing and taking-off in their airplanes. Some also served as sub-unit training schools.

RCAF Detachment Edenvale, also known as No. 1 Relief Landing Field, opened in 1940 near the village of Edenvale (Lots 13, 14 & 15, Concession 10 in Sunnidale Township). The triangular airfield consisted of three 3000 ft asphalt runways. Edenvale was also home to the Advanced Training Unit, a sub-unit of No. 1 SFTS, which conducted bombing training. Students spent 3 weeks at the ATU, living in the original farmhouse on the property, while the instructors stayed in the barracks.

RCAF Detachment Alliston, also known as No. 2 Relief Landing Field, also opened in 1940 near the village of Alliston (Lots 6, 7 & 8, Concession 11, Tecumseth Township). RCAF Detachment Alliston consisted of three runways in a triangular pattern, but unlike Edenvale, they were compressed grass runways and there were no lights for night landings.

The outbreak of WWII also saw the Army's Camp Borden become an important training centre for Canada's emerging Armoured Corps. As the school had no tanks to use for training, Worthy went to the U.S. looking for assistance. With the help of General George Patton, Worthy unofficially bought 265 Renauld tanks, built in 1917 but still in new condition, from the storage facility at the Rock Island Arsenal. As the U.S. was still neutral at this time and could not officially sell arms to other countries, the tanks were sold as scrap metal and shipped to the Camp Borden foundry.

The wartime Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicle School got off to a rocky start, however. In early 1940, National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) ordered the Tank School to close and convert to infantry training. Worthy saw this as a big mistake, and did not disband the tactics, wireless and gunnery training sections of CAVFTC, something that NDHQ did not notice this for a long time. The ill-advised decision to terminate armoured training was reversed on 13 August 1940, with the official formation of the Canadian Armoured Corps. Former Calvery units were converted to Armoured.

The Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicle School would go through several more name changes before finally settling on A33 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Establishment. Two smaller schools were also established - A27 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Centre and A28 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Centre. A27 CACTC moved to Camp Dundurn in January 1942.

Range facilities were constructed at Borden for the Armoured School, but proved inadequate due to other training going on at the same time. As a result, the Meaford Armoured Fighting Vehicle Range, known locally as "The Meaford Tank Range" opened in 1942 on 17,500 acres of land on the shores of Georgian Bay.

Locally, the Grey & Simcoe Foresters of Barrie were placed on active service in 1940. The Grey & Simcoe Foresters were broken into Two Battalions, with the newly formed 2nd Battalion remaining a reserve force regiment, providing reinforcements for the active service 1st Battalion. At the time, the Grey & Simcoe Foresters were an infantry regiment, but on 15 May 1942, 1st Battalion was re-designated an armoured regiment. Re-named 26 Army Tank Regiment, Grey & Simcoe Foresters, a designation they would hold until 1943, when the unit dispersed and it's members assimilated with other Active Force armoured regiments.

It's also interesting to note that for the duration of the war, wives of married Permanent Force members were relocated to accommodations in Barrie. Also in 1940, the RCAF established No. 13 X Depot, a detachment of No. 1 Supply depot in Weston, at the north end of the army camp as an ammunition depot. Also in 1940, several other wartime schools opened including A10 & A11 Canadian Infantry Training Centre, A19 Canadian Army Service Corps Training Centre, A22 Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Centre and A32 Canadian Provost Corps Training Centre.

Flying training at Borden ended with the closure of No. 1 Service Flying Training School in 1946, and for the next 20 years, RCAF Station Camp Borden concentrated primarily on technical training, run by No. 2 Technical Training School. Camp Borden also continued to serve as a post-war Army training centre for combat arms and support trades.

Some RCAF airfields throughout the country became, or reverted to municipal airports, like the Oshawa Airport, the Kingston Airport and even Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Other airfields, like RCAF Detachments Edenvale and Alliston, were simply abandoned. All RCAF buildings were either torn down or moved after the War.

In 1950, the Edenvale Aerodrome came back to life as a racetrack for sports car and motorcycle racing. Known at various times as the Stayner Speedway and the Edenvale Raceway, the former airfield continued in this capacity until 1959, when it was once again abandoned.

The RCAF School of Photography re-located to Borden from RCAF Station Rockcliffe in 1950 and the Ground Control Apporach School re-located from RCAF Station Aylmer in December 1957.

By the late 1950s, the threat of a nuclear war had become so great that the Canadian government decided to construct a secret underground bunker to house the major elements of the government in the event of an emergency. A four story underground bunker, officially known as No. 1 Army Signals Unit, but nick-named by the press (so much for the secret) as the "Diefen-bunker", after Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, was constructed near the Village of Carp outside of Ottawa. Most Provincial Governments followed suit by building their own bunkers. The Ontario Government chose Camp Borden for the site of their bunker. All Government bunkers also doubled as a communications station, and thus had a remote communications bunker located some distance away. This second bunker, usually a single story structure, was staffed exclusively by communications personnel.

For their remote bunker, Camp Borden chose the site of the former RCAF Detachment Edenvale. In 1962, the site was re-activated as the Edenvale Transmitter Station, and a bunker was constructed beside one of the old runways. Communications personnel from Camp Borden staffed the facility.

In 1966, RCAF Station Camp Borden and Canadian Army Camp Borden merged into one large base: CFB Borden. No. 13 X Depot was re-named Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Angus.

CFB Borden was now a virtual city unto itself, boasting 1000 PMQs, 3 public schools, a high school, a shopping centre, 2 golf courses, 2 skating rinks, 3 curling rinks, 2 gyms, 2 outdoor pools and 2 theatres amongst other amenities.

Several new schools were added to Borden's already large roster including Aerospace and Ordinance, Physical Education and Recreation Instructor, Instructional Techniques, CF Fire Fighting Academy, Music, Aerospace Technology, Leadership, Languages, and Chaplain Schools.

Military flying training returned in 1966 when the Primary Flying School re-located to Borden after the closure of RCAF Station Centralia, north of London. This move was short-lived however, as the school once again re-located to CFB Portage La Prairie in Manitoba in 1970. The Borden Flying Club, who also re-located to Borden from RCAF Station Centralia in 1958, continued to use the airfield until re-locating again to the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport in 2002.

Infantry training also ended at Borden in the late 1960's when the Infantry School relocated. An infantry presence did return in 1993 with the arrival of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, a 10-90 Battalion (10% Regular Force, 90% Reserve Force), but by 1997 3 RCR had departed for CFB Petawawa.

Armoured Corps training probably enjoyed the longest continuous stay at Borden, from 1938 until the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School relocated to CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick in 1970.

In 1970 the Ammunition Depot became an independent unit, the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Angus.

With the end of the Cold War in 1991, several changes occurred at Borden. The Borden Bunker, which fortunately was never used for anything beyond being a communications station, was vacated in 1994. The bunker would later serve as the Headquarters for the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central) from 2001-2004, until they re-located to the Maple Conference Centre, formerly the Officers Mess for RCAF Station Camp Borden.

The Edenvale Transmitter Station bunker was ovacated in 1988, but it wasn't until 1994 when the station finally closed. The bunker was sealed up and the Edenvale property was once again abandoned.

In 1996, military flying training returned to Borden when 400 Squadron moved to Borden after the closure of CFB Toronto, marking the first time a flying unit had been stationed at Borden since 1970. The Squadron, a combined Regular Force - Reserve Force unit under command of 1 Wing (located at CFB Kingston), with their fleet of CH146 Griffin helicopters, operate from a helicopter pad and the two large, 1950s era "Arch-style" hangars at the east end of the airfield. A new control tower was constructed for their use in 1999.

While helicopter training did return to Borden, aircraft training did not and the crumbling airfield was officially closed in 2002, leaving the Borden aerodrome a shadow of its former self. Only eight of the original eighteen Royal Flying Corps hangars remain today, and the existence of this important element in Canada's military and aviation history is in serious doubt. Despite the fact that the hangars have been dedicated as historic buildings, up to four more may have to be demolished. Additionally, two hangars have been individually dedicated: Hangar #11 was dedicated to the memory of World War I Victoria Cross winner Lieutenant Alan McLeod, VC, on 3 April 2004 and Hangar #18 was named the Grant Building in memory of WWII hero Flight Lieutenant Duncan Marshall "Bitsy" Grant, DFC, in October 2002.

In January 2005, like the Edenvale Bunker, the Borden Bunker was sealed up and with it, the door was closed on an interesting chapter in the history of CFB Borden.

That's the past, but what is going on at Borden today? In addition to being the home to 400 Squadron, 2 other operational Reserve Force units are stationed at Borden: 3 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group and 700 Communications Squadron, all of which conduct year-round training for their members at Borden.

However, Borden's primary focus is providing training for the "Support Trades", that being administration, supply, truck drivers, medical personnel, military police, firefighters, mechanics, weapons technicians and aircraft technician trades, just to name a few. These support trades are the backbone of the military. The infantry may be the ones on the front line fighting the enemy, but they wouldn't be able to do their jobs for long if not for the support trades. For example, Supply technicians provide the infantry with their bullets and food, the truck drivers to deliver the bullets and food and the medical personnel to "patch them up" when they are wounded. Helicopter and fighter pilots also wouldn't be able to do their jobs if not for the Aircraft Structures Technicians. This is where Base Borden provides a vital function.

The schools under the command of the Canadian Forces Support Training Group are: Canadian Forces Chaplain School, Canadian Forces Fire Academy, Canadian Forces Nuclear Biological Chemical School, Canadian Forces School of Administration & Logistics, Canadian Forces School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Canadian Forces Training & Development Centre.

The Canadian Forces Support Training Group also oversees 3 additional schools: Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence (located at CFB Kingston), Canadian Forces School of Construction Engineering (located at CFB Kingston) and Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (located at CFB Gagetown).

16 Wing Borden, guardians of the Air Force presence at Base Borden, is Canada's largest Air Force training wing. 16 Wing oversees 3 training schools: Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering, which trains almost half of all Air Force personnel, Air Command Academy, which provides Air Force leadership and Professional Development training and Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations, located at the NAVCAN Training School in Cornwall, who provide training to military air traffic and weapons controllers.

Other schools and units located at Base Borden: Canadian Forces Health Services Academy, Canadian Forces Language School Detachment Borden, Canadian Forces Military Police Academy, Canadian Forces Recruiting Group Headquarters, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central) Headquarters, which supports the Blackdown Army Cadet Summer Training Centre, Regional Cadet Instructor School, and one of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Central Region Gliding Centres.

In 1999, Borden made a return to providing basic training to Canadian Forces recruits. The Naval Reserve Training Division Borden was established to train both Regular and Reserve Force sailors. 16 Wing also provided basic training for members of the Air Force Reserve for a period.

Base Borden's most recent initiative is the establishment of the Canadian Forces Leadership & Recruit School (CFL & RS) Detachment to handle overflow recruits from the CFL & RS in St. Jean, Quebec. Due to increasing enrollment levels, 300 recruits began their basic training at Borden in September 2005. This training program is expected to last until atleast 2007, when the Borden Detachment could become a permanent school.

As for the former RCAF Detachment Edenvale, in 2002, Toronto businessman Milan Kroupa purchased Lots 13 & 14 from the Federal Government and by 2004, the old aerodrome came back to life when Kroupa opened his newest business venture, the Edenvale Flying Club (www.edenflight.com). Runway 08-26, the east-west runway, was re-opened and a new 50" x 150" x 14" steel-sided hangar was built alongside. The original farmhouse, once the Sweetbriar Lodge Nursing home, was renovated and now serves as the administration building for the Edenvale Flying Club.

In 2006, two additional hangars were built and this year, the Borden Flying Club moved its operations to Edenvale from the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport. Other tenants at the aerodrome include the Collingwood Classic Aircraft Foundation and the Edenvale Radio Control Flyers Club.

Future plans call for a new taxiway to be built along runway 08-25, as well as the re-opening of a second runway.

Lot 15, where the RCAF buildings, hangar and the taxiway were built remains owned by other interests.

The Edenvale Radio Control Flyers Club uses a small section of abandoned south-taxiway for flying model aircraft.

Not the slightest trace remains of RCAF Detachment Alliston remains today.

Recommended readings more on the above: For the full history of the Pinetree Line radar stations, visit the Pinetree Line web site at � www.pinetreeline.org. Visit the Diefenbunker web site at www.diefenbunker.ca. The Edenvale Radio Control Flyers Club web site - www.edenvaleflyers.ca. The Edenvale Flying Club web site - www.edenflight.com. The Edenvale Aerodrome web site at www.edenvaleaerodrome.com. Read "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume I: Ontario", "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume II: Quebec", "Abandoned Military Installations of Canada Volume III: Atlantic", and "Bunkers, Bunkers Everywhere" by Paul Ozorak.

Source Material: www.c-and-e-museum.org, information supplied by Greg Barker, Department of Justice Canada (2001), information supplied by Fred Simpson, Treasurer, Borden Flying Club (2002), Sentinel Magazine from September 1966 & September 1972, Armour School History web page - http://www.brunnet.net/armourschool/History.htm, the personal recollections of the author (2000), Central Region Cadets web site - http://www.central.cadets.ca/public/ecadre_e.html ,The Borden Gazette, dated 13 March 2002 & information supplied by Master Warrant Officer Norman Marion, 16 Wing Public Affairs Officer/Wing Historian (2001 - 2004).

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THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVAL AIR SERVICE - "THE FLEET AIR ARM"/b>