1 Canadian Air Division (1 Cdn Air Div) () is the operational-level command and control formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Prior to 2006 the official abbreviation for the division was 1 CAD. It is commanded by an air force major-general.
History
Timeline
1951: On 1 November, 1 Wing is formed at North Luffenham, England. It is in support of the Royal Air Force. 1952: No. 1 Air Division (RCAF) is formed in Paris on 1 October, initially equipped with the Canadair F-86 Sabre 1952: On 1 October, 2 Wing is formed at Grostenquin, France, the first Wing under 1 Air Division. 1956: The first CF-100 Canucks, with 445 Squadron, arrive at the Air Division. Three more CF-100 squadrons will follow, each replacing a Sabre squadron. 1963: The first CF-104-equipped Wing, 3 Wing, becomes operational on 27 May. 1970: On 1 July, 1 Canadian Air Group (CAG) is formed. It is equipped with the CF-104 and the T-33 Silver Star as a training aircraft. 1985: On 10 June the first CF-188 Hornet, destined for 409 Squadron, arrives at CFB Baden-Soellingen. 1988: 1 Canadian Air Group is reorganized as No. 1 Canadian Air Division on 28 May at CFB Lahr. It has two component formations, 3 (Fighter) Wing at CFB Lahr and 4 (Fighter) Wing at CFB Baden-Soellingen 1994: As the Canadian Armed Forces prepares to close its European bases, No. 1 Canadian Air Division is officially disbanded on 31 July. 1997: 1 Canadian Air Division is reactivated in Winnipeg on 31 July
Formation (1952–1967) After NATO was formed on 4 April 1949, a planning committee examined what NATO required to meet the increasing Soviet threat to western Europe and the new alliance. After the war, most European NATO members had very limited air forces, which given the Soviet threat, required a rapid increase in size. The Canadian government was initially hesitant to provide personnel to reinforce NATO in western Europe. But on 28 December 1950 the Cabinet accepted NATO’s recommendations for a brigade group and 11 squadrons of aircraft. The plan at this time was for an air division equipped with F-86 and CF-100 aircraft. This changed several times.Ray Stouffer, Swords, Clunks and Widowmakers: The Tumultuous Life of the RCAF’s Original 1 Canadian Air Division (Trenton, ON: Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre, Her Majesty the Queen as represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2015) 35. Eventually, the air division had 12 fighter squadrons, initially equipped with the North American F-86 Sabre and then eight with the Sabre and four with the Avro CF-100 Canuck.
The RCAF deployed a planning team to Paris, France, in early January 1952 to create the headquarters for the planned RCAF contribution to the air defence of western Europe.TS 15-6-6 Vol 4 (DOE, 27 December 1951, Implementation Directive 74, RCAF Air Division Europe Planning Team; and 895-2/16 (DOE), 30 July 1952, Organization Order 47/52, 1 RCAF Air Division Headquarters (Advanced Echelon), Library and Archives Canada, 1 Air Division Historical Reports. 1 Air Division Headquarters was formed in Paris on 1 October 1952. With this, a new formation was created that would increase in size and capability over the next few years. Once a new facility was found at Metz, France, the headquarters officially transferred there and began operations on 13 April 1953. The air division headquarters made one last move, to Lahr, West Germany on 1 April 1967.
Operationally, the air division reported to NATO’s Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (4 ATAF). This formation included United States and French bases and units. In turn 4 ATAF was under the command and control of Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE). This remained the case throughout the existence of 1 Air Division.
Even before air division headquarters was formed, the RCAF had a formation in Europe. This was 1 Wing, located at North Luffenham, England, operating in support of the Royal Air Force. The wing was authorized on 1 November 1951, with 410 Squadron. 441 Squadron followed and then 439 Squadron. The first two squadrons were transported by ship to Glasgow, Scotland. 439 Squadron flew their Sabres across the North Atlantic in Operation Leap Frog I in May–June 1952.“Operation Leap Frog,” Past Operations Database, Canadfian Forces, Directorate of History and Heritage, Internet: Operation LEAP FROG - Canada.ca Subsequent squadrons followed this route. 1 Wing transferred to Marville, France, on 1 March 1955 and then to Lahr, West Germany, on 1 April 1967.
As more squadrons were formed in Canada, they were deployed to Europe as an entire wing. 2 Wing, composed of 416, 421 and 430 Squadrons crossed the North Atlantic on Operation Leap Frog II in September–October 1952. They then arrived at Grostenquin, France, the wing being formed on 1 October 1952.
Operation Leap Frog III, in March–April 1953 brought 3 Wing’s squadrons to Zweibrücken, West Germany. 3 Wing was authorized on 2 February 1953 and was composed of 413, 427 and 434 Squadrons.
The last air division wing to arrive in Europe was 4 Wing, which was authorized on 1 July 1953. Located at Baden-Soellingen, West Germany, its three squadrons were 414, 422 and 444, who came to Europe on Operation Leap Frog IV in August–September 1953.
Initially, all four air division wings were equipped with the North American F-86 Sabre, with most being built at Canadair in Montreal. The first three wings were all initially equipped with the Sabre 2, while 4 Wing arrived in West Germany with the Sabre 4. As Canadair made improvements to the Sabre, No. 1 Overseas Ferry Unit flew these latest Sabres across the North Atlantic under the name Operation Random. The Sabre 5 began to arrive at the Air Division in February 1954 and the Sabre 6 in April 1955. The procedure was for one squadron at each wing to receive the newest model before the next squadrons at each wing.
Once each wing was operational, there were regular exercises. Some were created by the wings, others by the air division and some were 4 ATAF. There was also normally a NATO-wide exercise annually that involved deploying to a remote wartime airfield. These exercises maintained the skills of the RCAF’s pilots. There were also regular deployments to the air weapons ranges, first at Rabat, Morocco, and starting on 1 March 1957 at the Decimomannu Air Weapons Unit, Sardinia.895-8/103 (DOE), 28 February 1957, Organization Order 4.10, RCAF Air Weapons Unit, Decimomannu, Sardinia.
CF-100 Canuck As Warsaw Pact air capabilities increased and NATO needed an all-weather air defence aircraft, Canada committed four squadrons of Canucks to the air division. These were flown by the respective squadrons across the North Atlantic under the name Operation Nimble Bat. With the arrival of each Canuck squadron, a Sabre squadron was disbanded, keeping the number of squadrons at 12.“Operation Nimble Bat, Past Operations Database, Canadfian Forces, Directorate of History and Heritage, Internet: Operation NIMBLE BAT - Canada.ca
At 1 Wing, 445 Squadron replaced 410 Squadron in October 1956; at 2 Wing it was 423 Squadron that replaced 416 Squadron in January 1957, 440 Squadron replaced 413 Squadron at 3 Wing in April 1957, and 419 Squadron replaced 414 Squadron at 4 Wing in July 1957.
Zulu Alert In the air defence role, there was always one section of four Sabres on “Zulu Alert,” ready to identify any aircraft or assist those in need of assistance. 1 and 3 Wings would alternate weekly with 2 and 4 Wings. Two alert sections of Sabres were to be maintained at each wing from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. These aircraft were on five minutes’ readiness with starter units attached. The pilots did not need to be in the cockpit but needed to be immediately available in flying gear. As for the CF-100s, two aircraft had to be available on 10 minutes notice, with starters connected and pilots available in flying gear from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. On weekends each wing not on Zulu alert had to maintain one section of four F-86 and two CF-100s on one hour availability. Other aircraft had to be on 30 minutes availability.S4-2-95 (AOC), 1 December 1956, Operation Order 18/56 “Zulu Alert,” LAC, 1 Air Division Historical Records, Microfilm Reel C12414.
While any pilot could fire upon an aircraft in self-defence, the order to open fire would normally be given by the 1 Air Division duty operations officer through 61 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.
Guynemer Trophy The Sabres in the hands of RCAF pilots were an outstanding combination. In 1958 the French Dassault Aviation Company donated a trophy for the first Allied Air Forces Central Europe-sponsored Air to Air Gunnery Championship. The Guynemer Trophy, named after French First World War ace Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer, was presented to the highest scoring team while individual scores were also recognized. The competition consisted of a cine gun portion and then a live gunnery portion.
The RCAF team involved five select pilots plus groundcrew. It usually numbered around 40 personnel in total.“Historical Narrative, 1 Air Division Headquarters, for the Period from 1 June 61 to 30 November 61,” 12 September 1960, Microfilm Reel C12414. From 1958 to 1961, the RCAF team took first place. In 1962 the last Guynemer Trophy competition was held using machine guns and cannons. The RCAF team came second behind a RAF team.
1958 – a mixed Air Division team. An RCAF took top individual scoring honours.“422 Potpourri – a miscellaneous collection from the Sabre Era,” Internet: Potpourri 1959 – a mixed Air Division team. The three top places in individual scoring went to three RCAF pilots.“Historical Narrative, 1 Air Division HQ, Period from 1 Jun 59 to 30 Nov 59,” 29 August 1959, Microfilm Reel C12414. 1960 – a mixed Air Division team took first place with 1357 points, 100 points ahead of a RAF team. RCAF pilots took the top two places in individual scoring.“Historical Narrative, 1 Air Division Headquarters, for the Period from 1 June 61 to 30 November 61,” 16 September 1960, Microfilm Reel C12414. 1961 – a team from 4 Wing took first place with 1,352 points. In second place was the Belgian Air Force team with 1,106 points. RCAF pilots came first and third in the individual shooting category.“Historical Narrative, 1 Air Division Headquarters, Period from 1 Jun 61 to 30 Nov 61,” 6 July 1961, Microfilm Reel C12414.
Aerobatic Teams The abilities of the Air Division’s pilots was reflected in another, more public manner – air display teams, for which the F-86 Sabre was an ideal aircraft. 1 Wing had an aerobatics team in 1952, 1953 and 1954, while 410 Squadron had their own in 1952 and 1953. 439 and 441 Squadrons each had one as well in 1954. In 1954, 3 Wing had the Fireballs, distinctive in their all-red livery, while in 1955 4 Wing had the Sky Lancers. A tragic accident on 2 March 1956 killed four Sky Lancers pilots during a training session and halted aerobatics in the Air Division for many years.Dan Dempsey, A Tradition of Excellence: Canada’s Airshow Team Heritage (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 2004) No other wing was therefore able to generate its own air display team.
Other Units in the Air Division
The four Wings and 12 flying squadrons were not the only units in the Air Division. It was an organization that made itself relatively self-sufficient in many aspects of operational support. Most had been considered and were formed almost from the start of the Air Division’s operations, indicative of the high level of preparation that went into the creation of the Air Division.
30 Air Materiel Base