No. 1 Air Division

In recognition of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s contributions to NATO’s defence of western Europe during the Cold War, a commitment that demonstrated the professionalism and versatility of Canada’s air force, the No 1 Air Division and its successors was presented with the Belt of Orion Award for Excellence by Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame at ceremonies held in 2023. 

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s No. 1 Air Division (later the Canadian Armed Forces’ 1 Canadian Air Group) was at the forefront of Canada’s aerial commitment supporting NATO in Europe during almost the entirety of the Cold War.

When the Second World War came to a close in 1945, Canada rapidly demobilized, the RCAF included. Yet the hard-fought peace in Europe and the Pacific proved short-lived. The Gouzenko Affair soon brough the nascent Cold War to Canada’s doorstep. Facing a perceived Soviet threat, Ottawa began to rearm. Deterring nuclear armed bombers, defending the north, meeting United Nations commitments in Korea, and contributing Canada’s share to NATO and the defense of western Europe all meant that the RCAF was central to the country’s defences; Chief of the Air Staff Wilfred Curtis (CAHF, 1984) headed up the air force’s growth.

Earnest planning for a European Air Division began in 1950 and the federal cabinet agreed to contribute Canadian squadrons to an integrated NATO force in February 1951. What would soon become No. 1 Canadian Air Division was announced by Defence Minister Brooke Claxton in May 1952. It would comprise a total of 12 fighter squadrons, including some already in service in England. Headquartered at Metz, France, the force was operational by October and although the exact arrangement would evolve over time, it initially came to include four Wings: 1 Wing, based at North Luffeham, UK (and later Marville, France), comprising 410, 439, and 441 Squadrons; 2 Wing, based at Grostenquin, France, comprising 416, 421, and 430 Squadrons; 3 Wing at Zweibrücken, Germany, comprising 413, 427, and 434 Squadrons; and 4 Wing, based at Baden-Soellingen, Germany, comprising 414, 422, and 444 Squadrons. Working in support of these four Wings, the RCAF commitment also came to include combat operations, telecommunications, and air traffic control centres, as well as 30 Air Material Base, at RCAF Langar, in Nottinghamshire, England as well as ground crew and other support who served throughout NATO deployment. It was the biggest fighter force ever assembled by Canada.

Initially equipped with Canadair Sabres, then one of the most advanced fighters, the RCAF began its NATO operations in Europe with 1 Wing operating from the UK. The arrival of three additional Wings over the coming year brought the Division to full strength. Its main role during the mid-50s was air defence, which saw Canadian pilots primarily escorting NATO attack and fighter bombers or providing air cover to support bombing raids. The RCAF was also guided by a policy of protecting national autonomy – the air force did not want to be subsumed within American, British, or other commands.

But first the Wings had to reach Europe, not an insignificant task given that the Sabre’s range left it unable to fly the Atlantic. To ensure the RCAF squadrons could deploy as planned, the air force undertook a series of ‘leap frog’ flights in which the Sabre squadrons and ground grew hopped from airstrip to airstrip, their support crews being always one step ahead of the fighters. The successful operation unfolded between May 1952 and September 1953, following the route established by the RAF Ferry Command during the Second World War.

In 1954, the Canadian government agreed to replace one Sabre interceptor day squadron in each of the four Wings with CF-100s, another cutting-edge aircraft, and the only home-built Canadian designed frontline fighter Canada operated overseas. This commitment broadened the Division’s role to include all-weather operations, although it came with an important caveat – the aircraft would not arrive until CF-100 squadrons at home had reached full strength (they eventually reached Europe in late 1956 and into 1957; the repatriated Sabres were assigned to auxiliary squadrons).

The 1960s proved a decade of transformation for the RCAF’s main aerial commitment to NATO in Europe. In 1962, the eight remaining Sabre squadrons were re-equipped with the CF-104 Starfighter, built under license from Lockheed by Canadair. With these aircraft the Air Division undertook a new nuclear strike/reconnaissance role. Two years later, as France took increasing control of its own defences, 2 Wing was disbanded. When the Canadian military began its process of unification, and following 3 Wing’s relocation to Canada, the Air Division was subsequently reconstituted as No. 1 Canadian Air Group, its new headquarters based at Lahr, Germany. Then, in 1970, 1 Wing was also disbanded, leaving the Group’s three remaining CF-104 squadrons, Nos 421, 439 and 441, based at Baden-Soellingen.

In 1971/72, the RCAF ended its nuclear era with NATO and returned to more conventional attack and reconnaissance roles. While reduced in number, the CF-104s were joined at times by CF-5 squadrons. The Air Group operated largely unaltered for the next decade until the arrival of the CF-18 Hornets, which replaced the venerable Starfighters. With the new aircraft came a new squadron for the Group – 409 Squadron, which was posted to Europe in 1985 (it effectively replaced 441 Squadron, which after disbandment in 1986, was reformed in Cold Lake that same year). In 1988, with the Cold War becoming hotter, the Air Group was again reorganized, becoming 1 Canadian Air Division – the form it would take until 1993, when, following the end of the Cold War, the Canadian government ended the RCAF’s European mission to NATO.

During the height of its operations in Europe, the Air Division/Group was home to some of the best of the RCAF’s personnel, ranging from front line pilots to various levels of command. ‘Bud’ White (CAHF, 1974) flew Sabres with 427 Squadron as part of 3 Wing, for instance, and John Croll (CAHF, 2022) patrolled German skies with 441 Squadron. Stocky Edwards (CAHF, 2013) headed 430 Squadron and Owen Bartley Philp (CAHF, 2015) and ‘Fern’ Villeneuve (CAHF, 2006) both commanded 434 Squadron, part of 3 Wing at Zweibrücken. Rayne Schultz (CAHF, 1997) was Chief Operations Officer for 4 Wing, where he assisted with the preparation for arrival of the CF-104s. Paul Manson (CAHF, 2018) served at Grostenquin in 2 Wing, then at Zweibrücken with 3 Wing, and also at 1 Air Division Headquarters, as the CF-100 pilot specialist. And Reginald John Lane (CAHF, 2000) commanded the Air Division from 1966 to 1969, overseeing its move to Lahr, Germany.

To maintain a requisite high standard of readiness, the Division trained frequently. By the mid ‘50s the force had implemented a 24/7 alert posture and was able to have four aircraft on 5 minutes readiness, with another four at 10 minutes and eight at 30 minutes, respectively. Such competitive training often pit Canadian Wings against one another, or against fellow NATO pilots. The Air Division/Group won numerous air fighting competitions, both for individual and group categories. Most notably it earned the Guynemer Trophy for aerial gunnery four years running. Canadians also won Royal Flush exercises in 1968 and 1969 and took the Silver Tiger trophy during NATO Tiger Meets in 1977, 1979, and 1981.

As a further display of the RCAF’s aerial prowess, many of the squadrons and Wings deployed as part of Canada’s commitment to NATO put on aerobatic displays. The first public appearance by Canadian Sabres, for example, took place in England in July 1952 with a display by 410 Squadron. 1 Wing formed a team in 1954, as did 3 Wing with ‘the Fireballs’. In 1955, 2 Wing’s Sky Lancers took over the display circuit, the team name being carried forward to 4 Wing’s display as well. CF-104 pilots were equally well represented, including as the Tiger Romeos and the Canadian Starfighters, as were the CF-18s – mainly as solo demonstrators. Collectively they were the RCAF’s, indeed Canada’s, aerial ambassadors in Europe, setting a fine example of the professionalism and commitment of Canadian military aviators during the Cold War.

Canada’s aerial commitment to NATO’s defence of western Europe began as an unprecedented contribution by the RCAF. The nature and scope of the air force’s role changed, as did its aircraft and personnel. But the one constant between 1952 and 199 was the high operational standard of military aviation set by Canada’s aviators – a standard that earned the respect and admiration of many of their European and American peers, excellence that was testament time and again to the quality of Canada’s post-1945 air force leadership and personnel.