RCAF celebrates 97th birthday

On 1 April 2021, the Royal Canadian Air Force celebrated her 97th birthday party. For this occasion, the 4th Wing conducted a large formation flypast.

The Wing, based at CFB Cold Lake/Group Captain R.W. McNair (Alt.), is the busiest fighter base in Canada. It provides general purpose, multi-role, combat capable forces in support of domestic and international roles of Canada's air force.

4 Wing controls two operational CF-188 Tactical Figher Squadrons and two Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons (CF-188 Hornet and CT-155 Hawk), including Phase IV of NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC), and numerous premier support units, make 4 Wing Canada's largest fighter wing.

The formation fly-past, held over the City of Cold Lake, contained no less than fifteen CF-188 Hornets and six CT-155 Hawks. The Wing also used the flypast to demonstrate its readiness to support its NORAD mandate, and to acknowledge the sacrifices that Cold Lake citizens have made during COVID-19 over the last year.

According to the Scramble Magazine Air Order of Battle, 4th Wing operates the following squadrons and aircraft:

401 Tactical Fighter Squadron City of Westmount with the CF-188 and CF-188B Hornet
409 Tactical Fighter Squadron Night Hawk with the CF-188 and CF-188B Hornet
410 Tactical Fighter (Operational Training) Squadron Cougar with the CF-188 and CF-188B Hornet
417 Combat Support Squadron City of Windsor with the CH-146 Griffon
419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron/NFTC City of Kamloops with the CT-155 Hawk

Photos: RCAF