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1 Canadian Air Division (1 Cdn Air Div) () is the operational-level command and control formation of the
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
(RCAF). Prior to 2006 the official abbreviation for the division was 1 CAD. It is commanded by an air force major-general.


History


Timeline

* 1952: ''No. 1 Air Division (RCAF)'' activated, with 4 wings. Equipped with the
Canadair Sabre The Canadair Sabre is a Jet aircraft, jet fighter aircraft built by Canadair under licence from North American Aviation. A variant of the North American F-86 Sabre, it was produced until 1958 and used primarily by the Royal Canadian Air Force ...
, in 1956 the
CF-100 The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the "Clunk") is a Canadian twinjet interceptor/ fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Avro Canada. It has the distinction of being the only Canadian-designed fighter to ent ...
and in 1962 the CF-104. * 1967: ''No. 1 Canadian Air Group'' (1 CAG) takes the place ''No. 1 Air Division (RCAF)'' after RCAF leaves France. * 1968: The unified
Canadian Armed Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
is created and ''No. 1 Canadian Air Group'' is reduced to 1 Wing and 4 Wing. * 1969: ''No. 1 Canadian Air Group'' is reduced to 4 Wing. * 1970: 4 Wing becomes ''1 Canadian Air Group'' (CAG). Equipped with
CF-5 The Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) is a Canadian licensed-built Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. It is a light, supersonic aircraft, supersonic, twin engine, daylight air superiority fighter primarily for the Cana ...
in 1970 and
CF-18 The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet (official military designation CF-188) is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New ...
in 1982. * 1988: ''1 Canadian Air Group'' is reorganized as ''No. 1 Canadian Air Division'' * 1993: As the
Canadian Armed Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
prepares to close their European bases, ''No. 1 Canadian Air Division'' stands down. * 1997: ''1 Canadian Air Division'' is reactivated in
Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
.


Formation (1952–1967)

The division traces its origins to the activation of Headquarters No. 1 Air Division, Royal Canadian Air Force in
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, France, on 1 October 1952. Air Division headquarters relocated to
Metz Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...
, France in April 1953. No. 1 Air Division was established to meet Canada's NATO air defence commitments in Europe. It consisted of four wings of twelve fighter squadrons at four bases. Two bases were in France (
RCAF Station Marville RCAF Station Marville (also known as 1(F) Wing or 1 Wing) was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station located near Marville in the Meuse department, Lorraine, northeastern France. It was one of four RCAF wings consisting of three fighter squadr ...
(No. 1 Wing) and
RCAF Station Grostenquin RCAF Station Grostenquin, also known as 2 (Fighter) Wing or 2 Wing, was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station located five km north of the town of Grostenquin in the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments of France, department, Lorraine (reg ...
(No. 2 Wing)) and two were in
West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
(
RCAF Station Zweibrücken The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canad ...
(No. 3 Wing) and
RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canad ...
(No. 4 Wing)). (No. 1 Wing was first located at RCAF North Luffenham, England and was moved to Marville some time after October, 1954). These wings were part of a group of bases which also included U.S. and French installations, all of which came under the jurisdiction of NATO's
Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (4 ATAF) was a NATO military formation under Allied Air Forces Central Europe tasked with providing air support to NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG) in the southern portion of West Germany. 4 ATAF commanded al ...
(4 ATAF) which, in turn, was commanded by
Allied Air Forces Central Europe Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE) was the NATO command tasked with air and air defense operations in NATOs Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) area of command. History Allied Air Forces Central Europe was activated on 2 April 1951 at F ...
(AAFCE). Components in Metz included Air Division Headquarters, an air traffic control centre, a telecommunications centre, a combat operations centre, and a support unit. From 1952 to 1963 the RCAF operated the 30 Air Materiel Base, at RCAF Langar (
RAF Langar Royal Air Force Langar or more simply RAF Langar is a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Langar, Nottinghamshire, England. The airfield is located approximately east-southeast of Radcliffe on Trent. Opened in 1942 du ...
) in Nottinghamshire. RCAF Langar was Canada's last base in the U.K. and served as a primary supply station for No. 1 Air Division RCAF in Europe. Canadian squadrons were originally equipped with
Canadair Sabre The Canadair Sabre is a Jet aircraft, jet fighter aircraft built by Canadair under licence from North American Aviation. A variant of the North American F-86 Sabre, it was produced until 1958 and used primarily by the Royal Canadian Air Force ...
day fighters. Flying the Sabre, 1 Canadian Air Division built up to a strength of 12 squadrons flying a total of 300 fighters. Subsequently, the Sabres in one squadron of each wing were replaced by the all-weather
CF-100 The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the "Clunk") is a Canadian twinjet interceptor/ fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Avro Canada. It has the distinction of being the only Canadian-designed fighter to ent ...
in 1956. The eight remaining Sabre squadrons were replaced by (
nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: *Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics * Nuclear space *Nuclear ...
) strike/reconnaissance CF-104 Starfighters in 1962 while the four CF-100 squadrons were withdrawn. "In the early 1960s, France assumed a greater role in its own defences and 2 Wing along with its sister wings were again disbanded on August 1, 1964."


Reorganization (1967–1993)

After the RCAF left France in 1967 and after the RCAF was reorganized and consolidated with Canada's other two services, No. 1 Air Division was replaced by ''No. 1 Canadian Air Group'' (1 CAG) with headquarters at
CFB Lahr Canadian Forces Base Lahr (International Air Transport Association airport code, IATA:LHA, International Civil Aviation Organization airport code, ICAO: EDTL, former code EDAN) was a military operated commercial airport located in Lahr, Germany. ...
, West Germany. The initial eight squadrons flying the CF-104 within 1 Canadian air division were incrementally reduced, first to six and then down to three squadrons, contributing to the reduction from air division to air wing/group strength. This was largely due to a high attrition rate for the CF-104. While a total of 238 single-seat and dual-seat aircraft were built for the RCAF, 113 Canadian aircraft were lost during the 24-year era of the Starfighter, and 37 pilots died. As an austerity measure, in 1968, No. 3 Wing Zweibrücken was relocated to Canada ( Bagotville) and its two squadrons were moved to No. 1 Wing and 4 Wing. 1969 brought the announcement that the amalgamation of the Canadian Forces in Europe to one command and two bases, and that the Canadian army in northern Germany ( Soest area) would be moving south to Nos. 1 Wing and 4 Wing. This meant that No. 1 Wing Lahr would close its doors and the air force in Europe would be reduced in strength (from 6 to 3 squadrons) and concentrated at Baden-Soellingen; the new name would be ''1 Canadian Air Group'' (CAG). The close-out parade was held at Baden in the arena on June 29, 1970. This was the change date from 4 Wing to 1 CAG. It was also the disbanding date for two of the squadrons. The group remained until 1988 when Canada increased its commitment to NATO (three squadrons in theatre and two squadrons in Canada) and ''No. 1 Canadian Air Division'' stood-up again. However, shortly after this, relations with the East started to warm, and Canada made another announcement: Canada would withdraw its forces stationed in Europe and close the doors on its two bases by 1994. The air division, reduced to three squadrons then to two and finally one, ceased flying operations 1 January 1993. This ended a major era of Canada's air force.


Recent history (1997–present)

In the summer of 1997, the functional groups ( Air Transport Group, Fighter Group, Maritime Air Group, Air Reserve Group, and 10 Tactical Air Group) were dissolved, and 14 Training Group was absorbed within Air Command Headquarters. 1 Canadian Air Division was stood up in Winnipeg to exercise operational command of all CF air assets. Today based in
Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
, the division is also the headquarters for the
Canadian NORAD Region North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD ; , CDAAN), known until March 1981 as the North American Air Defense Command, is a combined organization of the United States and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and pr ...
(CANR), commands 11 of the RCAF's 13 wings, and oversees the monitoring of Canada's airspace in support of the nation's commitments to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). The division is staffed by 600 regular and reserve force members. In addition to military personnel the headquarters is also assisted by civilian personnel in the
Operational Research Operations research () (U.S. Air Force Specialty Code: Operations Analysis), often shortened to the initialism OR, is a branch of applied mathematics that deals with the development and application of analytical methods to improve management and ...
and Analysis Directorate (ORAD).


Structure


Order of battle, 1989

* ''No. 1 Canadian Air Division'',
CFB Baden–Soellingen Canadian Forces Base Baden–Soellingen or CFB Baden–Soellingen, formerly known as RCAF Station Baden–Soellingen (Baden), (International Air Transport Association airport code, IATA:FKB, International Civil Aviation Organization airport cod ...
, in war under
Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (4 ATAF) was a NATO military formation under Allied Air Forces Central Europe tasked with providing air support to NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG) in the southern portion of West Germany. 4 ATAF commanded al ...
** ''4 Wing'' CFB Baden-Söllingen *** 4 Wing Operations *** 4 Communication and Air Traffic Control Squadron ***
409 Tactical Fighter Squadron 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron (French: ) is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada. History The cross-bow in front of the dark cloak represents a weapon used under ...
, 18×
CF-18 The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet (official military designation CF-188) is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New ...
*** 421 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18× CF-18 *** 439 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18× CF-18 *** Air Reserve Augmentation Flight (Reserve Pilots) *** Training Flight, 5×
CT-133 Silver Star The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star (company model number CL-30) is the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 jet trainer aircraft, in service from the 1950s to 2005. The Canadian version was powered by the Rolls-Royce Nene, Rolls-Roy ...
*** 1 Air Maintenance Squadron CFB Baden-Soellingen *** 4 Construction Engineer Squadron, detached from
Royal Canadian Engineers The Canadian Military Engineers (CME; ) is the military engineering personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces. The members of the branch that wear army uniform comprise the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE; ). The mission of the Canadia ...
** 444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (detached to
4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4CMBG; ) was a formation of the Canadian Army, then Canadian Forces Land Force Command, Mobile Command of the unified Canadian Forces. It was part of the European formation known as Canadian Forces Europe. T ...
), CFB Lahr (
CH-136 Kiowa The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine single-Helicopter rotor, rotor military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. It was produced by the American manufacturer Bell Helicopter and is closely related t ...
,
Bell UH-1N Twin Huey The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Bell Helicopter. It is a member of the extensive Huey family, the initial version was the CUH-1N Twin Huey (later CH-135 Twin ...
) ** Detachment Lahr,
412 Transport Squadron No. 412 Transport Squadron is one of three Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) transport squadrons attached to Ottawa, Ontario. The squadron operates with a strength of about 29 out of the ''Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Annex.'' ''The ...
, 2× CC-142 Dash 8 *** 5 Air Movement Unit


Commanders

* Major-General
George Macdonald George MacDonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carrol ...
(1996 – 1998) * Major-General Lloyd Campbell (1998 – 2000) * Major-General Steve Lucas (2000 – 2002) * Major-General Marc Dumais (Jul 2002 – Aug 2004) * Major-General
Charles Bouchard Lieutenant General Joseph Jacques Charles "Charlie" Bouchard (born 1956) is a retired Royal Canadian Air Force general. He has served as Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division / Canadian NORAD Region, the Deputy Commander of North American Ae ...
(Aug 2004 – Jul 2007) * Major-General Marcel Duval (Jul 2007 – Jul 2009) * Major-General Yvan Blondin (Jul 2009 – Jul 2011) * Major-General
Alain Parent Lieutenant General Joseph Alain Jacques Parent is a retired senior Royal Canadian Air Force officer, who served as acting Vice Chief of the Defence Staff from May 2017 until his retirement in June 2018. Military career Parent joined the Canadia ...
(Jul 2011 – Jul 2012) * Major-General
Pierre St-Amand Joseph Pierre Julien St-Amand is a retired Royal Canadian Air Force Lieutenant-General. St-Amand served as deputy commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and led its Canadian Element between 2015 and 2018. He previously commanded ...
(Jul 2012 – Jul 2014) * Major-General David Wheeler (Jul 2014 – Jun 2016) * Major-General Christian Drouin (Jun 2016 – May 2019) * Major-General Alain Pelletier (May 2019 – Jul 2020) * Major-General
Eric Kenny Lieutenant-General Eric Jean Kenny is a senior Royal Canadian Air Force officer who has been serving as Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force since 2022. Military career Kenny joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989. After training as a fi ...
(Jul 2020 – Jul 2022) * Major-General Iain Huddleston (Jul 2022 – Jul 2024) * Major-General Chris McKenna (Jul 2024 – present)


References

* Greenhous, Brereton; Halliday, Hugh A. ''Canada's Air Forces, 1914–1999''. Montreal: Editions Art Global and the Department of National Defence, 1999. .


External links

*
Tactical Air Control System NATO Ground Environment Command & Control US Air Force, Europe (usarmygermany.com)
{{Authority control Canadian air divisions Military units and formations established in 1983