Operational units / Bases / Badges

No. 434 Squadron "Bluenose" Operation Training Sqn
No. 434 Squadron "Bluenose" Tactical Fighter Operational Training Sqn from 09-09-70
No. 434 Squadron "Bluenose" Tactical Fighter Sqn from 02-04-76
    
434 Squadron was flying Lockheed CF-104 in Germany when it was disbanded on 01-03-67.

First unit to be equipped with Canadair CF-5s it stood-up again at CFB Cold Lake, on 15-02-68 as No. 434 Operational Training Squadron
Its role consisted in tactical fighter and operational training for future CF-5 and CF-104 pilots. First CF-5D was received on 05 November 1968, with the first course starting in January 1969. It was later also tasked to train Venezuelan and Dutch pilots.

on 02-04-76, the Squadron now being part of NATO ACE Rapid reaction Force to deploy to Norway in case of hostilities. It joined 433 Squadron at CFB Bagotville, Quebec, on 15-07-82 and then moved on to Chatham, New Brunswick; in July 1985 it had a strength of 14 CF-5As, 3 CF-5Ds.


F-5A(R) 116712 with black and white serial, inscription 434 (Squadron) in air intake and Squadron

                   
            CF-5A 116727 in June 1983 - note both first three and full serial in white, no Squadron number on
            air intake                                                            Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

No. 433 Escadron Tactique de Combat "Porcs-Epics" 

   

The Squadron flew Canadair CF-100 Canuk aircraft on Northe American air defence from CFB North bay unitil disbanded on 01-08-61.

Reformed on 22-11-68 at CFB Bagotville (Quebec) to fly Canadair CF-5A as No. 433 Escadron Tactique de Combat, a French language Squadron of Mobile Command, it kept its CF-5As till December 1987 when it started to convert on McDonnel Douglas CF-18.

Beginning of 1984 it had a strength of 14 CF-5As and 3 CF-5Ds.


CF-5D 116813 in metal colours at Trenton 22-09-76 Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

                  
             CF-5A(R) 116725 with rocket launcher at Bagotville 16-08-71 Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

See Operations for additional information about this unit's activity.

The 433's Sqn "Saguenay Manics" aerobatic team enthusiasted the crowds between 1971 and 1974; it was renamed between 1975 and 1978 "Saguenay Expos", in 1979 "Saguenay Pogos", between 1980 to 1983 "Saguenay Quebec"; 1972 saw also a combined 433/434 Sqn performing under the name CF-5 Demo Team.

No. 419 Squadron Tactical Fighter (Training) Squadron  "Moose"

    
                               Patch                     Crest                Badge painted on silver arcrafts

Badge painted on upgraded aircrafts

Based at CFB Baden-Sollinge (Germany) the 419 Squadron was flying Canadair CF-100 Canuck all-weather fighters from the begininning of 1960s; the squadron stood down on 31-12-62 upon withdrawal from operational service of the Canuck.

Last CF-5 Unit to be reformed it was established at CFB Cold Lake on 01-11-75 as Tactical Fighter Training Squadron; it replaced 434 Squadron as an Operational Training Unit in April 1976, the first course started already in January 1976.

Beginning 1978 it had a strength of 15 CF-5A and 22 CF-5D to cope for training and Dissimilar Combat Training. During the same year a flight of 5 CF-5D (serials 116805, 116807, 116809, 116823) was painted in Aggrssor colours, each in a different "Soviet" style scheme. They then flew against "friendly" CF-5As, CF-101 and CF-104 simulating soviet tactics participating later to Maple Flag exercises against US and European fighters.
There were during Maple 1979 9 aggressor painted CF-5Ds aircrafts plus 2 in standard, wrap-around dark green colours.

A considerable strength of 35 CF-5s was recorded at the end of 1980, with 34 instructors normally taking care of pupils' conversio, providing basic training in tactical fighter pilot skills. Some Dutch pilots also followed the conversion courses.
By beginning of 1984 there were 14 CF-5A and 23 CF-5D on strength.
In 1986 mainspar and wings fatigue cracks reduced the available fleet to 17 aircrafts, reducing the training activities.

In 1988, with the demise of 433 and 434 Squadrons as CF-5 operators, the Squadron role was changed to that of lead-in fighter training and adversary training for the CF-18 Hornet pilots.

Arrival of airframe remanufactured CF-5s, first CF-5D being delivered in November 1989, enabled the Squadron to be fully operational again, while avionics upgraded contributed later to better prepare the Hornet pilots.

Interesting photo of Canadair CF-5A(R) 116705 with high visibility national markings, low visibility
airframe and 419 tail markings but with high visibiliry "05" aggressor code, old camouflage tank.
In the background an CF-5A with original camouflage and low visibility tank can be seen.
                                                                    Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

Canadair CF-5D 116810 prepared fr a long range mission, June 1991.            Photo D.F. Brown

Two basic fighter courses were conducted per year as of 1992, each lasting seven months.The number of students, formerly 24, was reduced to 20 and is now further reduced to 16. Most students arrived directly from the advanced flying traing at Moose Jaw;they received 41 hrs flying in the CF-5 conversion phase. In the tactical phase they had 41 hours flying time. The tactical phase includes ACM, air-to-air gunnery, air to ground weapons delivery, air-to-air refuelling and low level navigation. A few of the instructors maintained an aerial reconnaissance qualification, using CF-5 with nose-mounted Vinten 70-mm cameras. When so equipped, the aircraft was temporarely designated as CF-5A(R) so as to identify it for maintenance and scheduling purposes. Instructors also used F-5 in the aggressor role, not only during the annual Maple Flag exercises but also at other US and Canadian bases. Aircrafts with Avionics Upgrade Programm were due to arrive June/July 93 for instructor training and the first student course should have begun by late 1993. Once the AUP programm was complete, it was not expected that any non-upgraded CF-5 wouldl remain in service. Graduates of 419's lead-in-fighter course moved on to 410 Sqdn, also at Cold Lake, to begin their conversion on McDonnell CF-18.

Presence at Canadian air-shows was assured between 1988 and 1994 by the Squadrons demonstrion team "Moose Jet", supplemented in 1993 by the "Rut Zulus" team. The aircrafts wore normal camouflage.

Retirement of the last CF-5s was decided by the government in 1994 as defence budget saving measure. The Squadron stopped operational flying on 31-03-95, when its last 6 CF-5s were transferred to trenton to be stored there and the 434 Squadron was dissolved on 25-06-95, to be reformed on 23-07-00 as a fighter lead-in training unit, still at CFB Cold Lake, flying CT-155 Hawk as part of the NATO Flying Training Programm:

school operated Canadair C-133 in the advanced training task until the
  arrival of its first 2 CF-5Ds early December 1973.

            
    CF-5A(R) 116702 Cold Lake 03-05-85 testing a

   

Based at CFB Trenton, Ontario, in 1982 carrying out modifiction works to CF-5s. It