NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

9 Wing Gander:

The current 9 Wing Gander is the sole survivor of numerous military and civilian government sites in the Gander area. In 1938, the British Air Ministry established a radar station for monitoring Trans-Atlantic air traffic. As well, the RCAF established an Air Station on a site that is now the Gander International Airport. The Station was used throughout the war by British, American and Canadian pilots, and at the time of construction, was the largest airfield in the world.

By 1940, the station had became the responsibility of the federal Department of Transport and remained so for the remainder of the war. Personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy were assigned to monitor the station's radar. Naval Radio Station Gander was re-opened in 1949 as a HF-DF station. In 1954, the United States Air Force established an interceptor radar and signal intelligence collection station near Gander, although RCAF personnel staffed it.

As a result of the Unification, the Station 's name was changed to CFS Gander in 1966.

In May 1977 Air Command assumed control of the Station. The Supplementary Radio Station at the base was re-named 770 Communications Research Squadron became simply a lodger unit at the station.

By 1988 the Station, now the home of 103 Rescue Unit and 770 Communications Research Squadron had been upgraded to a full Base and was again re-named CFB Gander.

In 1985, the North American Air Defence Modernization Plan resulted in the radar equipment at many Canadian Forces Stations was replaced with a new automated system. The long-range radar equipment was replaced with a Minimally Attended Radar system in 1990.

The introduction of the Wing concept at Air Force establishments resulted in the base being re-named 9 Wing Gander in 1993. 444 Combat Support Squadron, originally a tactical helicopter squadron from CFB Lahr Germany, re-formed at Gander in 1993.

On 23 June 1997, Prince Phillip presented 103 RU with their colours and the unit was renamed 103 Search and Rescue Squadron. On 3 July 1997, the last American Exchange position departed 770 CRS, ending fifty-six years of American military presence on Newfoundland soil.

Another milestone in Gander's history was the August 1997 renaming of 770 Communication Research Squadron to Canadian Forces Station Leitrim Detachment Gander.

Today, 9 Wing Gander is the Search and Rescue centre for Newfoundland and Labrador. As well Gander is the home of NATO Tactical Flying Training School, playing host to aircrews from Germany, Britain and The Netherlands.

Source material: DND press releases from May 1989 & February 1994, the Communications & Electronics Museum site - www.c-and-e-museum.org, History of the 400 Series Squadrons - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/airforce/eng/history_400s/rcafsqns.htm and the 9 Wing Gander web sites - http://www.airforce.dnd.ca/eng/wingf.htm#to_top & http://www.cancom.net/~sarsqn .

*********************************************************************

Canadian Forces Station St. John's:

Originally established as a Naval Shore Station, His Majesty's Canadian Ship Avalon at Buchmaster's Field on 1 May 1951. The station served as the shore establishment for the Flag officer of St. John's from 31 May 1951 until 31 July 1955.

The establishment moved to the former United States Navy base at Pepperrell on 10 December 1962, remaining at this location until closing completely in April 1964. The site lay dormant until 1968, when it re-opened as CFS St John's.

CFS St. John's is an operational support base, housing 15 lodger units including 728 Communications Squadron, HMCS AVALON Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre and a detachment of the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School.

In its primary role, CFS St. John�s supports naval vessels deployed from CFB Halifax which patrol waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. The station also supports as many as 30 visiting NATO naval vessels each year.

Source Material: "Badges of the Canadian Navy" by LT (N) Graeme Arbuckle & DND press releases from May 1989 & July 2003 - http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Feature_Story/2003/jul03/03_f_e.asp.