History
1921 - 1938
CFB Winnipeg had its humble beginnings when the recently established Air Board designated an air station at Victoria Beach, Manitoba in 1921. The
First World War was a recent memory, and quite a few Canadian pilots had gained experience with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in Great Britain One of these pilets was Basil Hobbs, DSO, DSC, who had distinguished himself during the war flying missions over the North Sea. He was subsequently named commander of the Victoria Beach Air Station.
The following year, 1922, showed significant expansion in Winnipeg Air Force presence. A headquarters was established a what was then the Winnipeg Air Station al Fort Osborne Barracks [the location of the present-day Asper Jewish Community Campus), with sub-bases al Victoria Beach, Norway House, and The Pas. Early duties were aerial photography and surveying, and the continual expansion of locations over the next two years led to the first major aerial photographic survey ever conducted in Canada, encompassing almost 40,000 square kilometers in 1700 photographs. Hobbs led the survey, with the photos taken by Photographic Officer D.J.R. (Jimmy) Cairns.
The year 1924 also brought the RCAF into existence, and as its organizational structure was established, Winnipeg Air Station was redesignated No. 1 Wing on April 1, 1925. This marked the official beginning to CFB Winnipeg.
Early duties for No. 1 Wing were a mix of civil and military - combined operations and training with the army, forest fire protection, aerial surveys, and transportation: By 1928, No. 1 Wing employed 25 officers and 72 airmen, and had the most flight time in the RCAF, with3,522 hours down between 26 aircraft, In 1929, other major bases used by No. 1 Wing included Cormorant Lake, Winnipegosis, Lader Lake, Lac La Ronge, and Lac du Bonnet In fact, the area of Lac du Bonnet was the location of the first RCAF life saved by parachute when Sgt J.M. Ready was forced to jump from his de Havilland Moth.
The arrival of 1930 brought some significant changes, though the first hangar was constructed at Stevenson Field (near the present Perimeter Airways hangar), Manitoba civil air service was now running, reducing RCAF duties.
The Great Depression also hit the RCAF hard, and many potential pilots left for Great Britain to join the RAF instead. Fire patrols were curtailed and eventually eliminated altogether in 1936. In 1934, permanent force numbers were eight officers and 70 airmen, and flying was mainly done only in Winnipeg, Lac du Bonnet, and Cormorant Lake.
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However, the RCAF in Winnipeg persisted, and as part of the newly renamed RCAF Station Winnipeg, No. 12 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron, Non-Permanent Active Air Force was formed in 1932. This was the birth of the present-day 402 Squadron, which is still based in Winnipeg today. Training commenced in 1933, with Alight training he following year. As an army co-operation squadron, duties included aerial photography, wireless communications, and ranging of artillery.
Though the air presence in Winnipeg started small in the 1920s and 1930s, there were yet lasting achievements. The roots of the organization were firmly established, enabling a massive expansion and the undertaking of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan with the outbreak of the Second World War
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1921 - 1938
The history of CFB Winnipeg during the Second World War (1939-1945) takes two diverging paths: the war effort at home with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) and other military training, and the deployment of 402 Squadron overseas.
With Canada’s declaration of war on Germany on September 10, 1939, No. 112 Squadron (redesignated from No. 12 Squadron in 1937) was called into active service. Following several months of army co-operation training in Ottawa, they arrived in the United Kingdom in June of 1940. The changing circumstances of the war, however, necessitated a change in role, and after more months of training, the squadron was re-designated as No. 2 (Fighter) squadron in December of 1940. With their Westland Lysander aircraft now but a memory, the unit was newly equipped with Hurricane Mk. I aircraft. March of 1941 brought the final name change to the unit, and 402 (Fighter) Squadron was officially declared operational.
Nicknamed the Winnipeg Bears, 402 Squadron was operational as a fighter squadron throughout the rest of the war. They flew varied missions, including bomber escort, patrols, reconnaissance, air-sea rescue missions, and for a time fighter-bomber attacks. In March of 1942, 402 Squadron was re-equipped with Spitfires, and flew various models of Spitfire until the end of the war. Notably, the squadron participated in both the Dieppe raid in August of 1942 and D-Day operations in June of 1944, and from August 1944 until the end of the war they were stationed at various locations on mainland Europe. When the war ended on May 4th, 1945, they were flying out of Wunstrof, Germany. Final wartime victories included five V-1 flying bombs, and 49 ½ total aircraft. 402 Squadron was disbanded on July 24, 1945, and was reformed the following spring back in Winnipeg.
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BCATP
In December 17th, 1939, the Agreement to set up the BCATP was signed. This resulted in the formation of No. 2 Training Command at Winnipeg, which oversaw 12 major sites and 14 satellite airfields across Manitoba. BCATP units based in Winnipeg included No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School (later moved to Portage la Prairie), No. 5 Air Observer School, and No. 3 Wireless School.
In total, across Canada, 131,553 aviators graduated from BCATP schools.
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Many other Winnipeg war-time units were associated with the University of Manitoba, where training and research in various disciplines took place. Various support units were also active, including No. 8 Repair depot (Oct 1940-Feb 1946), and No. 7 Equipment Depot.
The cessation of hostilities brought an end to much of the training taking place in Winnipeg, and most of the schools and training units were disbanded. However, Winnipeg’s role in the BCATP set it up for its continuing legacy of exceptional training programs and informed the role of the base in the subsequent decades.
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1946 - 1975
After the Second World War, No. 2 Air Command underwent numerous changes as the military demobilized. The success of the BCATP and the formation of NATO led to Winnipeg solidifying its status as a hub for Air Force training.
402 Squadron, stood down in 1945, was reconstituted in 1946 as 402 (Fighter Bomber) Squadron (Auxiliary). 435 Transport Squadron was also formed in Edmonton, with a detachment in Winnipeg. The detachment lasted only a year, but it foreshadowed their permanent return to Winnipeg in the 1990s.
The precursor to the RCAF Band, the RCAF No. 2 Training Command Band was formed in Winnipeg in 1947. It also did not stay long, but returned permanently to Winnipeg in 1964.
No. 2 Air Command was disbanded in 1947. The reconstituted RCAF Station Winnipeg became home of HQ No. 11 Group, in addition to 402 Squadron, and 111 Composite Flight. Finally, in 1950, 17 Wing was formed as RCAF (Reserve) Wing, and in 1951 RCAF Station Winnipeg was transferred to Training Command.
In 1950, Manitoba experienced massive flooding of the Red River. The resultant military relief effort was at the time the biggest peacetime operation in Canadian history, and involved the Royal Canadian Navy, Army, and RCAF. 402 Squadron was responsible for maintaining the dyke behind St. Boniface Hospital, while 435 Squadron helped transport pumps.
May 30, 1952, the first issue of the Voxair – Winnipeg’s “voice of the air” – was released.
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From 1951-58, No. 2 Air Navigation School trained 557 navigators from NATO countries. The success of this school led to the formation of Training Command HQ in Winnipeg in 1959, responsible for the training of all Air Force personnel.
With responsibility for NATO training now at the base, it was determined that new infrastructure was also required. In the 1950s, many of the buildings in the main (western) portion of the base were built. A few of these have since been designated Federal Heritage Buildings. These include hangers 10 and 11 (built in 1953), building 84 (built in 1954, and the current Barker College), hanger 16 (built in 1955), and building 86 (built in 1956 and now 2 Canadian Air Division headquarters).
The 1960s brought more changes to the base. 402 Squadron was transferred to Air Transport Command, and it was presented a Squadron standard after completing 25 years of service. Both the Central Navigation School and the Central Flying school were now located in Winnipeg. The unification of the Canadian Military branches in 1968 brought the disbanding of RCAF HQ, but training kept rolling with the arrival of the CF School of Meteorology a few years later.
Two other squadrons played essential roles in the fabric of the Winnipeg Base during those years. In 1968, 111 Composite unit became 440 Transport and Rescue Squadron. The following year it conducted 29 Search and Rescue missions. It left for Edmonton in late 1971. 429 Composite Squadron (who’s badge fittingly includes a bison) was also reconstituted in 1972, having seen action in the Second World War. Finally in 1975, Winnipeg became the official home of the Air Force. Air Command was formed, and its HQ was established in Winnipeg, responsible for all Canadian Forces air operations.
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1975 - 2025
Throughout these decades, CFB Winnipeg continued to develop and transform, gradually evolving into what we now recognize as our present-day base. This transformation is evident through the arrival of familiar aircraft, the establishment of key defense infrastructure, and the introduction of important units.
Beginning in 1976, the Air Reserve Group (ARG) was established and headquartered in Winnipeg as part of Air Command. Its mandate was to manage approximately 950 Reserve personnel. Despite this administrative role, Reserve units continued to respond operationally to the commanders of the Regular Force.
CFB Winnipeg was host to several significant events in the 1980s. On August 1, 1981, 429 Composite Squadron was redesignated as 429 Transport Squadron, operating missions out of Winnipeg. The Bishop Building (building 25) had its grand unveiling in 1986 and became the impressive new headquarters of Air Command. This iconic building was firmly established as a pillar for both air operations across the country and as an integral part of the base here in Winnipeg. Then on December 20, 1989, 402 Squadron saw the arrival of the first CT-142 Dash-8 aircraft. This aircraft proved to be a game-changer in developing the next waves of aspiring Navigators, and later Air Combat Systems Officers (ACSO) and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AESOP). This truly marked the beginning of a new era in navigation training in Winnipeg’s already impressive training history.
The year 1990 had the departure of 429 Transport Squadron from Winnipeg as they relocated to Trenton, where the “Bisons” continue to operate to this day. Additionally, in August of that year, 14 Training Group was disbanded, having played a vital role in the development and readiness of aircrew personnel.
Singnificantly on October 20, 1992, CFB Winnipeg received the Freedom of the City, in recognition of the base's outstanding contribution to the citizens of Winnipeg.
During the summer of 1994, 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron relocated to Winnipeg from Edmonton. 435 Squadron is renowned for its diverse roles, including airlift of freight/ passengers, aerial refueling of fighter aircraft, and perform search and rescue operations. The Squadron operates CC-130H Hercules aircraft. 1 Air Movements Squadron also arrived in this relocation from Edmonton. Both Squadrons would go on to participate in several global operations, including OP ASSURANCE, OP ASSISTANCE, and OP ALLIANCE.
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In September 1996, the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT) was established in Winnipeg. The school provides aircrew with crucial training on life support equipment, survival skills, and aviation physiology.
On April 1, 1997, the reactivation of 1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD) took place. The headquarters of 1 CAD located at CFB Winnipeg plays a crucial role in the operational command and control of the RCAF. Additionally in 1997, the headquarters of the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) was established at Winnipeg, further solidifying the base's importance in NORAD operations. Moving forward to June 27, 2009, 2 Canadian Air Division (2 CAD) was established here in Winnipeg. The division is responsible for overseeing training and education within the RCAF.
Over these many years, the base has maintained strong ties with the local community in Winnipeg, hosting events and fostering relationships between military personnel and civilians. CFB Winnipeg's evolution reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting the RCAF's mission and adapting to the changing needs of military operations. The base motto appropriately states, "Prospice" meaning "Look to the Future".
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