RCAF Station Zweibrücken
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RCAF Station Zweibrücken (also known as 3(F) Wing or 3 Wing) was a Royal Canadian Air Force base located near Zweibrücken, West Germany. RCAF Station Zweibrücken was originally built by the French Air Force and was handed over to the RCAF in spring of 1953. No. 3 Wing was one of four RCAF bases of No. 1 Air Division Europe that were established to support NATO during the Cold War. Other bases were located in Marville, France; Grostenquin, France; and Baden-Soellingen, West Germany.
Three squadrons flying F-86 Sabres were located here: 413, 427, and 434. No. 413 Squadron was replaced in 1957 by 440 Squadron flying the new CF-100 all-weather interceptor. In 1959 Canada adopted a new and controversial nuclear strike roll in accordance with NATO's doctrine of "limited nuclear warfare" and began re-equipping with the new CF-104 Starfighter that could handle the delivery of nuclear weapons. This aircraft also had a reconnaissance role. In the fall of 1962 the Sabre squadrons of the Air Division, including those at 3 Wing, began flying Starfighters. No. 440 Squadron was disbanded in December 1962. No. 430 Squadron moved to Zweibrücken from Grostenquin when 2 Wing closed down in 1964.
The RCAF left Zweibrücken in 1968 as an austerity measure following unification of the Canadian Armed Forces.
RCAF Station Zweibrücken was well known for its excellent military hockey team, the RCAF Flyers (Europe).
The base was taken over on September 1, 1968 by United States Air Forces in Europe as Zweibrücken Air Base.
