CFB Winnipeg

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Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg (CFB Winnipeg) is a Canadian Forces Base located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Co-located at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CFB Winnipeg is home to many flight operations support divisions, as well as several training schools. It is also the 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region Headquarters. The base is supported by over 3,000 military personnel and civilian employees. It is also home to the Billy Bishop Building, which houses One Canadian Air Division.

[edit] RCAF Station Winnipeg

Established in 1922 by the federal government's Canadian Air Board (the Canadian Air Force was disbanded in 1920), Winnipeg was opened as an aerodrome and became known as RCAF Station Winnipeg in 1925 after the Royal Canadian Air Force was formed the previous year.

Initially, the base served as a winter home for units that operated across northern Manitoba. During World War II, the base played an expanded role, participating in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. RCAF Station Winnipeg also became an important supply and repair depot for the air force.

Following the war, RCAF Station Winnipeg continued to provide training for pilots and navigators from many allied countries, as well as base active RCAF squadrons. The air force has long had a reserve or auxiliary presence there: No. 112 Squadron from 1932-40 and then No.402 Squadron from 1946-present. This latter unit has used, successively, the P-51D Mustang, DH Vampire, Beech C-45 Expeditor, DH Otter and C-47 Dakota.

[edit] CFB Winnipeg

The February 1, 1968 unification of the RCAF with the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army formed the Canadian Forces. As a result, RCAF Station Winnipeg was renamed as Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg (CFB Winnipeg).

CFB Winnipeg became home to several transport and utility squadrons, as well as headquarters for Air Command, which was formed in 1975. A realignment of the Canadian Forces in the mid-1990s saw Air Command HQ move to National Defence Headquarters. As with other AIRCOM bases across Canada, CFB Winnipeg's squadrons were grouped under a wing system, in this case 17 Wing Winnipeg, which is the highest-level unit at the base.

As an AIRCOM training centre, CFB Winnipeg is currently home to 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, the Canadian Forces Air Navigation School (CFANS), the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies (CFSAS), the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training, as well as the Canadian Forces School of Meteorology.

For flight operations support, the base houses the following units:

402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron (see: No. 402 Squadron RCAF), flying the De Havilland CT-142 Dash 8
435 “Chinthe” Transport and Rescue Squadron, flying the Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, the only Canadian CC-130s equipped for aerial refuelling
1 Air Movements Squadron, which processes all military airlift traffic