Last update 04-09-22

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

                                                                                 
                                                                                English, French patches and badge of first camouflage on tail.

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 using  Canadair T-33A.
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.

                                                                        
                                                                                Underwing rockets launcher Cnadair CF-5D 116822 seen at Bagotville in 1983

             

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

                                                                                                
                                                                                   Patch                       Badge painted on aircraft intake

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

Reformed on 22-11-68 at CFB Bagotville (Quebec) it received its first Canadair CF-116 on 25-08-69 as No. 433 Escadron Tactique de Combat, a French language Squadron of Mobile Command.

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

The unit kept its CF-5As till December 1987 when it started to convert on McDonnel Douglas CF-18.

           
                        CF-5D 116813 in metal colours at Trenton 22-09-76                                                      CF-5A(R) 116725 with rocket launcher at Bagotville 16-08-71
                                                                                                  Photos: 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.
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No. 419 Squadron Tactical Fighter (Training) Squadron  "Moose"

                        
Patch                     Crest                                                           Badges painted on silver    /     on upgraded - aircrafts

Based at CFB Baden-Sollingen (Germany) the 419th Squadron was flying Canadair CF-100 Canuck all-weather fighters from the begininning of 1960s; it 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 02-05-75 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 with training and Dissimilar Combat Training. During the same year a flight of 5 CF-5D (serials 116805, 116807, 116809, 116823) was painted
in Aggressor 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.

In 1975 an Air Demonstration Team named "Rut Zulus" was formed with 4 CF-5D.

During Maple Flag 1979 there were nine aggressor painted CF-5Ds aircrafts plus 2 in standard, wrap-around dark green colours.

                                                                        
                                                                 Three aggressor painted, serials 116815 116812 116809, Canadair CF-5Ds belonging to the 419th Squadron

A considerable strength of 35 CF-5s was recorded at the end of 1980, with 34 instructors, providing basic training in tactical fighter pilot skills, were taking care of pupils conversion. Some Dutch and Venezuelan
pilots also followed the conversion courses. On December 1982 a strength of at least 2 Canadair CF-5A single-seater and 14 Canadair CF-5D double-seaters was reported .

By beginning of 1984 there were 14 CF-5A and 23 CF-5D on strength. In 1986 main spar and wings fatigue cracks reduced the available fleet to 17 aircrafts, reducing the training activities.

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

Arrival of 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.

                                                                        
                                                                                      Lineup of of Canadair CF-5 two-seaters                                   

                   
Interesting photo of Canadair CF-5A(R) 116705 with high visibility national markings, low visibility          Canadair CF-5D 116810 prepared for a long range mission, June 1991.    Photo D.F. Brown
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

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 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" in normal camouflage, suppanted in 1993 by 4 Canadair CF-5D in aggresor colours: the "Rut
Zulus" team.

Another display team was called "Solo Display Team", operated by the 419th Squadron to remember the 70th anniversary (1924-1994) of the unit. It was present at airshows all over North America between
19xx and 19xx when the Canadair fighters were withdrawn from use. Some of them are preserved in Canadian museums in display colours.

                                              

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 CFB Trenton to be stored there and the 419 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.
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  Student pilots followed the Beech Musketeer, Canadair CL-41 training sequence before arriving at CFB Cold Lake, where the school operated Canadair C-133 in the advanced training task until the
  arrival of its first 2 CF-5Ds early December 1973. All pilots flew a 60-hour course on the Canadair CF-5D and CF-5A. Pilots destined to the Canadair C-F5 were then posted to 433 Escadron Tactique
  de Combat, also at Cold Lake AFB

          

                                                                        

                                                                                       Photo: via small scale art
                                                                                            Canadair CF-5 serial 116830 in new camouflage and X (test) on tail

   

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