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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0621.PDF
13 May 1955 621 the weapons range, measuring some 40 miles by 150 miles, beingestablished at Cold Lake, Alta. Between the autumn of 1950 and August 1954 no fewer than2,800 NATO aircrew had received training with the R.C.A.F. The NATO nations pay transportation costs to and from Canada,and continue pay and allowances for the trainees, while Canada absorbs the cost of actual training and provides accommodation,meals, etc. Unique in the R.C.A.F. training programme is the SurvivalTraining School operating in Northern Alberta and at Cambridge Bay, North West Territories, within the Arctic Circle. AirMateriel Command, with headquarters in Ottawa, is responsible not only for logistic support of the R.C.A.F., but for ferryingand for the control of the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment at Rockliffe. Since July 1951, when recruiting opened, some 3,500 womenhave joined the regular force. There is no separate women's corps or group, as existed in the late war.The regular R.C.A.F. is backed by a growing reserve, with air squadrons and ground training units. Then there is the "Chip-munk Scheme," providing refresher training to former R.C.A.F. pilots and the R.C.A.F. is associated with universities through anundergraduate reserve training programme. Constantly in the news is the search and rescue organization, with its para-rescuecorps of men and women. Principal commanders: Chief of the Air Staff of the R.C.A.F., AirMarshal C. Roy Slemon; Vice-Chief of the Air Staff is A.V-M. C. R. Dunlap. Canadian Naval Aviation THE main responsibility of the Royal Canadian Navy is theprotection of trade, and its Naval Aviation components fit into this role with first-line squadrons of anti-submarine and fighteraircraft. Second-line squadrons are concerned with training, and fleet requirements. From time to time the squadrons areorganized in air groups but remain essentially independent entities. First-line strength is two anti-submarine squadrons and onefighter squadron; a second fighter squadron is being temporarily disbanded. Normally one squadron of each type is embarked inthe light fleet carrier H.M.C.S. Magnificent, the other remain- ing in immediate support ashore at the R.C.N. Air Section ofthe R.C.A.F. Station Summerside, or at the R.C.N. Air Station designated H.M.C.S. Shearwater. Embarked average strength ofan anti-submarine squadron is twelve A.S. and four A.E.W. (airborne early warning) aircraft. Present strength of a fightersquadron is ten machines. Administration is exercised from Naval Headquarters through the Flag Officers Atlantic andPacific Coasts to the carrier and air stations. A helicopter squadron and an experimental squadron are basedat R.C.N.A.S. Dartmouth and there is, additionally, a composite training squadron (comprising an advanced training flight, an all-weather flight and a jet flight), and one utility (fleet requirements) squadron. This last is chiefly engaged in the flying training ofRoyal Naval and R.C.N. observers, in conjunction with the R.C.N. Observer School at H.M.C.S. Shearwater. A smallfleet requirements unit operates at the R.C.N. Air Section, Patricia Bay, Victoria, B.C., and small reserve anti-submarinesquadrons have been established at Toronto, Victoria, Quebec, Kingston and Calgary. Participation of H.M.C.S. Magnificent in NATO exercisesis becoming an annual event. Her anti-submarine squadrons have had encouraging success and her fighters have been effec-tively employed against shadowers and bombers. Throughout the year smaller exercises are conducted with other Common-wealth and NATO Navies. An interesting commitment is the provision of two helicopters for ice reconnaissance and Arcticre-supply for the ice-breaker H.M.C.S. Labrador, which last year made the Northwest passage from east to west across thetop of Canada and Alaska. Types of aircraft in service are: Grumman Avenger (anti-submarine, observer training and reserve training); Hawker Sea Fury F.B.I 1 (fighter/bomber); Lockheed T-33 (jet conversionand instrument training); Beechcraft Expediter (instrument train- ing); North American Harvard (check, refresher, practice, andreserve training); Sikorsky HO4S-2 (plane guard and general purposes); Piasecki HUP-3 (ice reconnaissance and Arctic re-supply); Bell HTL-4 (ice reconnaissance, training and utility). The R.C.N. is approaching a period of re-equipment both inships and aircraft. A new light fleet carrier, H.M.C.S. Bonaven- ture, now building in the Belfast yard of Harland and Wolff, isto commission next year, and the McDonald Banshee F2H-4—a single-seat all-weather fighter—has been selected as the Sea Fury'ssuccessor. Somewhat belatedly the Banshee will usher in the jet age for Canadian Naval Aviation at the end of this year. Longout of production, the Avenger is now ending its lengthy service and will be replaced next year by the Grumman CS2F, as builtunder licence by de Havilland in Toronto. Increasing interest is being shown in the possibilities of anti-submarine helicopters. D.H. Canada Otter (R.C.A.F.). Piasecki H-21 Work Horse (R.C.A.F.). Hawker Sea Fury F.B.I Is (R.C.N.). -' •"• •:'•":•'/ Grumman Avengers (R.C.N.). Principal commanders: Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), Cdre.2nd Class Walter L. M. Brown; Director of Naval Aviation, Capt. A. B. F. Fraser-Harris; Deputy Director of Naval Aviation, Cdr. H. J.Hunter; Flag Officer Atlantic Coast, Rear-Admiral Roger E. S. Bidwell; Flag Officer Pacific Coast, Rear-Admiral James C. Hibbard; CO.,H.M.C.S. Magnificent, Capt. A. H. G. Storrs; CO., H.M.C.S. Shear- water, Capt. D. G. King. Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever (R.C.N.). Sou/ton Paul Balliol T.2 (R.Cy.A.F.).
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