Canada's Air Defence

Last updated
Canada's Air Defence
Canadas air defence.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byJohn Howe
Written byJohn Howe
Produced byNicholas Balla
Narrated byS/L Andrew "Andy" Vincent
CinematographyLorne C. Batchelor
Jean Roy
Peter Kelly
Edited byDouglas Tunstell
Music byRobert Fleming
Production
company
Distributed byNational Film Board of Canada
Release date
  • 1957 (1957)
Running time
33 minutes, 52 seconds
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Canada's Air Defence is a 33-minute 1957 Canadian documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The film depicts the role of air defence over Canada and the United States by following the training and operational exercises of a RCAF squadron. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

In 1956, No. 433 "Porcupine" RCAF Squadron flies the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck all-weather interceptor aircraft. The squadron is based at CFB North Bay, Ontario, and is responsible for an area that includes the immediate region and the Arctic. On a deployment to CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, where training for RCAF operational units takes place, experienced flight crews and newcomers in the squadron learn how to be more effective as a team. The work of the ground control and radar units that support the squadron are highlighted in a combat readiness exercise.

During the Cold War, the Soviet threat of nuclear attack on North America was countered by both the United States and Canada. Air defence was based on radar stations, staffed with American and Canadian personnel, set up in three systems across Canada to detect incoming Soviet bombers. The further operational aspects of air defence in North America that even included ground observers called the RCAF Ground Observer Corps, was detailed. [Note 1]

Production

Live firing of CF-100 wingtip rocket tubes took place at the CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, firing range. Screen shot Canada's Air Defence.png
Live firing of CF-100 wingtip rocket tubes took place at the CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, firing range.

Typical of the NFB's series of short training films for the RCAF, Canada's Air Defence relied heavily on military assistance in obtaining footage. The film incorporated footage shot in 1956 at bases where No. 433 All-Weather (Fighter) Squadron operated. After the Second World War, the squadron, originally a heavy bomber squadron in Europe, reformed as a fighter squadron at Cold Lake, Alberta, on November 15, 1954. A move to North Bay, Ontario, came in October 1955, where the squadron flew CF-100 aircraft on North American air defence until being disbanded on August 1, 1961. [3]

The aerial sequences included footage shot from accompanying CF-100s and featured five-plane formation flying. Additional footage of rocket firing at the CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, firing range was incorporated into the story of air defence interceptions. A Royal Air Force Vickers Valiant bomber is also briefly seen in the film.

Reception

Canada's Air Defence was primarily a military training film, produced as part of the NFB's newsreel programs. Each film in NFB's catalogue was made available on 16 mm, to schools, libraries and air cadet units. They were also made available to film libraries operated by university and provincial authorities. Canada's Air Defence was later edited into R.C.A.F. Air Defence Command (1957).

Although available from the National Film Board either online or as a DVD, Canada's Air Defence is now largely forgotten. A recent analysis emphasized the historical value of the film. "From a strictly cinematic viewpoint, it must be admitted that its age is showing. The style of the film with its wooden 'acting' and patriotic theme is in keeping with its generation. That is some ways what makes it so interesting, it's a time capsule from the past." [4]

Related Research Articles

The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1914, with the formation of the Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC) that was attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It consisted of one aircraft that was never called into service. In 1918, a wing of two Canadian squadrons called the Canadian Air Force (CAF) was formed in England and attached to the Royal Air Force, but it also would never see wartime service. Postwar, an air militia also known as the Canadian Air Force was formed in Canada in 1920. In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when it was granted the royal title by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet</span> Series of multirole combat aircraft

The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New Fighter Aircraft Project competition to replace CF-104 Starfighter, CF-101 Voodoo and the CF-116 Freedom Fighter. Deliveries of the CF-18 to the Canadian Armed Forces began in 1982. CF-18s have supported North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) air sovereignty patrols and participated in combat during the Gulf War in 1991, the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, and as part of the Canadian contribution to the international Libyan no-fly zone in 2011. CF-18s were also part of the Canadian contribution to the military intervention against ISIL, Operation Impact. A procurement process to replace the CF-18 with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II has been ongoing since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB North Bay</span> Airforce base in Ontario, Canada

Canadian Forces Base North Bay, also CFB North Bay, is an air force base located at the City of North Bay, Ontario about 350 km (220 mi) north of Toronto. The base is subordinate to 1 Canadian Air Division, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is the centre for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations in Canada, under the Canadian NORAD Region Headquarters, also in Winnipeg. It is also home to the 1 Air Force, Detachment 2 of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck</span> Interceptor aircraft in service 1952-1981

The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck is a Canadian twinjet interceptor/fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Avro Canada. It has the distinction of being the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Air Force</span> Air and space component of the Canadian Armed Forces

The Royal Canadian Air Force is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074 Regular Force and 1,969 Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nine unmanned aerial vehicles. Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny is the current Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo</span> Jet fighter aircraft

The McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo was an all-weather interceptor aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Forces between 1961 and 1984. They were manufactured by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri for the United States Air Force, and later sold to Canada. CF-101s replaced the obsolete Avro CF-100 Canuck in the RCAF's all-weather fighter squadrons. The Voodoo's primary armament was nuclear AIR-2A Genie unguided air-to-air rockets, and there was significant political controversy in Canada about their adoption. Although they never fired a weapon in wartime, the CF-101 served as Canada's primary means of air defence from Quick Reaction Alert facilities at Canadian airbases. The CF-101s were retired in the 1980s and replaced with McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fighters. Many examples are preserved in museums and parks in Canada and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">417 Combat Support Squadron</span> Canadian military flying unit

417 Combat Support Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided search and rescue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Bagotville</span> Royal Canadian Air Force base in Quebec

Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, and also known as Bagotville Airport or Saguenay-Bagotville Airport, is a Canadian Forces base 4.5 nautical miles west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay. Located in the centre of Quebec, less than 200 km (120 mi) north of Quebec City, CFB Bagotville is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor, the other being CFB Cold Lake. Its primary RCAF lodger units are 2 Wing and 3 Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Cold Lake</span> Royal Canadian Air Force base in Alberta, Canada

Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, abbreviated as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base in the City of Cold Lake, Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadair CF-5</span> Fighter bomber aircraft by Canadair

The Canadair CF-5 is a Canadian licensed-built Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. It is a light, supersonic, twin engine, daylight air superiority fighter primarily for the Canadian Forces and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service life in Canada. While Canadian Forces retired the aircraft in 1995, it continues to be used by other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron</span> Military unit

419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron was a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War and was most recently based at CFB Cold Lake. In its latest incarnation it was responsible for advanced tactical fighter training for pilots of the RCAF and as part of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program using nine CT-155 Hawk trainers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">409 Tactical Fighter Squadron</span> Canadian military flying unit

409 Tactical Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 428 Squadron RCAF</span> Military unit

No. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was first a night bomber squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force engaged in strategic bombing during World War II, based in Yorkshire. At the end of the war the squadron moved to Nova Scotia before being disbanded in September 1945. In 1954 the squadron was reformed as 428 All-Weather (Fighter) Squadron, before being again disbanded in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron</span> Military unit

410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, nicknamed the "Cougars", is a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft squadron currently at Canada's primary training base for the CF-18, at Cold Lake, Alberta. The squadron was formed during the Second World War as an RCAF squadron under the Royal Air Force (RAF), at RAF Ayr, near Prestwick, in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold Lake Air Force Museum</span> Military aviation museum in Alberta, Canada

The Cold Lake Air Force Museum is a military aviation museum located in Cold Lake, Alberta. The museum preserves and exhibits the heritage and history of 4 Wing Cold Lake and 42 Radar Squadron. The Air Force Museum is actually one of four museums based on the old site of 42 Radar Squadron, who re-located to CFB Cold Lake in 1992. The Cold Lake Museums are connected to the Air Force Museum through a covered hallway dubbed 'The Tunnel'. All together, the museums are referred to as the Cold Lake Museums or the Tri-City Museums. The old facility of 42 Radar Squadron was decommissioned in 1992, and the museum opened its doors for the first time on July 1, 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">425 Tactical Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (French: 425e Escadron d'appui tactique, also "Alouette" Squadron, is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates CF-18 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War. As of 2022, its Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel Maxime "Piglet" Renaud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">440 Transport Squadron</span> Unit of the Canadian Forces

440 Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Armed Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is part of 8 Wing and works closely with Joint Task Force (North) in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">433 Tactical Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

433 Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates CF-18 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada. As of 2024, its Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel Aaron "Slumdog" Dhillon.

Air Defence Command was a command of the Royal Canadian Air Force and later the Canadian Armed Forces, active from 1951 to 1975.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The Ground Observer Corps (GObC) of observation posts with over 50,000 volunteers provided aircraft sightings from 1952-1964. [2]

Citations

  1. ↑ "Canada's Air Defence." National Film Board , 1956. Retrieved: October 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "RCAF Ground Observer Corps: 'The eyes and ears of the RCAF'." Postal History Corner, March 7, 2013. Retrieved: October 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lyzun 1985, p. 38.
  4. ↑ "Canada's Air Defence - Movie Review." Canadian Defence Matters, January 5, 2013. Retrieved: October 9, 2014.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.