COMOX
West Coast Hub of the RCAF
(Republished from the January/ February 1965 issue of The Roundel)
By Flight Lieutenant J.W. Kuzyk
Each day, high over Vancouver Island against the majestic backdrop of Forbidden Plateau and the snowcapped Comox glacier, search and rescue Voyager helicopters and Albatross flying boats, anti-submarine Neptunes and Voodoo interceptors fly to and from RCAF Station Comox. This air force station, located on a peninsula 100 miles northwest of Vancouver, is home for the RCAF’s west coast SAR, maritime and air defence squadrons.
The present day hustle is a marked contrast to the quiet calm of a March afternoon in 1943 when an RCAF Grumman Goose, piloted by F/L H. A. McDonald, became the first aircraft to land at the station. F/L McDonald, now retired from the RCAF, recently recalled that landing over 20 years ago. Under construction at the time, the airfield was incorporated two months later as an RCAF aerodrome and given the task of providing flying control for No. 32 OTU, a Coastal Command school, and later a transport OTU for the RAF. In time the RAF unit at Comox gave way to No. 6 OTU, an RCAF transport and training establishment, under the command of G/C D. C. MacDonald. This unit, then flying Dakotas and Expeditors, continued the training of Commonwealth aircrew in the long-range transport role for the remainder of the war.
Station Comox was closed in January 1946 and remained dormant until the early 1950s brought with them increasing concern over the threat of surprise air and undersea attack on continental North America. Consequently, Comox was ordered re-opened in June 1952 to support Canadian anti-submarine and air defence forces assigned to the west coast, G/C G. S. Austin (A/C ret.) took command of the re-activated station on 15 Sept. ’52.
Although assigned a dual maritime and air defence role, Comox was designated as an ADC establishment under No. 5 Air Div. HQ, then in Vancouver, with a maritime lodger unit. The first operational squadron slated for Comox was the lodger, No. 407 (Maritime Patrol) Sqn., under W/C C. W. McNeill. The “Demons” were re-activated in July ’52, and equipped with wartime Lancaster bombers. By the end of their first year in business, the squadron had had its west coast reconnaissance role expanded from local territorial commitments to joint USN/RCAF operations and exercises, extending from Alaskan coastal waters to the shores of southern California.
The second organization to be established at Comox was No. 51 (Aircraft Control and Warning) Sqn. which, in 1954, became part of the expanding NORAD Pinetree system. For the next five years this unit’s call sign, “Waterfall”, became well known and heavily utilized in the control, detection and interception of west coast air traffic.
Early in 1955 the station’s main runway was extended from 5000 to 8000 feet and the CF-100-equipped No. 409 (All-weather Interceptor) Sqn. flew to Comox. S/L F. E. Haley was then the squadron’s CO and held that position until the arrival of W/C T. J. Evans in March of the following year. Changes were introduced to the station’s two squadrons as time went by. Number 407 Sqn. received the newer Neptune aircraft to replace their aging Lancasters, No. 409 Sqn. was integrated into the 25th NORAD Region for operational control.
Two years after their integration into NORAD the 409ers, in February 1960, under W/C H. E, Bridges, won the Steinhardt Trophy, hallmark of all-weather operational excellence. Not to be outdone, No. 407 Sqn. representatives (F/L W. Stedman and crew) brought home the Fincastle Trophy* in 1962, after winning the Commonwealth maritime bombing competitions.
Since its post-war re-activation, RCAF Stn. Comox had been an ADC establishment but, in Sept. ’61, it was assigned to MAC and the positions of Nos. 407 and 409 Sqns. were, therefore, reversed. Instead of being a lodger unit, No. 407 became part of Stn. Comox and No. 409 forfeited its position as station squadron and became a lodger unit. The status of the squadrons changed again in June ’64, when Stn. Comox reverted to ADC control. However, these administrative changeovers had no effect on the physical or operational make-up of the unit.
In 1961 there was another lengthening of Comox’s main runways — this time from 8000 to 10,000 feet — for the arrival of CF-101Bs, due in the early spring of 1962. Number 409 crews underwent conversion training on these super-sonic aircraft at Stn. Namao during the latter part of 1961 and acquired their aircraft in mid-March 1962, Along with the arrival of the CF-101Bs came the potential problem of noise abatement. Fortunately, however, this problem never materialized. Rumours about the noise associated with the Voodoos had initially brought some apprehension and speculation among local residents. But the introduction of the sonic boom into the relatively peaceful valley produced only an initial barrage of queries. After a few months the queries dropped off sharply with little adverse comment over aircraft noise. In fact, there was even an entry on the credit side of the ledger as the pyrotechnic display of CF-101 after-burners in the evening skies became a local tourist attraction. (When asked about the reason for the small number of complaints at Comox compared to some other units, the Station CO’s quiet comment was, “Whatever it is, let’s not knock it.”
Five months after receiving its Voodoos, No. 409 Sqn. achieved the dubious honour of being the first RCAF unit to lose one of these aircraft. However, even this unfortunate event had a few redeeming features. First of all, the crew bailed-out safely and was recovered, thus demonstrating conclusively the soundness of the ejection equipment and the efficiency of the search and rescue organization. Secondly, the incident was an illustration of international co-operation since both Canadian aircraft and American helicopters were used to bring back the downed fliers.
Although the faithful CF-100s were being rapidly phased out by the RCAF, they were not yet through, In the fall of 1962 an electronic warfare detachment was stationed at Comox with CF-100s to harass their supersonic replacements and to give a workout to other NORAD squadrons.
During its years at Comox the telecommunications organization had several changes in fortune. Number 51 (AC & W) Sqn. operated successfully from 1954 until 1959 but in that year improved radar coverage from other units resulted in No. 51 being disbanded. For the next four years radio facilities consisted of only a local air traffic control agency but, early in 1963, following an electronic face lifting, these facilities were rated as one of the top air traffic-control terminals in Canada.
Another milestone which marked the eventful year 1963 at RCAF Stn. Comox was two visits by ban-the-bombers. These visits were prompted by the government’s announcement naming Comox as a potential special armament storage depot. On both their visits the ban-the-bombers picketed the station gate protesting nuclear arms. The demonstrations were orderly, well organized and without incident.
Last year, in addition to the aforementioned reversion of command from MAC to ADC, two changes in the composition of flying units took place at Comox. The first change was a reduction in the strength of No. 407 Sqn. and the second was the arrival of No. 121 Composite Flight from now-closed RCAF Stn. Vancouver. The tarmac at Comox today would prove a real challenge to any aircraft reconnaissance expert. There are CF-101Bs parked alongside visiting USAF F-102 (Delta Daggers) and F-106 (Delta Darts), RCAF and USN Neptunes, Argus aircraft visiting from Canada’s east coast, Hercules in transit, Albatross, Dakotas and Expeditors plus the odd CF-100, T-33, Voyager helicopters as well as several commercial and private aircraft. Comox aircraft also do their share of visiting on operational errands. During a normal year roundel-marked Neptunes and Voodoos dot the flight lines of US naval air stations from Kodiak, Alaska, to southern California and at 25th NORAD fighter bases scattered across the states of Washington, Montana and Oregon. And, during the past summer Comox’s No. 409 Sqn. became the first Canadian fighter squadron to operate full-time from an American air base.** This situation came about when No. 409 was stationed at Paine, Washington, for two months while Comox’s runways were being reconstructed.
On the non-operational side of things the story of Comox has also been one of growth. Initially, 200 housing units were constructed in 1953 in Wallace Gardens, the local PMQ area. These were filled immediately upon completion. More housing, which absorbed another 100 families, was made available in June 1956, through a low subsidy housing project in the village of Comox, about four miles from the base. Again in 1960, an additional 100 PMQs were added to Wallace Gardens. Although these efforts helped to relieve the situation somewhat, there are still more than 700 air force families scattered throughout the local area in rented or purchased properties.
A similar situation exists in the case of schools. Dependents’ schools at Comox were always hard pressed to keep pace with the station’s influx of personnel and dependents and, in 1960, seven additional classes were added to the station’s original school. Throughout its 12-year post war history, Comox has maintained an active and varied program of sports, cultural and recreation activities. Efforts in this direction were fully recognized last year when RCAF Stn. Comox was awarded the Mynarski Trophy for its achievements in the development of youth recreation.
Station Comox is unique in several ways. It is the RCAF’s most westerly flying station and the only one in the air force which has maritime, air defence and air-sea rescue units based there. It is also adjacent to the finest salmon fishing waters in Canada — which may be the reason so many retired RCAF personnel have chosen to continue living in the area.
*This annual award is given for the best bombing score among maritime crews of the RAF, RAAF and RCAF.
** Roundel September 1964
Photo Gallery:
Some current Comox based RCAF Activities
(at the time of this article)
