CFB Winnipeg
Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg (also CFB Winnipeg or 17 Wing - Winnipeg) is a Canadian Forces Base located in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. 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 personnel, making it one of the largest bases currently in operation in the Canadian military.
History
In 1922, Winnipeg was opened as a station of the Royal Canadian Air Force Air Board, serving only as a winter home for units that operated in northern Manitoba during the rest of the year. In 1925, it was officially designated RCAF Station Winnipeg, as one of the original air bases of the Canadian military. During World War II, the base played a significant role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and trained over 130,000 airmen to be pilots, navigators, observers and wireless operators. It also was a significant supply and repair depot. After the war, Winnipeg continued to provide training grounds for pilots and navigators from many allied countries. In 1968, after the unification of the Canadian Forces, the base was renamed CFB Winnipeg.
Base functions
As a training center, 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, 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 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron (see: No. 402 Squadron RCAF) (which flies the De Havilland CT-142 Dash 8), 435 “Chinthe” Transport and Rescue Squadron (which flies the Lockheed CC-130 Hercules and is the only Canadian squadron equipped and trained to supply in-flight refuelling), and the 1 Air Movements Squadron which processes all military airlift traffic that passes through that part of Canada.