CFB St. Hubert
CFB St. Hubert | |
---|---|
Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport in Canada | |
Coordinates | 45°30′58.54″N 73°25′14.77″W / 45.5162611°N 73.4207694°W |
Type | Airbase |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, 34th Service Battalion CAF |
Canadian Forces Base St. Hubert was a Canadian Forces Base in the town of Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The base was closed in 1997, but the site is still active and under the administration of CFB Montreal. 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron operates from the former base's airfield.[1]
History
RCAF Station St Hubert[2][3] was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) airbase established in World War II at the Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport. The station was home to British Commonwealth Air Training Plan No. 13 Service Flying Training School (13 SFTS) from 1 September 1941 to until February 1944, with a relief field located at Farnham. The station remained open after 13 SFTS closed.
It became part of CFB Montreal upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968. In its heyday as an operational Air Force Station, it was host to two CF 100 all-weather fighter squadrons, and two Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Sabre squadrons, in addition to being the host station to RCAF Air Defence Command Headquarters. The building later served as the Mobile Command Headquarters site until the base was decommissioned by the Canadian Forces in the mid 1990s. The airport remains in use as Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport.
Operations
A Canadian Forces garrison remains at the airport, including 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and the 34th Service Battalion.
No longer using the runways, 438 Squadron has separate helipads located next to a hangar on rue Leckie.
New army recruits in the Primary Reserves often take their BMQ (Basic Military Qualifications) course under the supervision of the 34th Service Battalion at this location.
References
- ^ 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron official website
- ^ Hatch, F. J. (1983).The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. ISBN 0660114437>
- ^ Military Bruce Historical Writings by Bruce Forsyth