History CFB Cold Lake

weapons practice unit cf-100 mk 5 firing rockets @ first annual air defence command rocket meet, cold lake, september 1957

operations in 1950s , 1960s centered around training crews destined cf-100 canuck weather interceptor in operational use in canada , western europe. 1962 onwards, arrival of cf-104 starfighter resulted in change of task, training pilots canada s nato commitment in west germany, continued until arrival of cf-18 hornet in 1982. through present, base training focal point aircraft, in addition operational squadrons being located here.

on february 1, 1968, rcaf merged royal canadian navy , canadian army form unified canadian forces. rcaf station cold lake saw name changed cfb cold lake , became responsibility of air defence command. adc , several other cf commands transformed in 1975 become air command (aircom).

a cf-18 hornet takes off cfb cold lake during second tiger meet of americas, 2003

during 1980s, cfb cold lake thrust international media spotlight when clawr used target testing of newly developed agm-86 tomahawk air-launched cruise missiles usaf. these missiles launched strategic bombers on beaufort sea , traveled down mackenzie river valley, closely following terrain @ elevations of several metres above ground level. tests caused significant controversy among peace activists , local first nations on projected flight paths since new untested weapons considered destabilizing force in international arms race, potentially contributing instability worldwide. federal court of canada ruled in favour of allowing tests proceed in 1983 , canada–united states test , evaluation program or canustep agreement subsequently signed between both nations, allowing cruise missile tests use canadian airspace in northwest territories , alberta en route clawr.

in 1990, 18 sounding rockets launched.

in 2000/2001, several cfb cold lake - 4 wing buildings recognized federal heritage buildings on register of government of canada heritage buildings: hangars 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 , senior nco s building b-30.

in 2007, setting jetstream, tv series depicting 8 pilots training under 410 tactical fighter training squadron fly cf-18.