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RCAF Air Base

Closed After Military Cutbacks

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RCAF Air Base

Mitchell number belonged to the 418After the Second World War, two regular force Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadrons were reformed at CFB Edmonton (Blatchford field): The 418 Fighter Bomber Squadron (Auxiliary), and the 435 (Air Rescue) Squadron.

Command of the American-built Namao air base was eventually transferred to the Canadian Government. Due to the increasing limitations of Blatchford field, the Military closed RCAF Station Edmonton, and ordered the transfer of the RCAF Squadrons and their affiliated support units to RCAF Station Namao on 1 October 1955.

The 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron was the last to leave for Namao on 27 August 1957.

Complete control of Blatchford Field was then transferred to the local government, creating a municipally operated, commercial airport.

Namao’s first role in the RCAF was performing the winter trials for some famous planes: the Spitfire, Halifax, Tempest, Mosquito, Lancaster, and the Lincoln. The planes were tested for their ability to perform at cooler climates and adjusted if they fell short of expectation.

In 1968, the three branches of the Canada Armed Forces, (land, air and sea,) unified and RCAF Station Namao became CFB Edmonton.

The 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron was later reformed at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton in 1970. The 418 Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Auxiliary), after being renamed several times, was finally known as the 418 Transport and Rescue Squadron. The 418s were disbanded on 22 June 1994.

The Royal Canadian Air Force served at CFB Namao for 29 years before command was transferred to the Land Forces Command (Army) 22 June 1994.

 

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