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Canadian Forces Base Comox, (IATA: YQQ, ICAO: CYQQ), commonly referred to as CFB Comox, 19 Wing Comox or Comox Airport, is a Canadian Forces Base located 2.5 nautical miles (4.63 km) north northeast Comox, British Columbia on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

CFB Comox is the primary air defence installation on Canada's Pacific coast and serves as the home base for maritime patrol/anti-submarine aircraft and fixed-wing and rotary-wing search and rescue (SAR) aircraft.

CFB Comox's airfield also serves as a civilian airport for commercial flights destined to Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, and coastal British Columbia.

The base hosts a biennial airshow to celebrate Armed Forces Day. The base is also home to an extensive airforce museum featuring several aircraft. The base is a primary employer in the Comox Valley.

History

The Royal Air Force (RAF) constructed the airfield at the strategic location of Comox in spring 1942. RAF Station Comox was built to guard against any possible Japanese threat to North America.

In 1943, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) took over control of the airfield, renaming the facility RCAF Station Comox. The RCAF used Comox for training crews of transport aircraft for the rest of World War II, basing a training squadron flying the Douglas Dakota in 1944.

From 1946 until 1952 the base was mothballed until tensions resulting from the Korean War and Cold War prompted reactivation and the establishment of a permanent RCAF base on Canada's Pacific coast.

The 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron initially used the Avro Lancaster and Lockheed P2V Neptune, followed by the Canadair CP-107 Argus.

The 409 All Weather Fighter Interceptor Squadron was equipped with the Canadair CT-33 Silver Star and Avro CF-100 Canuck, followed by the McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo, an example of which can be found on display at the main entrance of 19 Wing.

In 1954, Comox became home to a Pinetree Line radar early-warning station, operated by the "51 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (radar)". This facility was closed in June 1958 with the advent of more advanced radar systems such as the Mid-Canada Line and the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line).

In 1964, RCAF Station Sea Island near Vancouver International Airport was closed and turned over to the Canadian Coast Guard. Sea Island's "121 Composite Unit" moved to Comox and was reorganized as "442 Transport and Rescue Squadron", flying the Grumman Albatross fixed-wing and Piasecki H-21, later re-equipping with the CH-113 Labrador and CC-115 Buffalo.

On February 1, 1968, the RCAF merged with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Army to form the Canadian Armed Forces. RCAF Station Comox was renamed Canadian Forces Base Comox, shortened to CFB Comox. During a 1975 reorganization of the Canadian Forces, Air Command (AIRCOM) was created to operate the air element.

In 1980, 407 Squadron began re-equipping with the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora. In 1984, 409 Squadron moved from CFB Comox to CFB Cold Lake leaving the base with the duties of coastal patrol, anti submarine and transport missions, and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.

Current use

Military use

19 Wing Comox hosts 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron flying the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora and 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron flying the CC-115 Buffalo fixed-wing and CH-149 Cormorant rotary-wing aircraft.

The base also hosts the 19 Air Maintenance Squadron, and a number of other organizations. It is also the location of the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue, where all para-rescue specialists in the Canadian Forces, known as SAR Technicians or "SAR Techs", undergo training.

This base also serves as the home to Regional Cadet Air Operations Pacific; part of the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program. Some part of the base is converted to Regional Gliding School (Pacific) in the summer. During summer, about 40-45 selected air cadets are trained to become fully licenced glider pilots. Their training glider is the SGS 2-33A. The school also runs a power course which takes place at nearby airports and a ground-school level course for younger cadets.

CFB Comox also serves as a forward operating base for temporary deployments of the CF-18 Hornet fighter-interceptor.

Every April, the Snowbirds practice at 19 Wing Comox.

Civilian use

The airport has a civilian terminal used by the following airlines:

• Air Canada
  • Air Canada Jazz (Calgary)

• Air Transat
  • Operated by WestJet (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta) - Seasonal
• Central Mountain Air (Vancouver)
• Pacific Coastal Airlines (Campbell River, Vancouver)
• WestJet (Calgary, Edmonton)

See also

• Comox Water Aerodrome

References

• Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.

External links

• 19 Wing Comox - official website
• Passenger Terminal

• Airports in British Columbia
• Canadian Forces bases
• Royal Canadian Air Force stations