3 Wing - History

The Bagotville Station was built in July 1942 to provide a training base for pilots and protect the Alcan and hydro-electric facilities in the area during World War II, hence its motto «Défendez le Saguenay» (Defend the Saguenay).

Closed at the end of the war, the station was reopened in 1951 as a training base for the squadrons serving with the Canadian Division in Europe and to support the air defence operations of the newly formed Canadian and American forces that would become NORAD in 1958.

Following implementation of the Wing concept in the Air Force, 3 Wing which, in succession, served Canada at Zweibrücken from 1952 to 1968 and at Lahr from 1988 to 1992, was reconstituted at Bagotville on 1 April 1993.

17 April 1940
Signing of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), an agreement that made Canada responsible for providing flight training to all aircrew of the British Empire.

Summer 1941
Construction of Station Bagotville begins. The station is to become one of the several BCATP schools across Canada. A secondary facility is also built at St-Honoré.

June 1942
Official opening of the St-Honoré airbase.
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17 July 1942
Official opening of Station Bagotville. The first commanding officer of the station is Group Captain V.S. Parker of the Royal Air Force.

28 July 1942
The 1st Operational Training Unit (1 OTU) begins pilot training flying the Kittyhawk aircraft. Harvards, Lysanders and Hurricanes are also to be used for aircrew training at Bagotville. 14 July marks the arrival of 130 Panthère (C) Squadron tasked with providing regional air defence, hence the motto of the Base “Défendez le Saguenay”.

1 August 1942
12 Radar Detachment begins its operations at Bagotville where it controls air traffic until it is disbanded in 1944.

24 October 1943
129 (C) Squadron takes over from 130 Squadron as the regional air defence unit.

December 1943
129 (C) Squadron leaves Bagotville, to be replaced by 1 OTU as the regional air defence unit until the end of the war.

28 October 1944
1 OTU ceases operations at Station Bagotville. The war is almost over and the need for new pilots is decreasing. One by one, the BCATP schools across Canada are stood down. 1 OTU ran 29 pilot training courses, graduating 940 pilots. 41 pilots died while in training at Bagotville during the war.

November 1944
The closing of Station Bagotville and of the secondary facilities at St-Honoré are announced. 1 OTU is disbanded.

5 January 1945
Station Bagotville closes officially.

8 May 1945
Germany surrenders, the war in Europe is over.

2 September 1945
Japan surrenders after the Americans drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the Second World War.

1948
The Soviets blockade Berlin, sparking the start of the Cold War. As a result, military preparations begin in earnest in the West.

1 July 1951
Station Bagotville reopens to train squadrons preparing to deploy to Europe. The first two squadrons stationed at Bagotville are 413 and 414 squadrons flying the Vampires and Sabres jet engine aircraft.

7 March 1953
413 and 414 squadrons deploy to Europe and all is quiet at Bagotville except for squadron summer training camps.

1954
432 and 440 squadrons are stationed at Bagotville and fly the CF-100 Canuck, the first completely Canadian designed and built fighter aircraft.

1956
First Bagotville air show.

1957
440 Squadron deploys to France. Arrival of the CT-133 Silver Star at Bagotville.

1957, 1958 and 1959
Bagotville wins the Steinhardt trophy at the national air interception competition.

1 May 1957
413 Squadron is stood up once more at Bagotville and equipped with the CF-100 Canuck.

1961
413 and 432 squadrons are disbanded.
December 1961

416 Squadron is formed again and stationed at Bagotville equipped with the CF-101 Voodoo. It will move to Chatam, New Brunswick, shortly after in 1962.

Summer 1962
Arrival of 425 "Alouette" Squadron (first French-Canadian squadron) equipped with the CF-101 Voodoo. This aircraft will be later modified to carry nuclear warheads fitted to the Genie missile. These weapons will be stored at Bagotville until the early 1980s. The mission of 425 Squadron is air surveillance and defence of Eastern Canada.

1968
410 Squadron replaces 3 OTU at Bagotville in providing Voodoo training.

1969
Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Navy and Canadian Army cease to exist as separate entities and are joined to form the Canadian Armed Forces all wearing the same distinctive green uniform.

Summer 1969
First Air Cadet Summer Training Camp at Bagotville.

September 1969
Arrival of 433 "Porc-Épic" Squadron equipped with the CF-5 Freedom Fighter.

1982
410 Squadron moves to Cold Lake, Alberta. 434 "Bluenose" Squadron arrives at Bagotville.

1 July 1984
425 Squadron says goodbye to the Voodoo which is replaced with the new CF-18 Hornet. That same year, air element personnel return to their traditional blue uniform.

9 July 1985
434 Squadron moves to Chatam, New Brunswick.

1986
433 Squadron ceases operations to be restructured. In January 1988, equipped with the CF-18, the squadron is assigned two roles: defence of North America and support to NATO in Central Europe.

Early 1991
Bagotville personnel are deployed to the Middle East during the Gulf War.

1 April 1993
Base Bagotville is rechristened 3 Wing Bagotville and 439 "Tiger" Squadron is formed again at Bagotville and equipped with the CT-133 Silver Star aircraft and Iroquois helicopter. Its mission is combat support comprising a search and rescue capability.

1996
- 439 Squadron sees its Iroquois helicopters replaced with the CH-146 Griffon.

- 3 Wing Bagotville is awarded the Chief of the Defence Staff’s National Commendation for its involvement and effectiveness during the Saguenay flood.

17 June 1997
3 Wing Bagotville inaugurates its Air Defence Museum which perpetuates the rich history of Canadian military aviation.

Early 1999
3 Wing Bagotville is at the forefront when Canada and its allies carry out air strikes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

1 March 1999
12 radar Squadron is formed at Bagotville following the closing of the radar station at Mont-Apica. Its mission: tactical control of fighter aircraft.

10-11 july 2000
The Ville de La Baie International airshow is successfully presented after a four-year absence. An unusual test of speed event is held between an Indy car and a CF-18.

End of July 2000
3 Wing personnel return to Aviano air Base to resume Operation Echo responsibilities which aim at preserving stability in the Balkans.