Full History
Background - Canadian military aerobatic teams
Canadian military formation aerobatic teams have played
a distinguished part in our military aviation history. Since the
inception of the "Siskins" in the 1930's there have been
many teams, all of whom have exemplified the skill and proficiency
common to our Air Force pilots and ground crew. The Golden Hawks
and Golden Centennaires are still remembered by many people who enjoyed
their exciting aerobatic displays. These teams received world-wide
recognition, and their members were proud ambassadors of the men
and women of the Canadian military. The Snowbirds, while performing
before millions of spectators across North America, are honoured
to carry on the fine traditions established by their forerunners.
One problem has been common to Canada's aerobatic
teams - the continuing struggle for existence. Teams which had
been formed as a result of
the perseverance and initiative of dedicated individuals slowly
matured, but were all too soon disbanded; the prime reason for
disbandment
was normally that of expense. The year 1978 was a milestone in
the history of Canada's formation teams.
431 (Air Demonstration) Squadron - the beginning
The Snowbirds, who first performed in July of 1971, operated on
a year to year basis for seven years, before being finally established
as a permanent squadron on 1 April, 1978. The Canadian Forces Air
Demonstration Team was then renamed 431 (Air Demonstration) Squadron.
This was not an achievement which came easily; it resulted from the
cumulative efforts of numerous individuals over the previous ten
years. It was also a result of the support given to the team by members
of the Canadian Forces and the public sector throughout Canada -
support which is readily apparent while the Snowbirds travel across
the country during the airshow season.
The Golden Centennaires
The seed for the Snowbirds was firmly planted in 1967 with the formation
of the Golden Centennaires to commemorate Canada's centennial year.
Ten RCAF basic jet training aircraft, CT-114 Tutors, received the
gold and blue paint scheme which distinguished them as the aircraft
from the RCAF formation aerobatic team. However, at the end of the
1967 season, the Centennaires were disbanded, and the aircraft were
returned to the training role.
The Snowbirds are formed in 1971
Colonel O.B. Philp, the Commanding Officer of the Centennaires,
became the Base Commander of CFB Moose Jaw, but he never forgot the
team of 1967. He wanted to ensure that the traditions of aerial perfection
established by teams such as the Golden Hawks and his own Golden
Centennaires would not be lost. Accordingly, he established an unofficial
non-aerobatic formation team in Moose Jaw in 1971. The team was made
up of volunteer instructor pilots and ground crew led by Major Glen
Younghusband. All of the instructors came from Two Canadian Forces
Flying Training School (2CFFTS) in Moose Jaw. The team utilized Seven
ex-Centennaire Tutor aircraft. Since these aircraft were already
repainted white, they were readily distinguishable from the other
silver-coloured aircraft of the Moose Jaw fleet. The 2CFFTS Formation
Team members practised in the evenings, after completing their primary
instructional duties, and performed on weekends. The new team was
named the "Snowbirds" as a result of a contest held at
the Base Elementary School and first flew under this name at the
1971 Saskatchewan Homecoming Airshow on the 11th of July. This performance
was followed by appearances at other major airshows such as Abbotsford,
BC and the CNE in Toronto, and also at military bases across Canada.
During the show season which lasted from June to the end of August
the team performed 27 shows. Public response indicated that the re-forming
of a Canadian formation team was a popular move.
The Snowbirds - early days
The year 1973 brought a new Base Commander to Moose Jaw and a new
leader for the Snowbirds. They were Colonel Ralph Annis and Major
George Miller, both ex-Golden Hawks, and both determined to make
the team a permanent unit. The selected pilots and ground crew were
attached to the team for a full year. The show was expanded to include
aerobatic formation manoeuvres, but formation changes during these
manoeuvres were still prohibited. The show season began in May with
what was to become the annual "Northern Tour", followed
by shows across Canada and the United States. Funding for the team
still came from the base budget and Training Command; team members
were responsible for paying for half of their clothing which included
the distinctive red flying suits that have become a Snowbirds trademark.
In 1974, for the first time, the tryout competition was opened
to pilots from Bases throughout the Canadian Forces. The team was
also
cleared to perform a fully aerobatic formation display. The colour
of the Snowbirds aircraft changed that year when the distinctive
red, white and blue paint scheme, (that still exists today), was
adopted. The team deployed to CFB Comox in April for a workup period
designed to test deployment procedures and expose team members to
new show sites with difficult terrain features. This spring training
session at Comox has become an annual operation. During the Northern
Tour that year, with a performance at Inuvik, the Snowbirds became
the first North American formation team to fly a show north of the
Arctic Circle. At the end of the season, the team had flown 80 shows
with an estimated viewing audience of two million people.
By 1975, the teams composition and methods of operation were nearly
as well established as those that exist today. The Snowbirds were
made a separate but not permanent unit of the Canadian Forces, integral
to CFB Moose Jaw under Air Command. Major Denis Gauthier became the
Squadron Commanding Officer/Team Lead. One of the highlights of the
1975 show season was a midnight performance on May 11th at Inuvik
in the "land of the midnight sun."
In 1976, the growing popularity of the team in the United States
was reflected in the request for a performance at a show in Philadelphia
on the 4th of July as part of the American Bi-centennial celebrations.
In Canada, the team performed at both Montreal and Kingston as
part of the ceremonies during the Summer Olympics.
The Snowbirds are made an official unit
Major Gord Wallis became Commanding Officer and Team Lead for the
1977-78 seasons. In September 1977, the Snowbirds were finally made
a permanent unit, and their official designation became the Canadian
Forces Air Demonstration Team (CFADT). On April 1st, 1978, the CFADT
received squadron status, and the Snowbirds became 431 (Air Demonstration)
Squadron. 431 "Iroquois" Squadron, The Hatiten Ronteriios
or "Warriors of the Air", had been a World War II Bomber
squadron that was disbanded in 1945. It was reformed briefly in 1954
as an F-86 sabre squadron which contributed four aircraft to the "Prairie
Pacific" aerobatic teams.
Under the direction of Major Tom Griffis, the Squadron Commanding
Officer/Team Lead for the 1979-80 seasons, the Snowbirds performance
featured an expanded nine-plane opening sequence that received
popular acclaim with an estimated audience throughout North America,
of over
five million spectators.
The Snowbirds in the 1980s
The 1981-82 Snowbirds were under the leadership of a new Commanding
Officer/Team Lead Major Mike Murphy. For the first time, the show
opened and closed with nine-plane formation sequences and was performed
in 1982 before a total audience of more than six million fans.
The tradition was continued in 1983-84 as Major George Hawey led
the team through a total of 133 shows in the two year period. The
year 1984 was special in that the team helped celebrate the 75th
Anniversary of powered flight in Canada and the 60th Anniversary
of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Major D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert led the 1985-86 Snowbird teams through
a total of 121 shows throughout North America. In 1986 several
performances were flown at the Expo 86 site, and the Snowbirds were
one of five
military aerobatic teams to perform at the Abbotsford International
Airshow. On August 9th, 1986, Major Huyghebaert was honoured to
lead a historic five-plane flypast consisting of one aircraft from
each
of the different military demonstration teams from Europe, and
North and South America.
The 1987-88 Snowbirds teams were led by Major Denis Beselt who
at 30 years of age, was the youngest Snowbird Team Lead ever.
A highlight
of the 1988 season was the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic
Games in Calgary, Alberta where the team's performance was witnessed
by almost two billion people around the world.
The Snowbirds in the 1990s
Major Dan Dempsey of Edmonton, Alberta took over the reins of the
squadron for 1989-90, with 1990 representing the Team's 20th Anniversary
season. During 1990 the team flew their 1000th official air demonstration
and also incorporated the use of red and white smoke at several major
show sites. The 1990 team scheduled 74 displays at 53 locations.
Major Bob Stephan led the 1991-92 Snowbirds through 125 shows. In
addition to these scheduled performances the team performed briefly
in concert with the United States Navy Blue Angels during Disney's
20th Anniversary celebrations in the fall of 1991, and flew as part
of the opening ceremonies prior to the 1991 Grey Cup Game. In 1992
the Snowbirds performed for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference at Inuvik,
NWT and were honoured to be official ambassadors for the Canada 125
celebrations commemorating Canada's 125th Birthday.
The Snowbirds perform in Mexico
Under the leadership of Major Dean Rainkie of Melville, Saskatchewan
the 1993-94 Snowbirds marked some historic milestones. It was in
1993 that the team saw its first performances outside of Canada and
the United States with three aerial demonstrations in Guadalajara,
Mexico. In 1994 Major Rainkie led the team through 64 performances
before an estimated 3.6 million spectators. The team also commemorated
the 70th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, proudly displaying
a tribute to the RCAF on each aircraft.
The Snowbirds celebrate their 25th anniversary season
The 1995 season represented the 25th Anniversary of 431 (AD) Squadron.
Unfortunately, the founding father of the team, Colonel O.B. Philp
passed away early in 1995 and as a tribute to him the 1995 season
was dedicated to his memory. Major Steve Hill, fighter pilot and
veteran of the Gulf War, led the team through 145 aerial performances
throughout Canada and the United States during the 1995-1996 show
seasons.
Having flown as an outer wingman in 1988/89, Major Darryl Shyiak
of Portage-la-Prairie (Manitoba), led the team through 130 performances
before an estimated 4 million spectators during 1997/98. In 1998,
Major Shyiak dedicated a new manoeuvre named after the founding
father of the Snowbirds, Col O.B. Philp; called the Philp roll. During
the
past 28th seasons, the Snowbirds presented more than 1,575 shows
before more than 85,000,000 spectators.
Major Bob Painchaud, a former solo pilot in 1992/93 and veteran
CF-18 and CF-5 fighter pilot, was Team Lead for the 1999 to 2001
seasons.
Year 2000 marks busiest show season
He oversaw the presentation of the Squadron Colours at the end of
the 1999 season and led the Snowbirds in 2000 through their busiest
show season ever - more than 90 shows in over 70 locations
across North America. Major Painchaud finished his tenure as Team
Lead in October 2001, at the end of the Snowbirds' 31st show season.
Major Steve Will, a former Inner Left Wing pilot in 1989/90 and
also a veteran CF-18 and CF-5 fighter pilot, assumed command of the
Snowbirds
in October 2001. Major Will will lead the Snowbirds through their
2002 to 2004 seasons. In their 34th season, the Snowbirds performed
in more than 65 shows in over 41 locations across North America
in 2004.
Celebrating 35 Years of Hearts
The Snowbirds not only celebrated "35 Years of Hearts" in 2005, but they also celebrated their 2,000th show September 17 in Reno, Nevada. This extremely significant milestone is a celebration of the tradition of excellence that the Snowbirds strive to preserve.
The 35th anniversary season was dedicated to the memory of our fellow pilot and friend, Captain Miles Selby, who died during a training accident December 10, 2004. Miles is sadly missed by the Team not only for his professionalism and skill as a pilot, but for his fine character.
As ambassadors for the Canadian Forces and Canada, the Snowbirds not only strive for aerial perfection, but they also ensure that they preserve the team's legacy of excellence in military deportment. The Snowbirds consider it a privilege to perform in communities across North America proudly representing all men and women in Canada's military, who are serving both at home and deployed on missions overseas.
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