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MILITARY AT GANDER
During World War II, Gander was home to many RCAF squadrons including No. 5 BR Sqn, No. 10 BR Sqn, No. 166 Sqn , and Nos 126 , 127 and 129 Squadrons. To support operations, the RCAF located No. 19 Radio Detachment at Gander, one of the first radar units on this side of the Atlantic, and also No. 19 Sub-Repair Depot to provide aircraft repair and salvage. No. 10 BR Squadron plugged the mid-ocean gap in anti-submarine surveillance when it started operating its long range Liberator reconnaissance aircraft in 1943. By 1943, Gander was the largest RCAF base worldwide with a population reaching 15,000 on occasions including personnel from the RAF, the United States Army Air Force and the Canadian Army. From the earliest days of the war, the Canadian Army had a strong presence at Gander, providing anti-aircraft and airfield defence. (Plugging the gap was the key to defeating the U Boats in the North Atlantic.) The Base demobilized in 1945, but the airport continued as an important commercial stopping point on the transatlantic route.
Gander was chosen as one of the sites for the North American Radar Defence System (NORAD) in early 1952 and 226 Aircraft Warning Squadron began operations on the February 21,1954. The reactivation of the RCAF in Gander required the building of many new facilities at the radar site. The 1960's were a period of growth and expansion at the base and in the town of Gander. With unification in 1968, Naval Radio Station Gander was disbanded to become part of Canadian Forces Station Gander and to share the former RCAF premises with the radar squadron. In 1970, a new communications research facility was opened to house 770 Communications Research Squadron. In that year, Canadian Forces Communications Command took control of the station.
In December 1976 the Government decided to locate a Search and Rescue Unit at Gander. On May 2, 1977, 103 Rescue Unit was reactivated to meet this commitment. On May 9, 1977, CFS Gander became an Air Command Unit. By 1984 there was great military strength at Gander with 420 personnel, making CFS Gander the largest station in the Canadian Forces. The station was officially upgraded to Base status on March 24, 1984.
CFB 9 Wing Gander was formed April 1, 1993 and is comprised of 103 Rescue Squadron, 9 Air Reserve Flight, 91 Airfield Engineering Flight (AEF) and CFB Gander. The Wing also operates and maintains Canadian Coastal Radar on behalf of NORAD. The CFB 9 Wing is host to CFB Lietrim Detachment, 9 Wing Telecommunications, 12 Dental Unit Detachment and the CFB 9 Wing Military Police. As the principal military establishment in Newfoundland, the Wing supports Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Detachment Corner Brook, 41 various Cadet Corps and maintains armouries at Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Stephenville.
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The following units are now stationed in Gander:
CFB GANDER
Provides logistical construction engineering and personnel administration support to other CF organizations, reserve and cadet units.
103 SEARCH & RESCUE SQUADRON
Provides search and rescue services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as northeastern Quebec. Additionally, 103 Rescue Squadron offers transient aircraft servicing to visiting CF aircraft and allied aircraft as requested.
9 AIR RESERVE AUGMENTATION FLIGHT
9 Air Reserve Augments and support the operations, administrative and technical functions of the base. Its Airfield Engineers Flight provides trained engineer reservists from various trades to support UN and Canadian Forces deployments worldwide.
WELCOMING THE WORLD'S ARMED FORCES
YQX routinely welcomes a whole range of military aircraft from fighter jets to military charters and Hercs. YQX welcomes military from Denmark, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and the United States.
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