There are 13 Wings across Canada. The concept of "wings" was re-introduced in 1993 to reflect the air force organizational structure. Originally a Wing was a group of two or more squadrons, not necessarily from the same base, but with a common purpose lead by a Wing Commander. Today's Wings represent the grouping of various units, both operational and support, under a single tactical commander reporting to the operational commander. Ten Wings also include a Canadian Forces Base along with other operational and support units.
Wings vary in size from several hundred personnel, such as at 9 Wing Gander and 5 Wing Goose Bay, to larger wings, such as, 8 Wing Trenton, 4 Wing Cold Lake and 14 Wing Greenwood with several thousand personnel. The following Wings report operationally to 1 CAD.
Wings reporting to 1 CAD
Wing Kingston
Wing Kingston is the home of the Griffon helicopter. It provides airlift support of troops and equipment anywhere in the world. Its six tactical helicopter and training squadrons are spread out across the country.
Wing Bagotville
Wing Bagotville is located in Quebec's Saguenay region. It provides general purpose, multi-role, combat capable forces in support of domestic and international roles of Canada's Air Force. It also provides search and rescue missions.
Wing Cold Lake
Wing Cold Lake is the busiest fighter base in Canada. It provides general purpose, multi-role, combat capable forces in support of domestic and international roles of Canada's Air Force. Home of fighter pilot training for the Canadian Forces, 4 Wing attracts Top Gun crews from all over the world to our annual air combat exercise, Maple Flag.Wing Goose Bay
Wing Goose Bay is the site of Allied tactical flying training in Canada. It is home to permanent detachments from Britain's Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Italian Aeronautic Militaire. 5 Wing also serves as a NORAD CF-18 deployed operating base and airfield supporting a mix of aviation activities, military and civilian, in North-Eastern Canada.Wing Trenton
Wing Trenton is the heart of Canada's air mobility forces - from delivering supplies to the high Arctic (CFS Alert) to airlifting troops and equipment worldwide. It is also responsible for search and rescue in central Canada and home to the famous Skyhawks with the Canadian Parachute Centre.Wing Gander
Wing Gander is home of the 103 Search and Rescue (SAR) Squadron, providing full-time SAR services to Newfoundland and Labrador. When a call for help comes in, SAR crews at 9 Wing Gander are ready to head out in any direction from their base in Canada's most easterly province, Newfoundland.Wing Shearwater
Wing Shearwater is the centre of naval aviation in Canada. Home of the CH-124 Sea King helicopter, 12 Wing supports the Navy with up to nine helicopter air detachments for international and domestic operations.Wing Greenwood
Wing Greenwood is nestled in the heart of Nova Scotia's beautiful Annapolis Valley. Aurora crews conduct sovereignty and surveillance missions over the Atlantic Ocean routinely, while search and rescue capabilities are maintained 365 days of the year.Wing Moose Jaw
Wing Moose Jaw is the site of the new NATO Flying Training Program in Canada (NFTC). This southern Saskatchewan town is also home to the Snowbirds, Canada's world famous aerobatic team.Wing Borden
Wing Borden is the "Birthplace of the RCAF." The largest training Wing in the Canadian Forces, 16 Wing's schools offer air force technical training and professional development.Wing Winnipeg
Wing Winnipeg is comprised of three squadrons and six schools. It also provides support to the Central Flying School. All combined, 17 Wing turns out what are considered some of the best air navigators and multi-skilled personnel in the world. For Canadian air force personnel, all roads will lead to 17 Wing Winnipeg.Wing Comox
Wing Comox is based on Vancouver Island. Its Aurora crews keep watch over the Pacific Ocean while its search and rescue teams regularly locate downed Aircraft in some of Canada's roughest terrain while another squadron helps train fighter pilots in tactical procedures.Wing North Bay
Wing North Bay represents one of Canada's major contributions to the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) agreement. From its underground complex at the Sector Air Operations Centre, technicians watch over Canada's airspace 24 hours a day, using state-of-the-art sensors, computer and communications equipment.Related Links
http://www.airforce.forces.ca/organization3_e.htm
http://www.airforce.forces.ca/abroad_e.htm