CANADIAN FORCES CC-115s - No. 429/440 Squadron CFB Edmonton

Click here to view an aerial image of CFB Edmonton at Google Maps.

The purpose of this page is not to provide an operational history of this squadron. This is a place for veterans of this squadron to provide images and memories of the Buffalo at this squadron. If you have any information you would like to add to his page, please contact us via email. For a general history of this Squadron please visit the Squadron History Page at the DND web site and another squadron history at RCAF.com.

Click on images for full size picture. Please use your browser "Back" button to return to this page.

Detachment of No. 429 Squadron (until September 1971)

Buffalo at Braco, Jamaica November 1969. Photograph provided by Bob Gillan.

Detachment photo was taken in June 1970, shortly after Bob Caskie took over from Les Benson, the previous Officer Commanding. Photograph provided by Bob Gillan. Click on image to enlarge.

This photograph, provided by Brian Sadler, was taken by Captain Jim Barrett, the co-pilot of 115462, on 13 Oct 1970. Captain George Holman was flying, when the starboard engine oil line was lost over the Pacific, west of Comox and south of Alaska. This was just after the "Critical Point" so the crew declared a 'precautionary'. Alaska sent a USCG C130 as an escort. Buffalo Crew were using basic airplot, with celestial and drift, and picked up the C130 on their own radar before being found by the C130. This shot was taken through a starboard window, showing the feathered propellor.

1) No. 429 Sqn Detachment Buffalo touching down at Kluane Lake airstrip, taken on 3 Aug 71 by F/L Norm Blamire, pilots F/L Ken Portas and Capt Bob Gillan - photo provided by Don Fish. 2) Brian Sadler provided this photograph taken during a formation flight of three Buffalo enroute to/from Wainwright on 17 Aug 1971.

No. 440 Squadron (from September 1971)

Photograph provided by Brian Sadler of the whole squadron (440 T & R, as of 01 September 1971), prior to start-up of a six-plane formation flight around Namao. At the time, No. 440 had four Buffalo (462, 463, 464, & 465), plus two Twin Otters detached in Yellowknife, and two Twin Otters based in Edmonton. The CO, Major Bob Caskie is kneeling in front of the Buff's radome; to his right is Major Jack Tupper, the Buff Flight Commander; to Major Caskie's left are Pete Francis, Bob Gillan, George Holman, Joe Barnes, Dave Royer, John Oliver. Brian Sadler is standing behind Pete Francis. Click on image to enlarge.

Photographs provided by Brian Sadler of a No. 440 Sqn flypast, with all six aircraft in Edmonton inventory (4 Buffalo and 2 Twin Otters). Exact date unknown but it would have been after September 1971 and before June 1973. The C130s in the fourth photograph are from No. 435 Squadron.

1) Buffalo 115462 at Mile 78 Dempster Hwy, 3 September 1971 provided by Bob Gillan. 2) Photo of 440 T&R Squadron aircraft provided by F/L Don Fish (date unknown).

Interesting assortment of photographs from Brian Sadler. The first shows Brian at a Buffalo Navigator's Station. The second is from the same flight (enroute across the Arctic and the Atlantic to Germany, February 1972) of Loadmaster MCpl Roy Dowell next to one of two fuel bladders used for long distance flights. Third photograph is of Brian Sadler's first first parachute jump (from a Buffalo) in March of 1971. Last photo is is of Buffalo 463 and Brian's VW Bus painted up as '466'.

Both of the following photographs, also from Brian Sadler, show a No. 440 Squadron Buffalo touching down and taking off at Ken Jones Airport on the eastern half of the north shore of Jamaica. This was in March and April of 1972 while detached for 2 months to provide in-theatre airlift to the Cdn Abn Regt, including STOL and paradrops.

During the summer of 1973, the Canadian Airborne Regiment were 'guinea pigs' for some high altitude sickness experiments being conducted by Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (DCIEM) on top of Mount Logan. No. 440 were tasked to airland and offload kit and resupply for the experiments at what was left of the Kluane Lake airstrip (click to see map). The airstrip was relatively close to the base of Mount Logan and was a former staging/emergency airstrip for the WW II flights enroute to Alaska and beyond. After landing a Kluane Lake, aircraft and loads were re-rigged for airdrop onto the 18,000 ft MSL drop zone on Mt. Logan. With its payload capacity, its STOL capability, and its airdrop capability, the Buffalo proved to be perfect for the task. Following photos provided by Brian Sadler are of 440 T&R Squadron aircraft at Kluane Lake on a Mt. Logan resupply mission. It was flown 02-05 July, 1973. Captain Joe Barnes, one of pilots, took this series of four photos showing a STOL landing into the 1200 feet of gravel called Kluane Lake airstrip. Note the full 90 degrees of flap, including the drooping ailerons -- differential spoilers were used during STOL landings. Buffalo was 115464. The fifth photo was takenby Brian Sadler at Kluane Lake, July 1973.