CFB St. Hubert

Canadian Forces Base St. Hubert was a Canadian Forces Base in the town of Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The base was closed in 1997, but the site is still active and under the administration of CFB Montreal. 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron operates from the former base's airfield.[1]

CFB St. Hubert
Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport in Canada
CFB St. Hubert
Coordinates45°30′58.54″N 73°25′14.77″W
TypeAirbase
Site information
OwnerDepartment of National Defence
OperatorRoyal Canadian Air Force
Garrison information
OccupantsCurrent:
438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
34th Service Battalion CAF
Past:
No. 13 Service Flying Training School

History

World War II

RCAF Station St Hubert[2][3] was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) airbase established in World War II at the Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport. The station was home to British Commonwealth Air Training Plan No. 13 Service Flying Training School (13 SFTS) from 1 September 1941 to February 1944, with a relief field located at Farnham. The station remained open after 13 SFTS closed.

Aerodrome Information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - St.Hubert, Province of Quebec at 45°31′N 73°26′W with a variation of 16 degrees west and elevation of 87 ft (27 m). Three runways were listed as follows:[4]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
6/24 4,840 ft (1,480 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard Surfaced
10/28 2,840 ft (870 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard Surfaced
1/19 3,630 ft (1,110 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard Surfaced

Postwar

The station became part of CFB Montreal upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968. In its heyday as an operational air force station, it was host to two CF 100 all-weather fighter squadrons, and two Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Sabre squadrons, in addition to being the host station to RCAF Air Defence Command Headquarters. The building later served as the Mobile Command Headquarters site until the base was decommissioned by the Canadian Forces in the mid 1990s.

Post decommissioning

The airport remains in use as Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport.

Operations

A Canadian Forces garrison remains at the airport, including 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and the 34th Service Battalion.

No longer using the runways, 438 Squadron has separate helipads located next to a hangar on rue Leckie.

New army recruits in the Primary Reserves often take their BMQ (Basic Military Qualifications) course under the supervision of the 34th Service Battalion at this location.

References
  1. "438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron official website". Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945 (PDF). Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. p. 203. ISBN 0-660-11443-7.
  3. Military Bruce Historical Writings by Bruce Forsyth
  4. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 76.



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