In the early 1950s, two maritime anti-submarine patrol squadrons began flying modified Lancaster’s on the East Coast. This force would be part of NATO's SACLANT (Atlantic Command) in the event of war. In 1965, P2V-7 Neptune aircraft joined this maritime patrol force. The mighty CP-107 Argus, in l958 made its debut in maritime skies. Carrying a crew of fifteen, these tremendous aircraft were, for a short while, the envy of our allies. Airborne for eighteen hours at a time, they kep twatch with their "hundred eyes".

The Army's paratroopers got a new pair of clamshell doors to jump through with the acquisition of the C-1 19 Flying Boxcar. Canadian built T-33 Silver Star jet trainers went into service. A variety of helicopters were obtained for search and rescue, light transport and other duties.

The 1960s brought Air Transport Command a fleet of twelve Canadian built Yukon transports to replace the North Stars. Twenty-four Hercules heavy transports to replace the Flying Boxcars. Cosmopolitans and Caribou replaced some of the Dakotas and the Albatross replaced the Canso for search and rescue.

Air Defence Command of the RCAF received the Bomarc ground to-air nuclear4ipped missies in the early 1960s. The atomic warheads dictated joint Canadian-U.S. control. In 1961, CFIOIB Voodoos began replacing CF100s as an all-weather interceptor.

 In 1959, the CF 105 Arrow program which had started in 1952, was cancelled and all aircraft were ordered to be destroyed. The advanced technology represented by the Arrow can still be seen in many of today's aircraft. Seven other aircraft types were evaluated as a replacement for the F86 Sabre. The F104 Starfighter was then selected to be built by Canadair and, in 1962, training began at No. 6 Strike/Recce Operational Training Unit, RCAF Station Cold Lake. In late 1962 the CF100 Squadrons were disbanded. Six  of the CF104 Squadrons began a nuclear strike role, and two were assigned to reconnaissance. In 1967, the Air Division left France for its German bases with headquarters in Lahr. By the 1st of July, 1970, reductions and reorganization left a total complement of three squadrons, all at Baden-Soellingen.

The Suez Crisis of 1956 and the formation of the United Nations Emergency Force had Air Transport Command's C-1 19s flying troops and supplies between Italy and Egypt. An RCAF light transport unit was established in l957 in El Arish in Egypt. Air transport support to United Nations peacekeeping forces has included the Congo, West New Guinea, Yemen, and Pakistan.

    
          Expeditor                     Albatross                Caribou                       Yukon                           Bomarc 

      
Sikorsky S 58              Cessna 305                  Cessna 182                      Vertol

     
      Hiller Nomad                CL 84                      Sikorsky S55                  CF 100                             Argus   
   

For more history and photos, please follow this link to Part 3: