What's in a wing? The formation of wings in Air Command

News Article / February 6, 2014

By Lieutenant-General David Huddleston

April 1, 1993, saw the introduction of wing structures within Air Command. A commemorative booklet “The Formation of Wings in Air Command” was published to mark the occasion on April 29, 1993. In the introduction, Lieutenant-General David Huddleston, then-commander of Air Command, explained the importance of the change.

Over the coming months, we will focus on each of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 13 wings, starting this month with 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia. But first, back to the booklet to discover why they exist.

The 69^th Anniversary of Canada’s Air Force marked the introduction of wing formations throughout Air Command. The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Kim Campbell, approved, effective 1 April 1993, Air Command’s reorganization based on the wing structure. A new chapter has thus been opened in the rich history of Canada’s military aviation.

The wing is a recognized air force operational structure whose tradition in Canada has spanned nine decades since the first, 1 Canadian Wing of the Royal Air Force, was established in 1919 following World War I. During this period, wings have come and gone, reaching their zenith during World War II and their nadir during the 25 years following the unification of Canada’s three services in 1968, when wings almost disappeared. The attempt to mould the new Canadian Forces (CF) organization, the base, to an air force that is doctrinally sound has been a continuing challenge.

The underlying philosophy of a CF base has been inappropriate to Air Command for several reasons.

First, the role of a base, to provide support, does not recognize that the primary role of an air base is to conduct air operations.

Second, the commander of an air force base is not in the operational chain of command. [Editor’s note: in other words, squadrons’ chain of command went directly to their group commander (Maritime Air, Air Transport, Fighter, etc.) and bypassed the base commander. When the wing structure was imposed, the chain of command went from the squadron to the wing commander to the group commander.]

Third, there is no focal point at an air force base that has the formal authority, responsibility and accountability for all operations and support.

Fourth, the base structure does not recognize that support to operations at an air base is an integral and vital part of air operations.

Fifth and finally, the base nomenclature does not reflect the operational character of an air force base nor the air force team concept.

To address these organizational and doctrinal deficiencies, we took as our guide and adapted the time-proven, battle-tested organizational principles and structures of the wing to meet the current and future requirements of an air force. As is often the case, the shape of the future is to be found in the past. In all, we have constituted 17 wings, mostly by superimposing the wing structure over the base organization.

The wing structure introduces four principal changes. First the commander of an air force, installation, the Wing Commander, is a formation commander and is placed in the operational chain of command [Editor’s note: In other words, the chain of command now went from the squadron to the wing/base commander to the group commander.] Second, all Air Command elements and units, including the base where applicable, are allocated to the wing. Third, wing nomenclature is introduced. Fourth, a set of internal organizational changes occurs, such as the incorporation of the air maintenance function under operations. One individual is double-hatted as Wing Commander and Base Commander with clear authority, responsibility and accountability for the operational role of the wing as well as for the continuing support role of the base.

One of the more important objectives of our restructuring is to forge aircrew and groundcrew, or operations and support, into an air force team which identifies with a common mission. . . . The introduction of wing nomenclature may, at first blush, appear superficial but it does, in a very profound way, define what we are professionally, links us to our professional raison d’être, and ultimately shapes our professional outlook.

Air Command’s main thrust is to build on the strong motivation of its people to foster an esprit de corps and dedication which comes from pride in belonging to Canada’s Air Force. Perhaps more important than the clinical logic of the restructure, organizational emphasis on wing formations endeavours to capture the hearts of our people.

The re-introduction of wings, with their air force nomenclature, adds organizational substance to the symbolism of the distinctive air force uniform. However, our attitudes are not nurtured by dictum or shaped by names and organizational diagrams. They are formed by indoctrination, training and, above all, by the traditional military values and the daily interactions of people leading to the effective accomplishment of the one central task, the air mission. The formation of wings is but a means to this end.

Sic Itur Ad Astra.

In 1997, the Air Force consolidated all of its air groups into a single command and control entity named 1 Canadian Air Division, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. All wings were placed under its operational control. This is how the structure looked in 1993.

Fighter Group

• 3 Wing in Bagotville, Quebec
• 4 Wing in Cold Lake, Alberta
• 5 Wing in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
• 22 Wing in North Bay, Ontario

Air Transport Group

• 7 Wing in Ottawa, Ontario (it has since been disbanded and most of its units allocated to other wings)
• 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario
• 9 Wing in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
• 18 Wing in Edmonton, Alberta (it has since been disbanded and most of its units allocated to other wings)

Maritime Air Group

• 12 Wing in Shearwater, Nova Scotia (it is now a lodger unit of CFB Halifax)
• 14 Wing in Greenwood, Nova Scotia
• 19 Wing in Comox, British Columbia

10 Tactical Air Group

• 1 Wing in Montreal, Quebec (its headquarters is now a lodger unit of CFB Kingston, Ontario)
• 2 Wing in Toronto, Ontario (its squadrons are now part of 1 Wing)
• 11 Wing in St-Hubert, Quebec (its squadrons are now part of 1 Wing)

Air Command Headquarters

• 15 Wing in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (it now reports to 2 Canadian Air Division)
• 16 Wing in St-Jean, Quebec (it is now a lodger unit of CFB Borden and reporting to 2 Canadian Air Division)
• 17 Wing in Winnipeg, Manitoba (it now reports to 1 Canadian Air Division)