Iran 1962

International Information

International Operation Name: Iran 1962

International Mission Name: Iran 1962

Mandating Organization: Government of Canada

Mandate: On 4 September 1962, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Air Transport Command (ATC) sent an aircraft on a mission of mercy to Iran.

Region Name: Middle East

Location: Bou’in-Zahra, Qazvin Province; Teheran, Iran

Mission Date: 4 September 1962 - 7 September 1962

Mission Notes: Iran is an earthquake center of the world, lying between the converging Eurasian and Arabian Plates. The 1962 Bou’in-Zahra earthquake occurred on 1 September 1962 in the area of Bou’in-Zahra, Qazvin Province, Iran. The massive, magnitude 7.1 earthquake caused 12,225 fatalities. 

In response, the Government of Canada provided a grant that the Canadian Red Cross used to buy blankets and medicine, as well as authorizing an RCAF aircraft to fly the supplies to Iran. The cargo consisted of medical supplies, food, blankets and clothing donated by Federal Health Department and Red Cross. 

The flight of a CC-106 Yukon aircraft originated at RCAF Station Trenton with 12,000 lb load of supplies. Then, it flew to Toronto for a further 6,000 lbs of cargo and picked up two members of the Red Cross. The Yukon headed for Marville, France. After a ten-hour flight and two-hour refuelling stop, the aircraft began the final leg of journey to Teheran, landing at 3:00 AM on 5 September 2008. 

The Red Lion and Sun Society unloaded the supplies into their trucks. They delivered the supplies to the village of Boeen, some 80 kilometres from Teheran. The Yukon logged some 14,000 miles (21 000 kilometres) and 39 flying hours on this round-trip, arriving back in Trenton on 7 September.