19 Wing Comox
19 Wing Comox is located at Canadian Forces Base Comox on Vancouver Island. Its Aurora crews keep watch over the Pacific Ocean looking for illegal fishing, migration, drugs and pollution in addition to foreign submarines. With CC-115 Buffalo Aircraft and CH-149 Cormorant Helicopters, they also carry out search and rescue operations in the busiest region in Canada, stretching from the B.C.-Washington border to the Arctic, and from the Rocky Mountains to 1,200 km out into the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to its operational squadrons, the Wing is home to 19 Air Maintenance Squadron and a national training school and the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue (CFSSAR). 19 Wing also supports cadet training at the Regional Cadet Gliding School (Pacific) and HMCS Quadra sea cadet camp.
History
The airfield at Comox was opened as a Royal Air Force (RAF) Base in 1942 and was officially constituted as a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Aerodrome on 1 May 1943.
Read more about the history of 19 Wing Comox.
Squadrons
- 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron
- 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron
- 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron (Winnipeg)
- 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron
- 19 Air Maintenance Squadron
- Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue (at Comox)
- 192 Construction Engineering Flight (Abbotsford)
- 19 Wing Air Reserve Flight
Equipment
"No retreat"
Significance: The crest depicts the Sharp Shinned Hawk resting on a Dogwood tree branch. The Dogwood flower is the provincial flower of B.C.
Command team
Colonel Dany J. Poitras, CD
Chief Warrant Officer Kevin D. Colcy, CD
Wing news
Join the RCAF - Dare to be extraordinary
Join the RCAF - Dare to be extraordinary
February 1, 2020
RCAF Tartan: How it all began
In 1942, the RCAF tartan and the first RCAF Pipe Band came into being side by side under the guidance of Group Captain Elmer G. Fullerton at No. 9 Service Flying Training School at Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
April 6, 2021
RCAF celebrates 97 years of service
The Royal Canadian Air Force was officially born on April 1, 1924. However, its roots go back to 1917, and the establishment of the Royal Flying Corps Canada in southern Ontario.
April 1, 2021
Drive, service a way to give back
Chief Warrant Officer Keith Mitchell could add two more years to his exceptional, 40-plus year military service, culminating in his award of the Cross of Valour, but he’s calling it a career on March 31, 2021.
March 31, 2021
Together, apart: connection through physical challenge
The 4x4x48 Challenge, during which participants walk or run four miles every four hours for 48 hours, allowed a team of six military members to come together virtually and support Soldier On.
March 30, 2021
Contact information
19 Wing Comox
PO Box 1000 Station Main
Lazo BC V0R 2K0
Shipping address
Bldg 45 – HQ Central Registry
1 Labrador Ln
Lazo BC V0R 2K0
Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 250-339-8201
Email: 19wingpublicaffairs@forces.gc.ca
