Article by CWO Donnie Matthews, CD (CFFCA)
In June of 2023 the Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy (CFFCA) received a very special gift from 19 Wing Comox. The gift was a disassembled a CC-115 Buffalo Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft (tail number 465). This aircraft had a long and illustrious career as a SAR aircraft, serving from 1967 to 2022.
The aircraft flew from 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia and landed at 8 Wing Trenton. The Buffalo was disassembled in Trenton with the pieces loaded on several flat bed trailers for delivery to the CFFCA training area. Upon arrival, a dedicated team comprised of military and civilian personnel from 19 Wing Comox, Ottawa, and CFB Borden worked diligently over a period of two weeks to re-assemble the aircraft.
CFFCA will make good use of the Buffalo. It will be used as a training aid for aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF). The Georgian Bay Volunteer Search and Rescue Team has also utilized it for their canine training.
Many thanks to the personnel who worked on the Buffalo:
- MWO Geoff Robbins – 442 Squadron, Comox
- Sgt Cory Bakker – 418 Squadron, Comox
- Cpl Daniel Raghunath – 442 Squadron, Comox
- Cpl Alex Duguid – 442 Squadron, Comox
- Mr. William Brunskill – DAEPM 4-3 Ottawa
- Mr. Richard Lein – Kelowna, BC
Augmentees from CFB Borden
- MCpl Dustin Harold – CFSATE
- MCpl Steve Halleran – CFSATE
- MCpl Andrew Maxwell – CFSATE
- Avr Kris Montgomery – CFSATE
Special Mention
- MWO Jamie McCreight - CFFCA
- Mr. Tyler Branson – CFFCA
- Cpl Evan Dixon – CFFCA
Photos by:
Master Sailor Justin Spinello, 16 Wing Imaging Canadian Armed Forces justin.spinello@forces.gc.ca / Tel: 705-424-1200 x1751/ CSN: 270-1751