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CFB Goose Bay

Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay (IATA: YYR, ICAO: CYYR), commonly referred to as CFB Goose Bay, is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Happy Valley-Goose Bay in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 5 Wing, commonly referred to as 5 Wing Goose Bay.

CFB Goose Bay
Goose Bay Airport;
CFB Goose Bay;
CFS Goose Bay;
Goose Air Base
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada
CFB Goose Bay
Location in Newfoundland and Labrador
Coordinates53°19′09″N 060°25′33″W / 53.31917°N 60.42583°W / 53.31917; -60.42583Coordinates: 53°19′09″N 060°25′33″W / 53.31917°N 60.42583°W / 53.31917; -60.42583
TypeMilitary air base / civilian airport
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Canada
Operator Royal Canadian Air Force
1941 (1941) – present
 United States Air Force
1942 (1942) – 1976 (1976)
Civilian operatorGoose Bay Airport Corporation
Websitehttp://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/5-wing/index.page?
Site history
Built1941 (1941) – 1943 (1943)
Built by Royal Canadian Air Force
 United States Air Force
In use1941 (1941) – present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Sabourin, Wing Commander
Occupants444 Combat Support Squadron
1993 (1993) – present
5 Wing Air Reserve Flight
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: YYR, ICAO: CYYR, WMO: 71816
Elevation160 ft (49 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
08/26 11,051 ft (3,368 m) concrete with asphalt overlay
16/34 9,580 ft (2,920 m) concrete with asphalt overlay
14/32 5,200 ft (1,600 m) gravel
09/27 1,500 ft (460 m) gravel
Hosted deployments of units from:

Royal Air Force 1942–2005[1]
Luftwaffe 1980–2005
United States Air Force 1942–1976
Aeronautica Militare 2001–2005
Royal Netherlands Air Force 1985–2005
Aerospace Defense Command
Strategic Air Command

Northeast Air Command
RCAF Goose Bay Station Headquarters c.1957
5 Wing Goose Bay
Luftwaffe Tornados at CFB Goose Bay
Royal Air Force Panavia Tornados at CFB Goose Bay
US Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle at CFB Goose Bay
CH-135 Twin Huey from Base Rescue Goose Bay (later 444 Squadron)
Avro Vulcan XL361 on display at CFB Goose Bay

The airfield at CFB Goose Bay is also used by civilian aircraft, with civilian operations at the base referring to the facility as Goose Bay Airport. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.

The mission of 5 Wing is to support the defence of North American airspace, as well as to support the RCAF and allied air forces in training.[2] Two units compose 5 Wing: 444 Combat Support Squadron (flying the CH-146 Griffon) and 5 Wing Air Reserve Flight. CFB Goose Bay also serves as a forward operating location for RCAF CF-18 Hornet aircraft and the base and surrounding area is occasionally used to support units of the Canadian Army during training exercises.

History

While the flat and relatively weather-favoured area around North West River had for years been under consideration for an airport for the anticipated North Atlantic air routes, it was not until Eric Fry of the Dominion Geodetic Survey investigated the area on 1 July 1941[3][4] that the Goose Bay location was selected. Fry beat by three days a similar United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) survey team under Captain Elliott Roosevelt; the American team had first investigated nearby Epinette Point before joining Fry at the sandy plains that would become Goose Bay. These surveys used amphibious aircraft that landed at the Grenfell Mission; from there the teams explored by boat.[5]

Eric Fry recalled: "The airport is actually located on the plateau at the west end of Terrington Basin but it is only five miles inland from the narrows between Goose Bay and Terrington Basin. Having a Gander air base in Newfoundland I suggested we call the Labrador site Goose Bay airport and the suggestion was accepted."[6]

Under pressure from Britain and the United States the Canadian Air Ministry worked at a record pace, and by November, three 2,100-metre (7,000 ft) gravel runways were ready.[7] The first land aircraft movement was recorded on 9 December 1941. By spring of 1942 the base, now carrying the wartime codename Alkali, was bursting with air traffic destined for the United Kingdom. In time, the USAAF and the British Royal Air Force (RAF) each developed sections of the triangular base for their own use, but the airport remained under overall Canadian control despite its location in the Dominion of Newfoundland, not yet a part of Canada. The 99-year lease arrangement with the United Kingdom was not finalized until October 1944.[8]

Aerodrome

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome – Goose Bay, Labrador at 53°20′N 60°24′W / 53.333°N 60.400°W / 53.333; -60.400 with a variation of 35 degrees west and elevation of 45 metres (147 ft). The field was listed as "all hard-surfaced" and had three runways listed as follows:[9]

Runway name Length Width Surface
9/27 2,000 m (6,600 ft) 60 m (200 ft) Hard surfaced
17/35 1,800 m (6,000 ft) 60 m (200 ft) Hard surfaced
5/23 1,800 m (6,000 ft) 60 m (200 ft) Hard surfaced

The northeast side of the facility was built to be a temporary RCAF base, complete with its own hangars and control tower, while the south side of the facility, built for the Americans, was being upgraded with its own aprons, hangars, earth-covered magazines, control tower and infrastructure. The Canadian and American bases were built as an RCAF station[10] and later a United States Air Force base known as Goose AB, housing units of the Strategic Air Command[11] and Aerospace Defense Command. It was later home to permanent detachments of the RAF, Luftwaffe, Aeronautica Militare, and Royal Netherlands Air Force, in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries.

Cold War history

1950 – The Rivière-du-Loup Incident

Goose Air Base was the site of the first US nuclear weapons in Canada, when in 1950 the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC) stationed 11 model 1561 Fat Man and Mark 4 atomic bombs at the base in the summer, and flew them out in December.[12] While returning to Davis–Monthan Air Force Base with one of the bombs on board, a USAF B-50 heavy bomber encountered engine trouble, had to drop, and conventionally detonate, the bomb over the St. Lawrence, contaminating the river with uranium-238.

1954 – Construction of the Strategic Air Command Weapons Storage Area[4]

Construction of SAC's Weapons Storage Area at Goose Air Base was officially completed in 1954.[13] The area was surrounded by two fences, topped with barbed wire. It was the highest security area in Goose Air Base and comprised

  • One guard house
  • One administration building
  • Three warehouses (base spares #1, base spares #2, supply warehouse)
  • Six guard towers
  • One plant group building
  • Five earth-covered magazines for non-nuclear weapon storage
  • Four earth-covered magazines for "pit" storage (constructed with vaults and shelving to store pit "birdcages")

The design and layout of the Goose Air Base weapons storage area was identical, with only slight modifications for weather and terrain, to the three SAC weapons storage areas in Morocco located at Sidi Slimane Air Base, Ben Guerir Air Base, and Nouasseur Air Base, which were constructed between 1951 and 1952 as overseas operational storage sites. The last nuclear bomb components that were being stored at the Goose Air Base weapons storage area were removed in June 1971.[14]

1958 – Construction of the Air Defence Command ammunition storage area[4]

Construction of the Air Defence Command ammunition storage area at Goose Air Base was completed in 1958.[15] This extension to the SAC weapons storage area was built directly beside the previously constructed area, with a separate entrance. The buildings built within the area were:

  • Three storage buildings
  • One guardhouse
  • One missile assembly building.

The storage was being built to accommodate components of the GAR-11/AIM-26 "Nuclear" Falcon, which is normally stored in pieces, requiring assembly before use.

1976 – Departure of the USAF Strategic Air Command and closure of Goose AB[4]

The former U.S. facilities were redesignated CFB Goose Bay (the second time this facility name has been used). The value of the airfield and facilities built and improved by the USAF since 1953 and transferred to Canada were estimated in excess of US$250 million[citation needed] (equivalent to $1.2 billion today). By 1976 all SAC assets had been stood down, and only USAF logistical and transport support remained.

1980 – Multinational low-level flying training stepped up

In response to lessons learned from the Vietnam War and the growing sophistication of Soviet anti-aircraft radar and surface-to-air missile technology being deployed in Europe, NATO allies began looking at new doctrines in the 1970s–1980s which mandated low-level flight to evade detection. CFB Goose Bay's location in Labrador, with a population of around 30,000 and area of 294,000 km2 (114,000 sq mi), made it an ideal location for low-level flight training. Labrador's sparse settlement and a local topography similar to parts of the Soviet Union, in addition to proximity to European NATO nations caused CFB Goose Bay to grow and become the primary low-level tactical training area for several NATO air forces during the 1980s.[citation needed]

The increased low-level flights by fighter aircraft was not without serious controversy as the Innu Nation protested these operations vociferously, claiming[example needed] that the noise of aircraft travelling at supersonic speeds in close proximity to the ground (nap-of-the-earth flying) was adversely affecting wildlife, namely caribou, and was a nuisance to their way of life on their traditional lands.[16][17][18][19]

During the 1980s–1990s, CFB Goose Bay hosted permanent detachments from the Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe, Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF),[4] and the Aeronautica Militare, in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries. The permanent RNLAF detachment left CFB Goose Bay in the 1990s, although temporary training postings have been held since.[citation needed] Goose Bay was an attractive training facility for these air forces in light of the high population concentration in their countries, as well as numerous laws preventing low-level flying. The 13-million-hectare (130,000 km2; 50,000 sq mi) bombing range is larger than several European countries.[Note 1]

1983 – The Space Shuttle Enterprise visits

In 1983, a NASA Boeing 747 transport aircraft carrying the Space Shuttle Enterprise landed at CFB Goose Bay to refuel on its way to a European tour where the prototype shuttle was then displayed in France and the United Kingdom. This was the first time that a U.S. Space Shuttle ever "landed" outside the United States.[20]

1988 – Long-range radar closure

In 1988, the Pinetree Line radar site (Melville Air Station) adjacent to CFB Goose Bay was closed.

Post-Cold War history

1990 – Gulf War

Goose Bay experienced a significant increase in traffic volume from USAF Military Airlift Command (MAC) during August 1990 due to Operation Desert Storm. At one point, MAC flights arrived at an average rate of two per hour; the normal rate was two to three per month. Part of the increase may have been driven by Hurricane Bertha, which occurred at the same time. The USAF deployed additional personnel to the base to assist managing the increased volume. Overall, operations proceeded smoothly as it resembled previous high-volume airlifts like Exercise Reforger.[21]

1993 – Base Rescue Flight and 444 Combat Support Squadron

To provide rescue and range support to the jet aircraft operating from Goose Bay, the Canadian Forces provided a Base Rescue Flight consisting of three CH-135 Twin Huey helicopters. In 1993 the Base Rescue Flight was re-badged as 444 Combat Support Squadron and continued to operate the same fleet of three helicopters. In 1996 the CH-135s were replaced with three CH-146 Griffon helicopters.[22][23]

2001 – 9/11 Operation Yellow Ribbon

On 11 September 2001, CFB Goose Bay hosted seven trans-Atlantic commercial airliners which were diverted to land as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon, following the closure of North American airspace as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. It was also the first Canadian airport to receive diverted aircraft.[citation needed]

2005 – Cessation of Multinational Low Level Flying Training[4]

In 2004 the RAF announced its intent to close the permanent RAF detachment, effective 31 March 2005. The German and Italian air forces had agreements signed to use the base until 2006, however they were not renewed as of 2004. These air forces still operate at Goose Bay, but plan to initiate simulator training instead.[24] The base continues in its role as a low-level tactical training facility and as a forward deployment location for Canadian Forces Air Command, although the total complement of Canadian Forces personnel numbers less than 100.[citation needed]

2005 – Ballistic Missile Defence

Labradorian politicians such as former Liberal Senator Bill Rompkey have advocated using CFB Goose Bay as a site for a missile defence radar system being developed by the United States Department of Defense. Executives from defence contractor Raytheon have surveyed CFB Goose Bay as a suitable location for deploying such a radar installation.[25]

Airlines and destinations

Civilian flights use a smaller terminal structure located on Zweibrucken Crescent. A new terminal structure was being built in 2012 to accommodate civilian use.[26] The terminal has a single retail tenant, Flightline Café and Gifts with a Robin's Donuts shop.

An increasing number of airliners (especially mid-range aircraft like the Boeing 757) have resorted to using Goose Bay for unplanned fuel stops, especially common for trans-Atlantic flights impacted by a seasonally strong jet stream over the North Atlantic.[27] The majority of civilian airliners using the airfield are not regularly scheduled airlines to this location.

Helicopter charters are operated by CHC Helicopter, Cougar Helicopters and Universal Helicopters.

Air Labrador was a tenant of the airport until the airline ceased operations in 2017 when it was merged with Innu Mikun Airlines as Air Borealis. It flew mainly from Goose Bay to remote communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec.[30]

Historical airline service

In 1950, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) was operating round trip transatlantic service via a stop at the airport with a routing of Montreal Dorval Airport - Goose Bay - Glasgow Prestwick Airport - London Airport (now Heathrow Airport) flown with Canadair North Star aircraft which was a Canadian manufactured version of the Douglas DC-4.[31][32] By 1962, Trans-Canada was serving Goose Bay with nonstop flights twice a week from Montreal Dorval Airport operated with Vickers Vanguard turboprop aircraft.[33] In 1981, Eastern Provincial Airways was the only airline serving Goose Bay with nonstop Boeing 737-200 jet service from Churchill Falls, Deer Lake, Halifax, Montreal Dorval Airport, St. John's, Stephenville and Wabush although none of these flights were operated on a daily basis.[34] By 1989, Canadian Airlines International was operating nonstop Boeing 737-200 jet service to Montreal Dorval Airport four days a week.[35] On January 23, 2021 Air Canada Express ended service from the airport to Halifax Airport because of reduced demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[36]

Units, squadrons and formations

The principal components of CFB Goose Bay are:[37]

Fixed-base operators

The following fixed-base operators (FBOs) are based at CFB Goose Bay:

Accidents and incidents[39]

Historic place

Hangar 8 at CFB Goose Bay was designated as a Canadian historic place in 2004.[49]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The thirteen-million-hectare (130,000 km²) bombing range is larger than Iceland; Portugal; Serbia; Austria; the Czech Republic; Ireland; Slovakia; the Netherlands; Denmark; Switzerland; Belgium. see List of countries and dependencies by area.

References

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ^ "British take their leave from Goose Bay". CBC News. 31 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. ^ "5 Wing Goose Bay". Canadian Royal Canadian Air Force. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  3. ^ "A World of Opportunities in Canada's Bright Light of the North – Business in Focus". Businessinfocusmagazine.com. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Force, Government of Canada, National Defence, Royal Canadian Air (21 October 2016). "History – 5 Wing Goose Bay- Royal Canadian Air Force". Rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  5. ^ Hansen, 195-7
  6. ^ Carr, 84–85
  7. ^ Carr, 111
  8. ^ Christie, 129
  9. ^ Staff Writer c.1942, p. 5
  10. ^ "Military Presence in Labrador". Archived from the original on 16 November 2007.
  11. ^ "Strategic Air Command Bases". Strategic-air-command.com.
  12. ^ Clearwater, John (1998). Canadian Nuclear Weapons: The Untold Story. Dundurn Press Ltd. p. 18.
  13. ^ Seaward, DND, Larry D. (January 1999), Preliminary Information Sheets, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office
  14. ^ Norris, Robert S; Arkin, William M; Burr, William (November–December 1999), "Where they were" (PDF), The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 55 (6): 26–35, Bibcode:1999BuAtS..55f..26N, doi:10.1080/00963402.1999.11460389
  15. ^ Seaward, DND, Larry D. (21 January 1999), Preliminary Information Sheets, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office
  16. ^ "NATO's Invasion: Air Combat Training and its Impact on the Innu". culturalsurvival.org. December 1986.
  17. ^ "When Outrage Is A Scarce Commodity: Low-flying Maneuvers over Innu lands in Labrador". culturalsurvival.org. December 2000.
  18. ^ Gaudi, John (14 December 2019). "New children's book is based on Innu protests of low-level flying in Labrador". CBC News.
  19. ^ Swardson, Anne (17 March 1994). "Indians in Labrador Press for End to Low-Level Flight Training". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Shuttle Enterprise begins international tour". UPI. 16 May 1983.
  21. ^ McKay, James R. (16 April 2012). "CFB Goose Bay and Operation "Desert Shield"". Canadian Military History. Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University. 14 (3): 71–80.
  22. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (15 June 2007). . Archived from the original on 26 January 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  23. ^ AEROWARE / RCAF.com (n.d.). "No. 444 Squadron". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  24. ^ "To Cope with Flying Restrictions, German Pilots Turn to Simulators". Defense Industry Daily. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  25. ^ "U.S. missile company scouts Labrador". CBC News. 22 April 2005.
  26. ^ "CBC.ca – Labrador Morning Show – A tour of the New Airport in Happy Valley Goose Bay (Part 1)". cbc.ca. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Strong jet stream forcing airliners to make Labrador retrievals". thestar.com. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  28. ^ Churchill Duke, Laura (20 September 2019). "Hopedale woman circulating petition calling for the province to subsidize flights to northern Labrador". Saltwire. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Air Canada Affirms Market Leadership by Expanding its North American Network this Summer as Recovery Accelerates - Feb 22, 2022". aircanada.mediaroom.com.
  30. ^ . Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  31. ^ Trans-Canada Air Lines, Eastbound flights
  32. ^ Trans-Canada Air Lines, Westbound flights
  33. ^ Trans-Canada Air Lines, Quick Reference Schedule
  34. ^ "YYR81p1". Departedflights.com.
  35. ^ "YUL89p1". Departedflights.com.
  36. ^ Mullin, Malone (12 January 2021). "Air Canada cuts all service in Labrador, St. John's to Toronto route axed". CBC News. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  37. ^ a b Force, Government of Canada, National Defence, Royal Canadian Air (10 April 2013). "5 Wing Goose Bay – Royal Canadian Air Force". Rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  38. ^ Force, Government of Canada, National Defence, Royal Canadian Air (30 April 2013). "444 Combat Support Squadron – 5 Wing – Royal Canadian Air Force". Rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  39. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Goose Bay Airport, NL profile - Aviation Safety Network". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  40. ^ "Newfoundland & Labrador | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives". Baaa-acro.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  41. ^ "A West German air force team has flown into..." Upi.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  42. ^ "C-GUBD with Goose Bay Air Service". Dhc-2.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  43. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon J-358, 10 May 1990". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  44. ^ "German Jet Fighters Crash". Apnews.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  45. ^ "Airframe Details for F-16 #78-0228". F-16.net. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  46. ^ "'Small in stature but larger than life': Father remembers helicopter crash victim, 20 years later". CBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  47. ^ Wang, Vivian (30 September 2017). "Engine Explodes on an Air France Plane, Forcing an Emergency Landing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  48. ^ =https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/central-labrador-plane-crash-1.6685457
  49. ^ "HistoricPlaces.ca – HistoricPlaces.ca". Historicplaces.ca. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  • A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
  • Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
  • Information for Melville AS, Goose Bay, NL
  • Carr, William G.: Checkmate in the North. MacMillan, Toronto, 1944.
  • Christie, Carl A.: Ocean Bridge. University of Toronto Press, 1995.
  • Hansen, Chris: Enfant Terrible: The Times and Schemes of General Elliott Roosevelt. Able Baker, Tucson, 2012.
  • Carr, William G.: Checkmate in the North, 1944
  • Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1. Royal Canadian Air Force.

External links

  • Past three hours METARs, SPECI and current TAFs for CFB Goose Bay from Nav Canada as available.
  • CFB Goose Bay (5 Wing Goose Bay) – official site
  • The MFRC Flyer (CFB Goose Bay newspaper)
  • Canada's Historic Places – Royal Canadian Air Force Hangar 8 CFB Goose Bay

goose, canadian, forces, base, goose, iata, icao, cyyr, commonly, referred, canadian, forces, base, located, municipality, happy, valley, goose, province, newfoundland, labrador, operated, force, base, royal, canadian, force, rcaf, primary, rcaf, lodger, unit,. Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay IATA YYR ICAO CYYR commonly referred to as CFB Goose Bay is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Happy Valley Goose Bay in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 5 Wing commonly referred to as 5 Wing Goose Bay CFB Goose BayGoose Bay Airport CFB Goose Bay CFS Goose Bay Goose Air BaseHappy Valley Goose Bay Newfoundland and Labrador in CanadaCFB Goose BayLocation in Newfoundland and LabradorCoordinates53 19 09 N 060 25 33 W 53 31917 N 60 42583 W 53 31917 60 42583 Coordinates 53 19 09 N 060 25 33 W 53 31917 N 60 42583 W 53 31917 60 42583TypeMilitary air base civilian airportSite informationOwnerGovernment of CanadaOperator Royal Canadian Air Force1941 1941 present United States Air Force1942 1942 1976 1976 Civilian operatorGoose Bay Airport CorporationWebsitehttp www rcaf arc forces gc ca en 5 wing index page Site historyBuilt1941 1941 1943 1943 Built by Royal Canadian Air Force United States Air ForceIn use1941 1941 presentGarrison informationCurrentcommanderLieutenant Colonel Luc Sabourin Wing CommanderOccupants444 Combat Support Squadron 1993 1993 present5 Wing Air Reserve FlightAirfield informationIdentifiersIATA YYR ICAO CYYR WMO 71816Elevation160 ft 49 m AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface08 26 11 051 ft 3 368 m concrete with asphalt overlay16 34 9 580 ft 2 920 m concrete with asphalt overlay14 32 5 200 ft 1 600 m gravel09 27 1 500 ft 460 m gravelHosted deployments of units from Royal Air Force 1942 2005 1 Luftwaffe 1980 2005 United States Air Force 1942 1976 Aeronautica Militare 2001 2005 Royal Netherlands Air Force 1985 2005 Aerospace Defense Command Strategic Air Command Northeast Air CommandRCAF Goose Bay Station Headquarters c 1957 5 Wing Goose Bay Luftwaffe Tornados at CFB Goose Bay Royal Air Force Panavia Tornados at CFB Goose Bay US Air Force McDonnell Douglas F 15A Eagle at CFB Goose Bay CH 135 Twin Huey from Base Rescue Goose Bay later 444 Squadron Avro Vulcan XL361 on display at CFB Goose Bay The airfield at CFB Goose Bay is also used by civilian aircraft with civilian operations at the base referring to the facility as Goose Bay Airport The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency CBSA CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only with no more than 15 passengers The mission of 5 Wing is to support the defence of North American airspace as well as to support the RCAF and allied air forces in training 2 Two units compose 5 Wing 444 Combat Support Squadron flying the CH 146 Griffon and 5 Wing Air Reserve Flight CFB Goose Bay also serves as a forward operating location for RCAF CF 18 Hornet aircraft and the base and surrounding area is occasionally used to support units of the Canadian Army during training exercises Contents 1 History 1 1 Aerodrome 1 2 Cold War history 1 3 Post Cold War history 2 Airlines and destinations 2 1 Historical airline service 3 Units squadrons and formations 4 Fixed base operators 5 Accidents and incidents 39 6 Historic place 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksHistory EditWhile the flat and relatively weather favoured area around North West River had for years been under consideration for an airport for the anticipated North Atlantic air routes it was not until Eric Fry of the Dominion Geodetic Survey investigated the area on 1 July 1941 3 4 that the Goose Bay location was selected Fry beat by three days a similar United States Army Air Forces USAAF survey team under Captain Elliott Roosevelt the American team had first investigated nearby Epinette Point before joining Fry at the sandy plains that would become Goose Bay These surveys used amphibious aircraft that landed at the Grenfell Mission from there the teams explored by boat 5 Eric Fry recalled The airport is actually located on the plateau at the west end of Terrington Basin but it is only five miles inland from the narrows between Goose Bay and Terrington Basin Having a Gander air base in Newfoundland I suggested we call the Labrador site Goose Bay airport and the suggestion was accepted 6 Under pressure from Britain and the United States the Canadian Air Ministry worked at a record pace and by November three 2 100 metre 7 000 ft gravel runways were ready 7 The first land aircraft movement was recorded on 9 December 1941 By spring of 1942 the base now carrying the wartime codename Alkali was bursting with air traffic destined for the United Kingdom In time the USAAF and the British Royal Air Force RAF each developed sections of the triangular base for their own use but the airport remained under overall Canadian control despite its location in the Dominion of Newfoundland not yet a part of Canada The 99 year lease arrangement with the United Kingdom was not finalized until October 1944 8 Aerodrome Edit In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome Goose Bay Labrador at 53 20 N 60 24 W 53 333 N 60 400 W 53 333 60 400 with a variation of 35 degrees west and elevation of 45 metres 147 ft The field was listed as all hard surfaced and had three runways listed as follows 9 Runway name Length Width Surface9 27 2 000 m 6 600 ft 60 m 200 ft Hard surfaced17 35 1 800 m 6 000 ft 60 m 200 ft Hard surfaced5 23 1 800 m 6 000 ft 60 m 200 ft Hard surfacedThe northeast side of the facility was built to be a temporary RCAF base complete with its own hangars and control tower while the south side of the facility built for the Americans was being upgraded with its own aprons hangars earth covered magazines control tower and infrastructure The Canadian and American bases were built as an RCAF station 10 and later a United States Air Force base known as Goose AB housing units of the Strategic Air Command 11 and Aerospace Defense Command It was later home to permanent detachments of the RAF Luftwaffe Aeronautica Militare and Royal Netherlands Air Force in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries Cold War history Edit 1950 The Riviere du Loup IncidentMain article 1950 Riviere du Loup B 50 nuclear weapon loss incident Goose Air Base was the site of the first US nuclear weapons in Canada when in 1950 the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command SAC stationed 11 model 1561 Fat Man and Mark 4 atomic bombs at the base in the summer and flew them out in December 12 While returning to Davis Monthan Air Force Base with one of the bombs on board a USAF B 50 heavy bomber encountered engine trouble had to drop and conventionally detonate the bomb over the St Lawrence contaminating the river with uranium 238 1954 Construction of the Strategic Air Command Weapons Storage Area 4 Construction of SAC s Weapons Storage Area at Goose Air Base was officially completed in 1954 13 The area was surrounded by two fences topped with barbed wire It was the highest security area in Goose Air Base and comprised One guard house One administration building Three warehouses base spares 1 base spares 2 supply warehouse Six guard towers One plant group building Five earth covered magazines for non nuclear weapon storage Four earth covered magazines for pit storage constructed with vaults and shelving to store pit birdcages The design and layout of the Goose Air Base weapons storage area was identical with only slight modifications for weather and terrain to the three SAC weapons storage areas in Morocco located at Sidi Slimane Air Base Ben Guerir Air Base and Nouasseur Air Base which were constructed between 1951 and 1952 as overseas operational storage sites The last nuclear bomb components that were being stored at the Goose Air Base weapons storage area were removed in June 1971 14 1958 Construction of the Air Defence Command ammunition storage area 4 Construction of the Air Defence Command ammunition storage area at Goose Air Base was completed in 1958 15 This extension to the SAC weapons storage area was built directly beside the previously constructed area with a separate entrance The buildings built within the area were Three storage buildings One guardhouse One missile assembly building The storage was being built to accommodate components of the GAR 11 AIM 26 Nuclear Falcon which is normally stored in pieces requiring assembly before use 1976 Departure of the USAF Strategic Air Command and closure of Goose AB 4 The former U S facilities were redesignated CFB Goose Bay the second time this facility name has been used The value of the airfield and facilities built and improved by the USAF since 1953 and transferred to Canada were estimated in excess of US 250 million citation needed equivalent to 1 2 billion today By 1976 all SAC assets had been stood down and only USAF logistical and transport support remained 1980 Multinational low level flying training stepped upIn response to lessons learned from the Vietnam War and the growing sophistication of Soviet anti aircraft radar and surface to air missile technology being deployed in Europe NATO allies began looking at new doctrines in the 1970s 1980s which mandated low level flight to evade detection CFB Goose Bay s location in Labrador with a population of around 30 000 and area of 294 000 km2 114 000 sq mi made it an ideal location for low level flight training Labrador s sparse settlement and a local topography similar to parts of the Soviet Union in addition to proximity to European NATO nations caused CFB Goose Bay to grow and become the primary low level tactical training area for several NATO air forces during the 1980s citation needed The increased low level flights by fighter aircraft was not without serious controversy as the Innu Nation protested these operations vociferously claiming example needed that the noise of aircraft travelling at supersonic speeds in close proximity to the ground nap of the earth flying was adversely affecting wildlife namely caribou and was a nuisance to their way of life on their traditional lands 16 17 18 19 During the 1980s 1990s CFB Goose Bay hosted permanent detachments from the Royal Air Force Luftwaffe Royal Netherlands Air Force RNLAF 4 and the Aeronautica Militare in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries The permanent RNLAF detachment left CFB Goose Bay in the 1990s although temporary training postings have been held since citation needed Goose Bay was an attractive training facility for these air forces in light of the high population concentration in their countries as well as numerous laws preventing low level flying The 13 million hectare 130 000 km2 50 000 sq mi bombing range is larger than several European countries Note 1 1983 The Space Shuttle Enterprise visitsIn 1983 a NASA Boeing 747 transport aircraft carrying the Space Shuttle Enterprise landed at CFB Goose Bay to refuel on its way to a European tour where the prototype shuttle was then displayed in France and the United Kingdom This was the first time that a U S Space Shuttle ever landed outside the United States 20 1988 Long range radar closureIn 1988 the Pinetree Line radar site Melville Air Station adjacent to CFB Goose Bay was closed Post Cold War history Edit 1990 Gulf WarGoose Bay experienced a significant increase in traffic volume from USAF Military Airlift Command MAC during August 1990 due to Operation Desert Storm At one point MAC flights arrived at an average rate of two per hour the normal rate was two to three per month Part of the increase may have been driven by Hurricane Bertha which occurred at the same time The USAF deployed additional personnel to the base to assist managing the increased volume Overall operations proceeded smoothly as it resembled previous high volume airlifts like Exercise Reforger 21 1993 Base Rescue Flight and 444 Combat Support SquadronTo provide rescue and range support to the jet aircraft operating from Goose Bay the Canadian Forces provided a Base Rescue Flight consisting of three CH 135 Twin Huey helicopters In 1993 the Base Rescue Flight was re badged as 444 Combat Support Squadron and continued to operate the same fleet of three helicopters In 1996 the CH 135s were replaced with three CH 146 Griffon helicopters 22 23 2001 9 11 Operation Yellow RibbonOn 11 September 2001 CFB Goose Bay hosted seven trans Atlantic commercial airliners which were diverted to land as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon following the closure of North American airspace as a result of the 9 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D C It was also the first Canadian airport to receive diverted aircraft citation needed 2005 Cessation of Multinational Low Level Flying Training 4 In 2004 the RAF announced its intent to close the permanent RAF detachment effective 31 March 2005 The German and Italian air forces had agreements signed to use the base until 2006 however they were not renewed as of 2004 These air forces still operate at Goose Bay but plan to initiate simulator training instead 24 The base continues in its role as a low level tactical training facility and as a forward deployment location for Canadian Forces Air Command although the total complement of Canadian Forces personnel numbers less than 100 citation needed 2005 Ballistic Missile DefenceLabradorian politicians such as former Liberal Senator Bill Rompkey have advocated using CFB Goose Bay as a site for a missile defence radar system being developed by the United States Department of Defense Executives from defence contractor Raytheon have surveyed CFB Goose Bay as a suitable location for deploying such a radar installation 25 Airlines and destinations EditCivilian flights use a smaller terminal structure located on Zweibrucken Crescent A new terminal structure was being built in 2012 to accommodate civilian use 26 The terminal has a single retail tenant Flightline Cafe and Gifts with a Robin s Donuts shop An increasing number of airliners especially mid range aircraft like the Boeing 757 have resorted to using Goose Bay for unplanned fuel stops especially common for trans Atlantic flights impacted by a seasonally strong jet stream over the North Atlantic 27 The majority of civilian airliners using the airfield are not regularly scheduled airlines to this location AirlinesDestinationsAir BorealisHopedale Makkovik Nain Natuashish Postville 28 Air Canada ExpressHalifax 29 PAL AirlinesBlanc Sablon Churchill Falls Deer Lake Gander St Anthony St John s WabushHelicopter charters are operated by CHC Helicopter Cougar Helicopters and Universal Helicopters Air Labrador was a tenant of the airport until the airline ceased operations in 2017 when it was merged with Innu Mikun Airlines as Air Borealis It flew mainly from Goose Bay to remote communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec 30 Historical airline service Edit In 1950 Trans Canada Air Lines TCA was operating round trip transatlantic service via a stop at the airport with a routing of Montreal Dorval Airport Goose Bay Glasgow Prestwick Airport London Airport now Heathrow Airport flown with Canadair North Star aircraft which was a Canadian manufactured version of the Douglas DC 4 31 32 By 1962 Trans Canada was serving Goose Bay with nonstop flights twice a week from Montreal Dorval Airport operated with Vickers Vanguard turboprop aircraft 33 In 1981 Eastern Provincial Airways was the only airline serving Goose Bay with nonstop Boeing 737 200 jet service from Churchill Falls Deer Lake Halifax Montreal Dorval Airport St John s Stephenville and Wabush although none of these flights were operated on a daily basis 34 By 1989 Canadian Airlines International was operating nonstop Boeing 737 200 jet service to Montreal Dorval Airport four days a week 35 On January 23 2021 Air Canada Express ended service from the airport to Halifax Airport because of reduced demand due to the COVID 19 pandemic 36 Units squadrons and formations EditThe principal components of CFB Goose Bay are 37 444 Combat Support Squadron 38 5 Wing Air Reserve Flight 37 Forward Operating Location Goose BayFixed base operators EditThe following fixed base operators FBOs are based at CFB Goose Bay PAL Airlines Canadian Helicopters Universal HelicoptersAccidents and incidents 39 EditOn 23 December 1945 a Douglas C 47B Dakota IV of the Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF crashed upon landing in a snowstorm On 10 December 1947 a Douglas C 54D 5 DC of the United States Air Force USAF crashed and burned in a wooded area shortly after taking off from Goose Bay resulting in 23 fatalities The Boeing B 50 Superfortress of the Riviere du Loup nuclear weapon incident on 10 November 1950 departed Goose AFB to return a US Mark 4 nuclear bomb to Davis Monthan Air Force Base On 16 January 1951 a USAF Douglas C 47B 1 DL crashed upon takeoff On 14 May 1951 a RCAF Douglas C 47A 10 DK disintegrated in flight and crashed killing four crew members On 21 July 1952 a RCAF Douglas C 47A 30 DL crashed while engaged on insect spraying operations near Goose Bay The crew of three were killed On 10 April 1956 a RCAF de Havilland Canada U 1A Otter crashed after takoff on runway 09 killing three On 6 July 1956 a USAF Boeing KC 97 Stratofreighter caught fire while descending to Goose AFB on a flight from Lake Charles Louisiana The airplane crashed 72 km northeast of Goose Bay killing all six crew members 40 On 1 October 1957 a Consolidated PBY 5A Catalina of Eastern Provincial Airways lost power and crashed upon returning to Goose Bay from supplying diesel fuel to the Bell Canada Tropospheric scatter site at Sona Lake On 7 November 1964 a USAF Douglas C 133A Cargomaster stalled at full power after takeoff and crashed killing seven crew members On 1 October 1967 a Dassault Falcon 20C of Trans Commerce Leasing ran out of fuel and crashed on approach to Goose Bay On 18 July 1981 a McDonnell Douglas F 4F Phantom II of the Luftwaffe was returning to Goose Bay after a low level training mission when it crashed into Lake Melville 41 On 11 October 1984 a de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter 100 of Labrador Airways flying on a medevac flight from St Anthony crashed upon landing at Goose Bay killing four On 14 May 1985 Northrop test pilot David Barnes was killed when his prototype Northrop F 20 Tigershark 82 0063 c n GI 1001 N3986B crashed during a test flight On 10 January 1986 a de Havilland Canada DHC 2 Beaver C GUBD of Goose Bay Air Services departed Goose Bay and crashed at Border Beacon due to unknown circumstances 42 On 24 March 1986 a de Havilland Canada DHC 3 Otter C FAGM of Goose Bay Air Services was fliying to Goose Bay on the return leg of a charter flight to Snegamook Lake when a fatigue initiated crack in the cylinder head caused the engine to lose power The aircraft crashed and caught fire killing four of the five occupants On 10 May 1990 a General Dynamics F 16A Fighting Falcon J 358 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force RNLAF collided in mid air with another RNLAF F 16A 78 0258 J 258 13 km west of Grand Lake killing its pilot The pilot of the J 258 ejected safely 43 On 8 February 1991 a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan of Provincial Airlines impacted the ground on approach to Goose Bay killing the pilot On 22 April 1993 a McDonnell Douglas F 4F Phantom II of the Luftwaffe hit the ground while flying a roll at 150 metres during an airshow practice routine killing both crew On 24 August 1996 two Panavia Tornados of the Luftwaffe crashed during low level training exercises 125 km west of Goose Bay killing one pilot 44 On 11 September 1997 an F 16 J 228 of 312 squadron RNLAF collided with trees after failing to clear a ridge during a low level training flight in the Churchill River valley 55nm southwest of Goose Bay The aircraft returned to Goose Bay safely 45 On 30 August 2000 a Panavia Tornado of the Luftwaffe crashed during low level flight practice 190 km southeast of CFB Goose Bay killing both crew members On 4 March 2002 a Swearingen SA227 AC Metro III of Provincial Airlines crashed upon landing at Goose Bay On 18 July 2002 a RCAF CH 146 Griffon was returning to 5 Wing from an aborted search and rescue mission when the tail rotor became separated from the aircraft The aircraft crashed 68 km northeast of Goose Bay both crew members were killed 46 On 6 November 2006 a de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter 300 of Provincial Airlines had a right main gear collapse when the aircraft landed at Goose Bay On 30 September 2017 Air France Flight 66 an Airbus A380 800 registration F HPJE from Paris to Los Angeles suffered an in flight failure of the 4 engine when the main fan and engine inlet separated from the main engine assembly The plane was diverted to CFB Goose Bay where it made an emergency landing The plane landed safely and no passengers or crew were harmed Passengers reported a loud thud followed by vibrations The runway the plane landed on had to be cleaned after landing because debris from the engine had littered the runway Passengers had to stay onboard because Goose Bay did not have air stairs large enough to accommodate the large aircraft Air France dispatched two Boeing 777 300 from Montreal continuing to take the passengers to Los Angeles 47 On 14 December 2022 a Piper PA 46 from Sept Iles to Nuuk crashed 5km west of the airport on approach to runway 08 48 Historic place EditHangar 8 at CFB Goose Bay was designated as a Canadian historic place in 2004 49 See also Edit Canada portal War portalGoose Otter Creek Water Aerodrome List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor SquadronsNotes Edit The thirteen million hectare 130 000 km bombing range is larger than Iceland Portugal Serbia Austria the Czech Republic Ireland Slovakia the Netherlands Denmark Switzerland Belgium see List of countries and dependencies by area References Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency British take their leave from Goose Bay CBC News 31 March 2005 Retrieved 12 January 2013 5 Wing Goose Bay Canadian Royal Canadian Air Force 10 April 2013 Retrieved 1 June 2015 A World of Opportunities in Canada s Bright Light of the North Business in Focus Businessinfocusmagazine com Retrieved 20 October 2018 a b c d e f Force Government of Canada National Defence Royal Canadian Air 21 October 2016 History 5 Wing Goose Bay Royal Canadian Air Force Rcaf arc forces gc ca Retrieved 20 October 2018 Hansen 195 7 Carr 84 85 Carr 111 Christie 129 Staff Writer c 1942 p 5 Military Presence in Labrador Archived from the original on 16 November 2007 Strategic Air Command Bases Strategic air command com Clearwater John 1998 Canadian Nuclear Weapons The Untold Story Dundurn Press Ltd p 18 Seaward DND Larry D January 1999 Preliminary Information Sheets Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Norris Robert S Arkin William M Burr William November December 1999 Where they were PDF The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 55 6 26 35 Bibcode 1999BuAtS 55f 26N doi 10 1080 00963402 1999 11460389 Seaward DND Larry D 21 January 1999 Preliminary Information Sheets Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office NATO s Invasion Air Combat Training and its Impact on the Innu culturalsurvival org December 1986 When Outrage Is A Scarce Commodity Low flying Maneuvers over Innu lands in Labrador culturalsurvival org December 2000 Gaudi John 14 December 2019 New children s book is based on Innu protests of low level flying in Labrador CBC News Swardson Anne 17 March 1994 Indians in Labrador Press for End to Low Level Flight Training Washington Post Retrieved 27 November 2020 Shuttle Enterprise begins international tour UPI 16 May 1983 McKay James R 16 April 2012 CFB Goose Bay and Operation Desert Shield Canadian Military History Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies Wilfrid Laurier University 14 3 71 80 Air Force Public Affairs Department of National Defence 15 June 2007 444 Squadron History Archived from the original on 26 January 2007 Retrieved 29 October 2007 AEROWARE RCAF com n d No 444 Squadron Archived from the original on 13 October 2007 Retrieved 29 October 2007 To Cope with Flying Restrictions German Pilots Turn to Simulators Defense Industry Daily 4 February 2010 Retrieved 25 August 2011 U S missile company scouts Labrador CBC News 22 April 2005 CBC ca Labrador Morning Show A tour of the New Airport in Happy Valley Goose Bay Part 1 cbc ca 12 April 2013 Retrieved 1 June 2015 Strong jet stream forcing airliners to make Labrador retrievals thestar com 14 January 2015 Retrieved 1 June 2015 Churchill Duke Laura 20 September 2019 Hopedale woman circulating petition calling for the province to subsidize flights to northern Labrador Saltwire Retrieved 23 July 2021 Air Canada Affirms Market Leadership by Expanding its North American Network this Summer as Recovery Accelerates Feb 22 2022 aircanada mediaroom com Air Labrador Route Map Archived from the original on 2 March 2017 Retrieved 1 March 2017 Trans Canada Air Lines Eastbound flights Trans Canada Air Lines Westbound flights Trans Canada Air Lines Quick Reference Schedule YYR81p1 Departedflights com YUL89p1 Departedflights com Mullin Malone 12 January 2021 Air Canada cuts all service in Labrador St John s to Toronto route axed CBC News Retrieved 12 January 2021 a b Force Government of Canada National Defence Royal Canadian Air 10 April 2013 5 Wing Goose Bay Royal Canadian Air Force Rcaf arc forces gc ca Retrieved 20 October 2018 Force Government of Canada National Defence Royal Canadian Air 30 April 2013 444 Combat Support Squadron 5 Wing Royal Canadian Air Force Rcaf arc forces gc ca Retrieved 20 October 2018 Ranter Harro Goose Bay Airport NL profile Aviation Safety Network Aviation safety net Retrieved 28 July 2022 Newfoundland amp Labrador Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives Baaa acro com Retrieved 28 July 2022 A West German air force team has flown into Upi com Retrieved 28 July 2022 C GUBD with Goose Bay Air Service Dhc 2 com Retrieved 28 July 2022 Ranter Harro Accident General Dynamics F 16A Fighting Falcon J 358 10 May 1990 Aviation safety net Retrieved 28 July 2022 German Jet Fighters Crash Apnews com Retrieved 28 July 2022 Airframe Details for F 16 78 0228 F 16 net Retrieved 28 July 2022 Small in stature but larger than life Father remembers helicopter crash victim 20 years later CBC News Retrieved 28 July 2022 Wang Vivian 30 September 2017 Engine Explodes on an Air France Plane Forcing an Emergency Landing The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 1 October 2017 https www cbc ca news canada newfoundland labrador central labrador plane crash 1 6685457 HistoricPlaces ca HistoricPlaces ca Historicplaces ca Retrieved 20 October 2018 A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 by Lloyd H Cornett and Mildred W Johnson Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson Air Force Base Colorado Winkler David F 1997 Searching the skies the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command Information for Melville AS Goose Bay NL Carr William G Checkmate in the North MacMillan Toronto 1944 Christie Carl A Ocean Bridge University of Toronto Press 1995 Hansen Chris Enfant Terrible The Times and Schemes of General Elliott Roosevelt Able Baker Tucson 2012 Carr William G Checkmate in the North 1944 Staff writer c 1942 Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol 1 Royal Canadian Air Force External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to CFB Goose Bay Past three hours METARs SPECI and current TAFs for CFB Goose Bay from Nav Canada as available CFB Goose Bay 5 Wing Goose Bay official site The MFRC Flyer CFB Goose Bay newspaper Canada s Historic Places Royal Canadian Air Force Hangar 8 CFB Goose Bay Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CFB Goose Bay amp oldid 1128877223, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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