Op Leapfrog : an air bridge to Europe

With the advent of the Cold War, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) developed a vast network of air bases to protect Canadian territory. It also looks towards the West to provide protection to European territory.

Indeed, the 1st Air Division was created in 1951 to monitor Soviet expansion in Europe as part of its commitments within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The ARC then embarked on a daring undertaking: transporting a powerful air force across the Atlantic to support its allies. Operation LEAP FROG took shape in a series of transatlantic deployments between 1952 and 1953.

Op

LEAP

FROG

took place in four distinct phases, each transporting squadrons of F-86 Saber fighter jets to Europe:

Leap Frog (May-June 1952): The 439th and 441st Squadrons lay the foundations of the 1st Canadian Wing at Marville (France), marking the beginning of Canada's air presence in Europe;

ILeap Frog II (SeptemberOctober 1952): The 416th, 421st and 430th Squadrons reinforce Canadian air power, forming the 2nd Wing at Grostenquin (France);

Leap Frog III (March 1953): The 413th, 427th and 434th Squadrons complete the 3rd Canadian Wing in Zweibrücken (Germany);

Leap Frog IV (AugustSeptember 1953): This time, it was the 414th, 422nd and 444th Squadrons which consolidated Canada's contribution to the defense of the European skies from BadenSoellingen (Germany).

In 1969, the 1st Air Division became the 1st Canadian Air Group, based in Lahr, West Germany. Despite the reorganizations, the commitment to democratic defense in Europe continues. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Canada maintained its responsibilities, but announced its withdrawal in 1993. à

The complete end of European operations in 1994 marked the end of an era for the ARC.