Canadian Warplanes 6: Avro CF-100 Canuck

Avro CF-100 Canuck

(DND Archives Photo, PC-1089)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18423), and Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18470).  These aircraft are armed with rocket pods instead of wing tip tanks.

Avro CF-100 Canuck

The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the "Clunk") was a Canadian jet interceptor/fighter in service during the Cold War both in NATO bases in Europe and as part of NORAD.  The CF-100 was the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production, serving primarily with the RCAF and the Canadian Armed Forces, and also in small numbers in Belgium.  For its day, the CF-100 featured a short takeoff run and high climb rate, making it well suited to its role as an interceptor.

Production consisted of 5 pre-production CF-100 Mk. 2 aircraft, 74 machine gun armed CF-100 Mk. 3 aircraft, 280 CF-100 Mk. 4 aircraft armed with both machine guns and rocket pods, and 331 CF-100 Mk. 5 aircraft armed only with rocket pods. (Wikipedia)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1, (2 prototypes built), (Serial Nos. 18101-18102), Mk. 2, (10 built), (Serial Nos. 18103-18112), Mk. 3, (70 built), Serial Nos. 18113-18182), Mk. 4A, (137 built), (Serial Nos. 18183-18319), Mk. 4B, (144 built), (Serial Nos. 18320-18463), Mk. 5 (329 built), (Serial Nos. 18464-18792), for a total number of 692 built.

Detailed records of all known RCAF and Allied aircraft flown by Canadians may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The CASPIR website is researched, coded, and maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years, and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history. The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here for the CF-100 records.

Squadron Name Code Call Sign Locations

No. 409 Nighthawk Squadron, coded LP, Call Sign Cudgel, Hotel Golf. Based at RCAF Station Comox, British Columbia.
No. 410 Cougar Squadron, coded AN, Call Sign Hamlet. Based at RCAF Station Uplands,Ontario.
No. 413 Tusker Squadron, coded AP, Call Sign Jumbo. Based at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec.
No. 414 Black Knight Squadron, coded AQ, Call Sign Halfback, Yogi (1975-81). Based at RCAF Station North Bay, Ontario, and RCAF Station Comox, British Columbia.
No. 416 Lynx Squadron, coded AS, Call Sign Punchbowl. Based at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec. Note: the AS  code was never carried on CF-100's.
No. 419 Moose Squadron, coded UD, Call Sign Chopstick, based at RCAF Station North Bay, Ontario, and RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen, Germany.
No. 423 Eagle Squadron, coded NQ, Call Sign Handcuff. Based at RCAF Station St.Hubert, Quebec, and RCAF Station Grostenquin, France
No. 425 Aloutte Squadron, coded BB, Call Sign Frogman, Blacksheep. Based at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec. Note: the code BB was never carried on CF-100's.
No. 428 Ghost Squadron, coded HG, Call Sign Davenport. Based at RCAF Station Ottawa, Ontario
No. 432 Black Squadron, coded DL, Call Sign Rhino. Based at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec.
No. 433 Porcupine Squadron, coded FG, Call Sign Gigolo. Based at RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta, and RCAF Station North Bay, Ontario.
No. 440 Bat Squadron, coded KE, Call Sign Rhubarb. Based at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, and No. 3 (F) Wing , RCAF Station Zweibrucken, Germany 15 Jun 62-31 Dec 1962. Also No. 4 (F) Wing, RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen, Germany.
No. 445 Wolverine Squadron, coded SA, Call Sign Ukulele, Dalton. Based at RCAF Station North Bay, Ontario,  1 April 1953, based at RCAF StationUplands, Ontario,1 Sept 1953, and RCAF Station Marville, France.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 2T (Serial No. 18105), coded F-BR, No. 434 Squadron.  Flown as a development aircraft for the Mk. 2T, from Malton, in the early 1950s.  JATO trials in Aug 1952, at RCAF Station Uplands, Ontario.  Used by Central Experimental and Proving Establishment for autopilot trials from Dec 1952.  Included tests done at the autopilot manufacturer, in Minneapolis, Minnisota.  Used for bombing trials in 1953 and 1954.  By this time, aircraft was roughly to Mk. 3 standards, but was never officially redesignated.  18105 was damaged during these trials on 23 Sep 1953, when its canopy blew off during a high G turn with four 1,000 pound bombs.

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           The CF-100 was the first military jet fighter wholly designed and built in Canada.  This two-seat all-weather jet interceptor weighs roughly 17 tons and is powered by two Canadian-built Orenda jet engines.  It had a top speed of 650 mph and a range of 1,000 miles. The Mk. 1 was equipped with Rolls-Royce Avon engines.  The Mk. 2 had Avro Orenda 2 engines.  The Mk. 3 had Avro Orenda 8 engines.  The Mk. 4A had Avro Orenda 9 engines.  The Mk. 4B was equipped with Avro Orenda 11 engines.  The Mk. 5 was also equipped with Avro Orenda 11 engines.  The Canuck was the first straight-winged aircraft to reach Mach 1 without the aid of rocket power.

           The CF-100 was an interceptor as opposed to a fighter.  It lacked the daylight air-fighting capability of its contemporary, the Canadair CL-13 Sabre, but made up for this shortfall with its foul weather and high altitude capabilities.  The aircraft was taken on strength (TOS) in June 1951 and remained in service for thirty years.  The CF-100 was originally used for the defence of northern Canada, but was eventually employed by 1 Canadian Air Division in France and Germany.  When it was superseded in its interceptor role, many CF-100s were fitted with powerful electronic countermeasure (ECM) equipment.  These aircraft were among the few in the world capable of carrying out “barrage” jamming, completely blanking-out the “scopes” on a defensive radar site.  The CF-100 was retired in December 1981, and was replaced by the Voodoo.  The Canuck was Canada’s greatest indigenous military aviation success.

           The Canuck (affectionately known as the Clunk), was the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass-production.  The CF-100 is not considered to be truly supersonic since it could not exceed the speed of sound in level flight.  However, on 18 December 1952, S/L Janusz Zurakowski, the Avro company chief development test pilot, broke the sound barrier flying the CF-100 Mk 4 prototype in a dive from 30,000 feet.  For details of S/L Janusz Zurakowski’s flying history, see CWS.

           In the early 1950s, Canada needed an interceptor (fighter) able to patrol the vast areas of Canada’s north and operate in all weather conditions.  The two-seat fighter crewed by a pilot and navigator, was designed with two powerful engines and an advanced radar and fire control system housed in its nose that enabled it to fly in all-weather or night conditions.  For its day, the CF-100 featured a short takeoff run and high climb rate, making it well suited to its role as an interceptor.

           Design of the XC-100 to meet an RCAF specification for an all-weather fighter was initiated at Avro Canada in October 1946.  Chief Engineer Edgar Atkin’s work on the CF-100 was subsequently passed to John Frost formerly of de Havilland who, along with Avro’s Chief Aerodynamicist Jim Chamberlin, reworked the original fuselage design.

(Avro Canada Photos)

Avro CF-100 Mk. 1 prototype (Serial No. 18101), with S/L Bill Waterton, the test pilot, at Malton airport, Ontario, 11 March 1950.

           The CF-100 Mk. 1 prototype (Serial No. 18101), emerged out of the factory, painted gloss black overall with white lightning bolts running down the fuselage and engines.  The CF-100 prototype flew its maiden flight on 19 January 1950 with Gloster Aircraft Company Chief Pilot S/L Bill Waterton at the controls.  Waterton was on loan from the Gloster firm, another member of the Hawker Siddeley Group.  The Mark 1 was powered by two Avon RA 3 turbojets with 28.9 kN (2,950 kgp/6,500 lbf) thrust each.

           The second prototype (Serial No. 18102), was also powered by Rolls-Royce Avons, although subsequent pre-production and production series aircraft used the Avro Orenda turbojet.  Five pre-production Mk. 2 test aircraft were produced (Serial Nos. 18103-18107), all fitted with the Orenda 2 jet engines; one was fitted with dual controls and designated a Mk. 2T trainer.  The first production version, designated Mk. 3, incorporated the APG-33 radar and was armed with eight 0.5 inch machine-guns.  The Mk. 3CT and Mk. 3DT were again dual control versions supplied to operational training units.

           In September 1950, the RCAF ordered 124 examples of the Mk. 3 version; the first of these entering RCAF service in 1953.  These were armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns.  The definitive version rocket-armed Mk. 4A was based on prototype Mk. 4 (a modified Mk 3) first flying on 11 October 1952.  The nose housed the much larger APG-40 radar with wingtip pods each containing up to 30 Mighty Mouse FFAR (folding fin aerial rockets) in addition to the guns.  As the last 54 of an order for the Mk 3 were changed into the Mk. 4 in 1954, total orders for the Mk.4 rose to 510.  The Mk. 4B version had more powerful Orenda 11 engines.

           Five versions, or “marks”, were produced, ending, from 1955 onwards, with the high-altitude Mk. 5 that featured a 1.06m (3 ft. 6 in.) extended wingtip and enlarged tailplane, along with removal of the machine guns.  The proposed Mk. 6 was to have mounted Sparrow II missiles and been powered by afterburning Orenda 11IR engines in an effort to provide an “interim” fighter prior to the introduction of the Avro CF-105.  A projected transonic swept-wing CF-103 was built in mock-up form in 1951, but was considered obsolescent even before the CF-100’s demonstrated ability to exceed the speed of sound in a dive.

           The Canuck was affectionately known in the RCAF as the “Clunk” because of the noise the front landing gear made as it retracted into its well after takeoff.  Its less-attractive nickname was the “Lead Sled”, a reference to its heavy controls and general lack of manoeuvrability, a nickname it shared with a number of other 1950s aircraft.  Others included CF-Zero, the Zilch, the Beast, all references to an aircraft many pilots considered less glamorous than day fighters like the CL-13 Sabre.

           The aircraft operated under the US/Canadian North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) to protect North American airspace from Soviet intruders such as nuclear-armed bombers.  Additionally, as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), four Canuck squadrons were based in Europe with 1 Canadian Air Division from 1956–1962, and were for some time the only NATO fighters capable of operating in zero visibility and poor weather conditions.

           The CF-100 served with nine RCAF squadrons at its peak in the mid-1950s. Four of these squadrons were deployed to Europe from late 1956–1962 under the NIMBLE BAT ferry program, replacing NATO RCAF squadrons equipped with Canadair CL-13 Sabre day fighters to provide all-weather defence against Soviet intruders.  Canucks flying at home retained natural metal finish, but those flying overseas were given a British-style disruptive camouflage scheme- dark sea grey and green on top, light sea grey on the bottom.

           During his Avro Canada years, the Chief Development Pilot, S/L Janusz Zurakowski, continued to fly as an aerobatic display pilot, with spectacular results, especially at the 1955 Farnborough Airshow in the UK, where he displayed the CF-100 in a “falling-leaf.”  He was acclaimed again as the “Great Zura” by many aviation and industry observers who could not believe a large, all-weather fighter could be put through its paces so spectacularly.  His performance led to Belgium purchasing the CF-100.

           In its lifetime, a total of 692 CF-100s of different variants were produced, of which 53 aircraft were delivered to the Belgian Air Force.  Although originally designed for only 2,000 hours, it was found that the Canuck’s airframe could serve for over 20,000 hours before retirement.  Consequently, though it was replaced in its front line role by the McDonnell CF-101B Voodoo, the Canuck served with 414 Squadron of the Canadian Forces at CFB North Bay, Ontario, until 1981, in reconnaissance, training and electronic warfare roles.

(Avro Photo)

After the CF-100 was retired, a number of aircraft were preserved across Canada, in the USA and overseas, as static displays.  Its planned successor, the CF-105 Arrow along with the sophisticated Orenda Iroquois engine, both Canadian-designed, was cancelled in 1959 in a controversial decision by the Canadian government.

(Avro Photo)

Avro CF-105 Arrow (Serial No. 201), coded RL.

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(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1 (Serial No. 18101), coded FB-D.  First prototype Canuck, powered with Avon engines.  In overall black finish for intitial tests.  To Central Experimental and Proving Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, for initial RCAF trials winter of 1950-1951.  To Wright Field, Ohio for USAF evaluation in November 1950.  Tested without canopy during flight number 126, in mid 1952.  Formally taken on charge by RCAF on 3 Sep 1952, immediately loaned to Avro Canada.  Wing tip pod cone jettisoning trials in December 1952, photographed from the Avro Jetliner.  Used by Avro Canada for rocket trials at Point Petre Range in 1953.  First Canuck wing tip rockets fired there on 27 Jan 1953, by Avro Canada pilot Peter Cope.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4047130)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1 (Serial No. 18101), coded FB-D, first prototype.  RCAF personnel with A/M Curtis, MND Claxton and test pilot Squadron Leader Bill Waterton.  This aircraft emerged from the factory, painted gloss black overall with white lightning bolts running down the fuselage and engines.  The CF-100 prototype flew its maiden flight on 19 Jan 1950 with Gloster Aircraft Company Chief Test Pilot Squadron Leader Bill Waterton at the controls.  18101 flew for 40 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 5000 feet and achieved a maximum speed of 215 mph.  The Canuck's speed was limited as the landing gear failed to retract.

(Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1 (Serial No. 18102), coded FB-K.  This was the second prototype Canuck, dressed in the same black paint scheme as 18101 for early trials.  First flown in July 1950, it was also fitted with Avon engines.  19102 went to the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, for initial RCAF trials from October 1950.  A speed of Mach 0.848 in a dive was achieved in early trials.  18102 was fitted with a nose-mounted pitot tube for early company trials.  It crashed on 5 Apr 1951 into Komoka Bog, west of London, Ontario, the first Canuck loss and first fatal one.  The probable cause was a failure of the pilot's oxygen system.  It was formally taken on charge by RCAF on 23 Jun 1951, and struck off  charge on the same day.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1 (Serial No. 18102), coded FB-K, second prototype.

(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1 (Serial No. 18102), coded FB-K, second prototype, alongside a USAF North American F-86 Sabre, (Serial No. 47-616), coded FU-616.

(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 1 (Serial No. 18102), coded FB-K in flight.  This prototype is equipped with wing tip tanks that have stabilizing fins facing out. This was the second prototype built and first flew in July of 1950.  It was fitted with wing tip tanks to help increase range.  However, once fitted, it caused instability due to the excessive torsional loads during some maneuvers.  The solution was to add a stabilizing fin to the rear of the tank, which actually resulted in the aircraft being more stable than without tanks.  The first prototype CF-100 had a long life, and was later updated and put into military service where it served until 1965.  Conversely, the second prototype had a short life.  It crashed without warning on June 23rd 1951, killing both crew members, while practicing long range flying at high altitude.  There was no fault found with the aircraft and the cause of the crash was believed to be due to oxygen failure, as no attempt was made for the crew to bail out.  Nevertheless, the prototype aircraft proved to meet the specifications set out by the RCAF and the CF-100 deemed a capable performer.  It had an excellent climb rate, being able to reach 40,000 feet in 2/3s the time of a Gloster Meteor, and it set an intercity speed record between Toronto and Montreal.

In early 1950 the conflict in Korea was becoming more serious, so the RCAF increased the order of CF-100s from 12 to 124 aircraft.  This order ended up being the final nail in the coffin for the C-102 Avro Jetliner, as the Government requested that Avro concentrate on the CF-100 and Orenda engine production.

(DND Photo via Chris Charland)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3 (Serial No. 18125), coded JF, No. 3 All-Weather (AW) Operational Training Unit (OTU) based at RCAF Station North Bay and later RCAF. Station Cold Lake, Alberta.  This aircraft was later converted to a dual Mk. 3D.  It was struck off strength at RCAF Station Lincoln Park on 3 August, 1960.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3A (Serial No. 18125), coded JF, No. 3 OTU.  Operated by No. 3 AW(F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station North Bay, Ontario, in 1955.  Converted to Mk. 3T, and then Mk. 3D.

(RCAF Photo)

The Avro CF-100 Mk 3T (Serial No. ), coded JF-R, was a two-seat, all-weather interceptor aircraft designed and built by Avro Canada. It was a variant of the CF-100 Canuck, also known as the "Clunk", which was the first and only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production.The "T" in Mk 3T likely refers to the training role, as the Mk 3 was used for both operational and training purposes.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

A rocket pod being installed on the left wing tip of an RCAF Avro CF-100 Canuck.

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3, head on, showing its eight .50 calibre gun pack under the nose.  It carried 1600 rounds of ammunition.

(RCAF Photo via Luc Dubé)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 2T, coded BH, No. 430 Squadron, jet-assisted take-off (JATO).

(NAFMC Photo, 2017.77.41)

CF-100 Canuck at take-off. Piloted by Jan Zurakowski, the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck becomes the first straight-winged aircraft to exceed Mach 1 (in a dive from 30,000 ft) on 18 Dec 1952.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro  CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3, top view.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3B (Serial No. 18157).  With No. 3 F (AW) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station North Bay, Ontario at time of crash.  Crashed on night landing, 21 Apr 1954 at North Bay.  Official cause was originally "pilot disorientation".  Later determined to be a flap fitting failure, resulting in flaps blowing up in flight, based on similar subsequent incidents, and further examination of saved wreckage.

(DND Photo via Chris Charland)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4 (Serial No. 18112), coded FB-S, from the Central Experimental & Proving Establishment (CEPE), RCAF Station Uplands, Ontario.

RCAF test and development work was carried out at Ottawa Air Station (Rockcliffe and Shirley's Bay) where, eventually, a special flight was formed for this purpose. The outbreak of the Second World War greatly increased the demands for test flying for research and experiment, and, as a result, the flight was expanded into the Test and Development Establishment in Nov 1940.  Six years later its name was changed to the Experimental and Proving Establishment (EPE).  On 1 Sep 1951 the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment (CEPE) was formed by the amalgamation of the EPE at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, the Winter Experimental Establishment (WEE) at Edmonton, Alberta, and the RCAF (National Research Council) Unit at Arnprior, Ontario.  Headquarters CEPE was located at Rockcliffe, with detachments at several sites across Canada.  In 1957 CEPE was moved to RCAF Station Uplands, a move necessitated by the longer runways required for testing new jet aircraft.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4A (Serial No. 18300).  Flown by Avro Canada for several development programs.  Performed spinning trials in May 1955.  Trials for High Altitude Version, which lead to the Mk. 5, and used for trial installations of Sparrow missiles.  Fired first Sparrow from a Canuck on 31 Jul 1957.

(Avro Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4A (Serial No. 18300).  

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18300), armed with Sparrow air-to-air missiles.

(DND Image Library Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5, RCAF (Serial No. 18300) with Sparrow missiles.

(DND Image Library Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck, RCAF, with Sparrow missile.

(DND Image Library Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck, RCAF, with Sparrow missile.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5, RCAF (Serial No. 18323), fitted with dummy Sparrow AAMs for trials.  This Canuck was also flown in trials for a High Altitude Version, with Central Experimental and Proving Establishment in December 1955, flown by Paul Hartmann.  The trial led to the development of the Mk. 5.  As shown here, it was flown by Avro Canada for early Sparrow missile trials in aerodynamic tests with 4 dummy Sparrows fitted.  It was later flown in afterburner trials.  It has also been reported as being a Mk. 5/6, probably as a result of developmental modifications.

(Avro Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5, RCAF (Serial No. 18323).

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18323), armed with Sparrow air-to-air missiles.

(22 Wing Heritage Office Archives Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4A, RCAF (Serial No. 18311), coded JF, No. 3 AW (F) OTU (All-Weather Fighter Operational Training Unit), RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta.  In 1953 this unit adopted the nickname "Night Witches", suggested by the wife of the unit's Engineering Officer, and the orange and black logo seen on the nose, denoting its all-weather day-or-night operations.

(Joint Imagery Centre Photo, PL-82750)

Avro CF-100 Canuck (Serial No. 18101), at 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin, France.  This Canuck took part in the 1955 Farnborough Airshow in the UK.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18330).

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18409), being lifted by a 30-ton crane.  This aircraft flew with No. 423, No. 433 and No. 440 Squadrons. This crane was the largest vehicle in use by 1 Canadian Air Division at that time.

Have to share: Chris claims this was just an experimental device to check the ability of 'zero length' launching of CF-100's in remote areas. The crane would drive around in a circle at a high rate of speed while slowly letting out more cable as the CF-100 swung around. At a certain speed and with sufficient centrifugal force it would be released on a specified heading and off it went to its target. Unfortunately, it did not work out too well for the RCAF. The pilots reported a high incidence of vertigo before launching. (Chris Charland)

(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18450), No. 440 Squadron, firing a full combat load of rockets over the Decimomannu, Sardinia range.

(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18556), coded HY, firing six rockets from 3-tube practice launchers.  This was during the first annual ADC rocket meet, Cold Lake, Alberta, September 1957.

(DND Photo)

LAC Jack Studds and Cpl Arneil remove the starboard 3-tube rocket launcher on a CF-100 with No. 419 Squadron.

(DND Photo)

LAC Ron Maddack of the 4 (F) Wing Photo Section removing movie film from an N9 wing camera for immediate processing and assessment.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18748), coded AN, No. 410 Squadron, on the flight line at Uplands, Ontario.  18748 flew with No. 410 Squadron at RCAF Station Uplands, Ontario in 1959.  It was taken on strength by the Canadian Armed Forces on 1 Feb 1968, but retained its original RCAF serial number.

(DND Image Library Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D, RCAF (Serial No. 18473), over Niagara Falls.  No. 423 "Eagle" AW (F) Squadron based at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec. This Canuck also served with No. 419 and No. 440 Squadrons.  It was converted to a Mk. 5C ECM trainer at Malton, Ontario by de Havilland Canada in 1964.  It served with the Electronic Warfare Unit and No. 414 (EW) Squadron at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec in the 1960s.  It was taken on charge by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on 1 Feb 1968, but retained its RCAF serial number.  It was being flown with No. 414 Squadron when it crashed into farm house near St. John, Quebec on 20 Aug 1968.

(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18539), coded DL, No. 432 Squadron, over RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, 16 Aug 1957.  With No. 413 Squadron from RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, when it was detached to Sept-Isles, Quebec on 13 and 14 Oct 1961 for Exercise Sky Shield.  Also with No. 416 Squadron, dates unknown.  Arrived at Hamilton, Ontario by rail car for scrapping on 27 Oct 1963.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18551) coded AN, No. 410 Squadron, with a Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, USAF (Serial No. 56-1300).

(DND Archives Photo, RNC-1155-2)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18525), No. 428 Squadron.

(DND Photo)

Rocket pods being prepared for loading on Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5s, No. 428 Squadron, RCAF Station Uplands, Ontario, 16 March 1960.

In the early 1950s the Cold War was in full swing, and Canadian Forces bases across Canada were outfitted with hangers suitable for fighter-interceptor aircraft to be stationed, on alert, with their air crews standing by to hop in and take off in minutes.  Nearby to these Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) hangers were munitions storage facilities.  What kind of facility was dictated by what kind of ammunition would be stored.  Both conventional ammunition storage facilities and Special Ammunition Storage (SAS) facilities (for the AIR-2 Genie nuclear air-to-air missile (rocket)) were built.  The AIR-2 Genie does not appear to have been stored at CFB Uplands, since the nearby munitions storage facility was not designed to store nuclear ammunition.  No. 410 Squadron and No. 428 Squadron were based out of Uplands, flying the CF-100 Canuck then CF-101 Voodoo, were retired in 1961 and 1964, before the AIR-2 Genie was delivered in 1965.  (Steffan Watkins)

(DND Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18593) and (Serial No. 18539), coded DL, No. 432 Squadron, RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, 16 Aug 1957.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18343), coded DL, No. 432 Squadron, on the line at RCAF Station Hamilton, Ontario,  in preparation for the fly-past at the Canadian International Air Show.  Viewed from under another aircraft of No. 432 Black Cougar CF-100 Squadron from RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. Saturday, 4 June 1955.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18724), RCAF Station St-Hubert, on a "Saturday Alert," Wing Commander W. L. Smokey Drake's dog Friday, 1958.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18727), St Hubert, Québec.  18727 carried its RCAF number for testing and ferry flight.  Accepted by Belgium on 14 April 1958.  To Belgium AF as (Serial No. AX-43).  Sold for scrap, late 1963 or earlier.

(DND Photos via Doug Jermyn)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18760) flight testing a JT15D jet pod slung under the left side of the fuselage.  18760 flew with No. 433 Squadron, from 25 July 1958.  it was with this unit when its left main gear collapsed on landing at North Bay, Ontario ca Mar 1959.  It also flew with No. 410 Squadron, dates unknown.  To storage at No. 10 Repair Depot, Lethbridge, Alberta on 17 May 1961.  To No. 3 AW (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, in Aug 1962.  To storage at No. 6 Repair Depot, Trenton in June 1963.  Served with No. 414 Squadron, dates unknown.  Leased to United Aircraft Canada Ltd. 1 Sep 1967, for use as an engine test bed.  18760 had 1031.5 hours airframe time when it arrived at P&WC at St. Hubert, Quebec, on 22 Nov 1967.  It became CAF (Serial No. 100760) when renumbered.  Not actually re-marked until after 1 Nov 1970.

(Photo courtesy of Doug Jermyn)

(Pierre Gillard Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18760), (Serial No. 100760), No. 425 Squadron, previously mounted on a pylon at St. Hubert, it has been dismounted, Québec Aerospace Museum (QAM), Musée de l’aérospatiale du Québec, St. Hubert, Québec.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18760) on 23 October 1970.  Leased to United Aircraft Canada Ltd., carried small turbofans under fuselage for in flight testing, from 1967.  Returned to CAF on 31 December 1971, then back to UAC at unknown date.  Had flown 850 test hours, in over flights, by January 1981.  Most tests were with JT15D engine.  Flew last flight of a CF-100 on 28 June 1982, on engine test flight from St. Hubert, Québec.  Now on display on pedestal at St. Hubert.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4314017)

Avro CF-100 Canucks on the flight line for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, in a Cadillac El Dorado at the Ottawa airport, 12 Oct 1957.*

Avro CF-100 Canucks preserved:

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 2 (Serial No. 18103), coded JF, 3rd prototype.  Operated by No. 3 AW(F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta, in 1955.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 2 (Serial No. 18103), coded FB-J, 3rd prototype fitted with an Orenda 2 engine.  This was the only Mk. 2 that was not a dual control, all other Mk. 2s were converted to dual control trainers.  It made its first flight on 20 June 1951.  18103 is currently on display at the Canadian Air Land Sea Museum, Markham, Ontario.

(Alain Rioux Photo)

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 2T, RCAF (Serial No. 18104), CF (Serial No. A611). First CF-100 formally accepted by the RCAF. Pre-production coded VC-FBF, 1951 : CEPE as “FB-F“. used as a ground trainer CF (Serial No. A611), 4/28/1955 : Withdrawn from use, struck off charge 11/6/1974,

Currently preserved on a pedestal next to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Airport (CYJN), Québec.

(Author Photos)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D, RCAF (Serial No. 18746), CF (Serial No. A611), opposite the parade square, Royal Military College Saint-Jean, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec.

(Andre Blanchard Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 2T, RCAF (Serial No. 18106), CF (Serial No. A615), pre-production coded VC-FBK, Military Memorial Museum, Campbellford, Ontario.  Previously located at Centralia, Lambeth and Carlow, Ontario. 18106 was used as development aircraft for the Mk. 2T, flying out of Malton in the early 1950s. It later became Instructional airframe A 615, later B615. It was taken on strength by the Canadian Armed Forces on 1 Feb 1968, but retained its RCAF serial number. It was initially preserved and displayed at Lambeth, Ontario. It has moved several times and has been stored outdoors at the MMM in Campbellford, since August 2009, marked as B615. The tip tanks have been removed. It is still there in 2023. A number of museums have been investigating its acquisition, and a number aircraft that were with this museum have already been moved, including the Canso, which went to the CWHM in 2010.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3D (Serial No. 18126), coded KE, No. 440 Squadron, painted as a prototype.  The Hangar Flight Museum, Calgary, Alberta.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3D, RCAF (Serial No. 18138), c/n 038, built in 1953, with wings and fuselage from Mk. 5C (Serial No. 18766) and (Serial No. 18791), No. 445 Squadron.  18138 was one of 56 converted in 1955 from Mk. 3B to Mk 3D dual trainers.  It saw service with No. 440 Sqn, Bagotville, Quebec, No. 445 Sqn, Uplands, Ontario, and with No. 3 AW(F) OTU at North Bay, Ontario.  18138 was struck off strength (SOS) from the RCAF in May of 1963, and used at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Aviation Campus at the Vancouver International Airport for training of aircraft maintenance students.  It came to the Canadian Museum of Flight, Langley, British Columbia, in 1987.

(5of7 Photo)

(Bernard Spragg Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 3D (Serial No. 18152), coded JF-152, No. 3 Operational Training Unit (OTU), mounted on a pylon, Bomber Command Museum of Canada, Nanton, Alberta.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4A (Serial No. 18194), coded HG, No. 428 Squadron, CAF (Serial No. 646B).  This aircraft was previously used as a training frame for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear School.  Base Borden Military Museum, CFB Borden, Ontario.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18434) at Ancienne Lorrette, Quebec, with specially modified white tip pods that contain IR detection equipment and cameras.  Mountain View, Ontario, placed in storage for the CA&SM.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18439) refuelling from a Lockheed KC-97 Tanker from USAF's Strategic Air Command. The tanker was used to supply jet fuel for the Canadians staging through Brazil on their way to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

(DND Image Library Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D, RCAF (Serial No. 18472),  (Serial No. 100472), firing rockets.  The Mk. 5 nose cone enclosed a Hughes MG-2 fire control system and APG-40 radar.  In addition to the eight 50 caliber machine guns, the Mk. 4’s were armed with wing tip mounted rocket pods.  These pods contained fifty-eight 70-mm (2.74 in) diameter unguided folding-fin aerial rockets (FFARs), also known as Mighty Mouse rockets.  The FFARs proved to be significantly more potent at destroying a large bomber, but were also known to be inaccurate and unpredictable.

(Imer Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18472), (Serial No. 100472), painted as KE-437 (Serial No. 18437), No. 440 Squadron, on the port side, painted as DL-742 (Serial No. 18741), No. 432 Squadron, on the starboard side, mounted on a pylon.  Air Defence Museum, 3 Wing, CFB Bagotville, Québec.  This aircraft was renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18472) on 23 October 1970.  Served with No. 414 (EW) Squadron at CFB North Bay, Ontario.  Last flight was on 10 November 1981, when it was flown from North Bay to Bagotville.  Displayed at CFB Bagotville, Québec, in RCAF markings.  Carried incorrect RCAF serials 18431 and 18741 for a period while on display.  Air Defence Museum of Bagotville (BADM), Le Musée de la défense aérienne de Bagotville (MDAB) Alouette, Québec.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18476), (Serial No. 100476), No. 440 Squadron, Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton, Alberta.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18476).  Flown with No. 414 (EW) Squadron at CFB North Bay, Ontario. Operational as late as January 1980.  Last flight on 22 January 1982, when it was delivered from North Bay to Edmonton.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5C (Serial No. 18488), No. 428 Squadron, mounted on a pylon in Centennial Park, on Highway 2, at the West end of the city, Moncton, New Brunswick.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4118640)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18493), (Serial No. 100493), after it overshot the runway, 31 Dec 1973.  100493 was flown by the Electronic Warfare Unit based at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec.  It went into storage at CFD Mountainview, Ontario in 1980.  It was reported to have 5244 hours airframe time when stored. 100493 was used in the training film, "A Man for All Occurrences".

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18498) taking off.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18660) with the CEPE crest over a day-glo stripe.

(Author Photo)

(Balcer Photos)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18493), (Serial No. 100493), Base Borden Military Museum, 16 Wing, CFB Borden, Ontario.

(Bill Cumming Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18500), (Serial No. 100500), No. 414 Squadron, mounted on a pylon, 22 Wing, CFB North Bay, Ontario.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18500) on 23 October 1970.  Flew with No. 414 (EW) Squadron, at CFB North Bay, Ontario.  Flown by Major P. Growen on 10 October 1980, when he reached 3,000 hours on type.  Last flight was on 27 July 1981.  Designated for static display at CFB North Bay.

(NHL4Hamilton Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5C (Serial No. 18506), (Serial No. 100506), No. 428 Squadron, Canadian Air Land Sea Museum, Markham, Ontario.  This aircraft was previously on display at Mount Hope, Ontario until 2012.   It was converted to Mk. 5, date unknown, possibly before delivery.  18506 flew with No. 433 Squadron, dates unknown.  With Electronic Warfare Unit at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec in the 1960s.

(Timo Explorer Photo)

(Ryan1825 Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck  Mk. 5, RCAF (Serial No. 18602), CAF (Serial No. A683), mounted on a pylon at Head Lake Park, near Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Haliburton, Ontario.

(Treknschmidt Photo)

(Bzaoral Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D, RCAF (Serial No. 18619), CAF (Serial No. A682), No. 414 Squadron, mounted on a pylon in Paul Coffey Park, Malton, Ontario.

(Timo Explorer Photo)

(Alain Rioux Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5M (Serial No. 18626), painted as (Serial No. 101028), No. 414 Squadron, mounted on a pylon in Lee Park, North Bay, Ontario.

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5M (Serial No. 186806), reported to be stored at the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington.

(Alain Rioux Photo)

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18731), (Serial No. 100731), Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario.  Previously (Serial No. 18731), parked near the Land Forces Technical Staff College.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5C (Serial No. 18746), located facing the main parade square, College Militaire Royale (CMR), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18747), (Serial No. 100747), Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum, Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Renumbered from RCAF 18747 on 23 October 1970.  Retired from Aerospace Engineering and Test Establishment in February 1973, their last Canuck.  Had been used for tests of infrared line scan equipment. To open storage at CFB Mountain View, Ontario, with only 1,275 hours hrs airframe time, early 1973.  Became Instructional Hrs airframe 792 B briefly in early 1982.  To ACAM in 1995.  On display at CFB Shearwater in April 1995.  On display at the ACAM in Halifax, NS, by 2007, marked as 18747.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18752), CAF (Serial No. 793B), 16 Wing, CFB Borden, Ontario.  Previously at CFB Uplands, Ontario.

(aeroprints Photo)

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5C/D (Serial No. 100757).  Renumbered from RCAF 18757 on 23 October 1970.  Flew with 414 (EW) Squadron, North Bay detachment. Delivered by 414 Squadron to National Aeronautical Collection, Rockcliffe on 26 October 1979.  Each engine had 1 hour left before major overhaul when delivered.  Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18759), (Serial No. 100759), No. 416 Squadron, Reynolds Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin, Alberta

(Paul Nity Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18761), No. 3 OTU, 4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18764).  This aircraft was taken on strength by the RCAF in 1958 and served with No. 416 and No. 425 Squadrons.  Royal Western Canada Aviation Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(Author Photos)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18773), CFA (Serial No. 814B), (Serial No. 100773).  This aircraft served with No. 416 Squadron at CFB Chatham, New Brunswick and with No. 425 Squadron, Bagotville, Quebec.  It was taken on strength by the Canadian Armed Forces on 1 Feb 1968 as Instructional Airframe as (Serial No. 814B).   It went into storage at CFD Mountainview, Ontario in 1980, still carrying its RCAF serial number.  It had 966 hours airframe time when stored on 12 Feb 1990.  It was preserved at CFB Trenton, Ontario, until coming to the  New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick, in 2011.  Stored in the 403 Squadron lines.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 18774), (Serial No. 100774), painted black to represent the CF-100 prototype, National Air Force Museum of Canada, 8 Wing, CFB Trenton, Ontario.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18784), (Serial No. 100784), mounted on a pylon, shown here on display at CFB Baden Soellingen, Germany, before it was brought to Winnipeg in 1993.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18784) on 23 October 1970, this aircraft was flown by No. 414 (EW) Squadron while based at CFB North Bay, Ontario in 1980.  It is painted in an approximation of No. 1 Canadian Air Division camouflage for its type before its retirement in 1981.  It was flown to CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany for display, on 17 December 1981.  This is reported to have been the last trans-Atlantic Canuck flight.  It was brought back to Canada on the closure of CFB Baden-Soellingen in 1993.  It is currently on display outside the Air Command Headquarters Museum, Air Force Heritage Museum and Airpark (AFHM&AP), 17 Wing, CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18784), (Serial No. 100784), mounted on a pylon, at Air Command Headquarters Museum, Air Force Heritage Museum and Airpark (AFHM&AP), 17 Wing, CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18785), black.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18785), on 23 October 1970.  Flew with No. 414 (EW) Squadron at CFB North Bay, Ontario.  Painted in black scheme based on original Canuck prototype scheme, for type retirement in 1981.  Delivered to CASM at Rockcliffe on 10 February 1982, last CAF Canuck flight.  On loan to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Mount Hope, Ontario.

(The A-Team Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D, RCAF (Serial No. 18790), (Serial No. 100790), No. 409 Squadron.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18790), on 23 Oct 1970.  This Canuck also flew with No. 414 Squadron, CFB North Bay, Ontario.  It had been struck off strength on 13 Oct 1981, prior to its last flight.  CAFM, CFB Comox, British Columbia.

Avro CF-100 Canuck Survivors outside of Canada:

(ZLEA Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4A (Serial No. 18241), CAF (Serial No. A631), coded HG, No. 428 Squadron, National Museum of the USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, USA.  This aircraft was previously on display at Bellville, Ontario, before being moved to the NMUSAF in 1999.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5D (Serial No. 18504), (Serial No. 100504), Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18504) on 23 October 1970.  Flown by No. 414 (EW) Squadron at CFB North Bay, Ontario.  Last flight on 20 January 1982, when it was flown from North Bay to Castle AFB, California. On Display at Castle AFB.

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5 (Serial No. 100775), mounted on a pedestal, W. Soplata College, Ohio.  Parts of several other aircraft are incorporated into this Canuck.

(Author Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5C (Serial No. 18779), (Serial No. 100779), placed on display in May 1976 at the Peterson Air and Space Museum, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Renumbered from RCAF (Serial No. 18779) on 23 October 1970.  Used by Electronic Warfare Unit.  Still flew with this unit when it became No. 414 (EW) Squadron.  On display at NORAD HQ in Colorado, delivered there on 27 May 1976 by 414 Squadron crew.

(Ad Meskens Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5, RCAF (Serial No. 18534), CAF (Serial No. A690), No. 425 Squadron, Musée Royal de l’Armée et d’Histoire Militaire, Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History, Brussels, Belgium.

(Steve Fitzgerald Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18393), No. 441 Squadron.  18393 entered service with the RCAF in May 1955. On 1st November 1957 whilst operating with No.4 Wing based at Baden-Soellingen it suffered a double engine failure but a successful dead-stick landing was carried out at Zweibrucken. It was retired from service in October 1962.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 4B (Serial No. 18393), No. 441 Squadron.  Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.  This Canuck entered service with the RCAF in May 1955 . On 1 Nov 1957 while operating from No. 4 (F) Wing based at Baden-Soellingen, Germany, it suffered a double engine failure.  The pilot carried out a successful dead-stick landing at No. 3 (F) Zweibrucken, Germany.  It was retired from RCAF service in October 1962, and from then until 1975 it was placed with the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield in the UK.  In 1975 she was flown to the IWM at Duxford by the late Ormond Haydon-Baillie, Reg. No. G-BCYK.

(Avro Photo)

Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5, RCAF (Serial No. TBD), over the white cliffs of Dover, United Kingdom.

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