RCAF Air Traffic Control

Val d'Or, Quebec

Val d'Or is located in the north-western hinterlands of the Quebec north. In 1950 the Department of Transport opened up its new airport at Val d'Or, Quebec. The 4,000 foot runway was first used by Canadian Pacific Airlines flying DC-3s. In 1952, at the request of the RCAF, the runway was further extended to 6,000 feet. In 1954, the RCAF assumed control of Val d'Or. Prior to December 1964, Val d'Or was a detachment of RCAF Station Senneterre, Quebec, and was used extensively by various CF-100 Canuck all weather fighter units of Air Defence Command in the 1950s and early 1960s. In early 1962, CF-101 Voodoos from Uplands, Ontario, and later that year, from Bagotville, Quebec, used the northern Quebec airfield. RCAF Station Val d'Or was a unique station - it was a flying unit with a nuclear capability, yet it had no flying unit assigned. The role of Val d'Or as defined by RCAF Organization Order 2.7 dated 12 November 1964 was: "To provide All-Weather Interceptor facilities for Air Defence as directed by Air Officer Commanding Air Defence Command". The original idea was to provide alert facilities for CF-101 Voodoos of 425 All Weather (Fighter) Squadron stationed at Bagotville, plus a nuclear weapons storage and handling capability.

In November 1965, delivery of nuclear weapons commenced. Detachment 6 of the USAF's 425th Munitions Maintenance Squadron were the custodians of the warheads destined for use on the MN-2 (AIR) Genie rocket. RCAF Station Val d'Or became CFS Val d'Or in May 1967 with the unification of Canada's three branches of the military. Authority was granted for the station closure effective 1 April 1976. Today the airfield with its 10,000 foot runway is operated by Transport Canada and serves Abitibi County as a regional airport.

Comments by Jim Dunn

After the DND departed, Transport Canada assumed responsibility for operations until 1999, when Val-d'Or Regional Airport (ARVO) became owner and operator of the airport.