434 Squadron deployment to Barnes ANGB, Westfield, Massachusetts

17 September 1997

by

Tom Hildreth

When I arrived at Barnes ANGB for drill make-up on Wednesday, 17 September 1997, I was surprised to find Alpha
row on the ramp occupied not by A-10 Warthogs, but by a group of Canadair CT-133 T-Birds, and a single F-16A
from the 188FW, Arkansas ANG.

As I recall the F-16 was simply passing through, but the Canadian CT-133s as well as the A-10s of the resident
104th Fighter Wing were players in a naval exercise off the New England coast. Surface vessels of the US Navy
and Canadian Armed Forces were also involved in the training.

133656 taxies out for a mission wearing the squadron's symbol on its tail, a likeness of the schooner Bluenose,
more often seen on the Canadian dime. 434 Squadron was formed as a heavy bomber unit during WWII.

Aircrew dismount from 571, which appeared to be equipped with a chaff dispenser under
the port wing, and a large pod of unknown purpose under the starboard wing.

Looks like Chick Goyette is scoping out 560, which seems to be
equipped with an air-driven ECM pod under each wing.

389 appears to be getting serviced with gaseous oxygen in this view.

It appears 133052 may have had a recent canopy replacement. In the Cold war period, the Bluenose squadron operated the
famed Sabrejet fighter and later the CF-104 Starfighter as part of Canada's NATO commitment in Europe. The CF-5 Freedom
Fighter was their mount for the next 20 years, and at the time of these photos, the unit was based ar CFB Shearwater near
Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was simultaneously operating the Canadair Challenger in the electroncs countermeasures role.

T-Birds taxying in from an afternoon mission.

Later in the afternoon thickening overcast brought on the ramp lighting. Note black antenna on nose of second aircraft,
equipment which ground crew told me enabled the T-Bird to simulate a missile attack on a surface vessel.

The End