This article first appeared at Combat Simulations about five months back. I've linked it to our cover page since GTT has just released a download allowing you to fly for the Canadian Air Force in Hornet: Korea. Download the zip file by clicking HERE

I was born in West Germany in 1957 while my father was doing his early tour there. Growing up at various Canadian Forces bases in western Canada, I was always around army and air force people, and I always loved to watch the jets coming and going.

So in some ways, its no surprise that in the mid 80's I began to get into combat simulations in a big way. I even renewed my modelling hobby and built a 1/5 scale radio controlled Spitfire and a number of high detail plastic kits like the F14 Tomcat and F18 Hornet. When Falcon 3 came along I wasn't quite ready, but eventually I got into it and the rest is, as they say, history!

Recently I had a chance to talk to Major Norm Gagne, one of the premier trainers in the F18 at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, Alberta. Norm did the demonstration flying at an airshow I attended, showing off some of the manouevering capabilities of this very fine aircraft. But in the process, I made some discoveries about William Tell: the International Topgun competition in the F18. Here is the gist of the scoop!

From October 23rd to 25th of 1996 William Tell was hosted at Tyndall AFB in Florida. It turns out that Team Canada of 4 Wing Cold Lake finished first in six of eleven events, which helped it take top honours in the competition. Team Canada finished first in the standings for Operations Team, Profile 1, Aircrew Element, and Weapons Director Team. Capt Steve Nierlich, of Toronto, Ont. was named Top Gun. Staff Sgt Jeff Craver, on exchange with the Canadian Forces from the United States Air Force took Top Scope in the Weapons Director competition. This is the first time since the competition began in 1954 that Canada has come out on top.

The William Tell competition is conducted during even numbered years and involves aerial combat teams from the United States Air Force, based both in the U.S. and abroad, United States Air National Guard and the Canadian Air Force. The competition pits pilots, ground crew and weapons control teams against each other in a series of challenging air defence scenarios.

In 1996 Team Canada was made up of personnel and aircraft from 4 Wing Cold Lake and one person from 22 Wing North Bay, Ontario. The team consists of six pilots, two air weapons controllers, thirty-nine aircraft technicians and ten support personnel. They operated and supported six McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornets for the two-day competition.

One month of intense workups took place prior to deployment to the competition on 19 October. Personnel prepared for the events which included live firing of air-to-air missiles, the countering of mass raids of simulated aggressors and air-to-air combat on an electronically scored range. The pilots were scored on how they employed their aircraft and weapons systems. The Air Weapons Controllers were evaluated on how well the intercepts were executed. Technicians and weapons load personnel were rated on how quickly and efficiently aircraft were readied for missions.

410 Tactical Fighter (Cougar) Squadron

410 Cougar Squadron began at Ayr, Scotland, on June 30, 1941 as a night-fighter unit involved in the defence of Great Britain. Flying single-engined Defiants, the Squadron was operationally ready in August and was immediately moved to Drem, near the Firth of Forth.

In April 1942, the Defiants were exchanged for radar-equipped Beaufighters. On completion of conversion training, the Squadron went to Scorton, Yorkshire, in September, where a 410 crew brought the Squadron to its first wartime success. In October, 410 moved to Acklington, where it received Mosquito Night Fighters and won its first confirmed kill.

In February 1943, the Squadron moved to Coleby Grange, Lincolnshire, where , in addition to normal night duties, it undertook offensive missions into enemy held territory by day and night, attacking trains, vehicles, canal shipping, airfields and aircraft.

In October 1943, the Squadron moved southeast to England, where it was attached to No. 11 Group and was primarily involved in the defence of Great Britain. In September 1944, with 51 estimated kills, the Squadron moved to Flisy, near Amiens, and remained in France until the spring of 1945. Their last wartime move was to Gilzen-Rijen in the Netherlands where it remained until the end of hostilities.

Reforming in December 1948 at St. Hubert, Que., 410 became the first fighter squadron in the post-war regular force. Flying Vampires in a day-interceptor role, the Squadron was part of the RCAF's Air Defence Group. 410 was the first RCAF Squadron to receive F-86 Sabres shortly before moving to North Luffenham, England, in November 1951. 410 also became Canada's first day-fighter Squadron to participate in the NATO alliance. In November 1954, the Squadron moved to Baden-Soellingen, Germany, then on to Marville, France, in early 1955 and was disbanded in October 1956.

Reformed again in November 1956, at Uplands Airport, Ottawa, the Squadron was equipped with the CF-100 Canuck. In 1962, the Squadron converted to the CF-101 Voodoo and continued to operate in the defence of North America until March 31, 1964 when it was disbanded.

In April 1968, 3 All-Weather Operational Training Unit of CFB Bagotville was redesignated as 410 All-Weather Operational Training Squadron. The Squadron was responsible for the training of aircrew for the other interceptor Squadrons of Air Defence Group. The Squadron also ran an annual Air Weapons Instructor's course for CF-101 crews.

On June 12, 1966, the Squadron received its Queens Colours after 25 years of active service.

In May 1980, the CF-18 Hornet was selected as Canada's new fighter aircraft. This resulted in the end of the CF-101 Voodoo training program in May 1982.

The Squadron was reformed one month later at CFB Cold Lake under its present name. 410 Squadron was tasked to develop a training syllabus and instruct all Canadian Forces Aircrew on the CF-18 aircraft in both air-to-air and air-to-surface roles. The first two CF-18 arrived at 410 Squadron on October 31, 1982 and it received two more per month until the 138th aircraft was delivered September 28, 1988.

The first seven courses the squadron ran were six month full-squadron courses in that the graduating pilots formed new CF-18 squadrons. Following this initial cadre of courses, 410 Squadron trained CF-18 pilots at a rate of approximately 50 per year. In 1992, with the closure of three squadrons in Germany, this was reduced to 25. With the recent reduction in size of the remaining operational squadrons, 410 Squadron now trains approximately 20 fighter pilots annually.

410 Squadron runs one fighter pilot course (FPC) per year. The programme consists of nine months of ground school, simulator flights and flying missions. It is designed to take graduates from the Fighter Lead-In Training Course and provide them with solid basic skills in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. Areas covered in depth include aircraft handling, instrument flight, formation flying, night flying, navigation, air-to-air refuelling, and weapons delivery and tactics.

In addition, 410 Squadron annually runs a Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC) and a Fighter Electronic Warfare and Advanced Radar (FEWAR) Course. The intense and highly challenging FWIC is three months in length. Each CF-18 squadron and tactical radar squadron sends candidates (eight students per course) who graduate with the leadership qualities and expertise required to return to their operational squadrons and design tactical training programmes. The FEWAR Course is conducted in two phases: ground school at 4 Wing and a flying phase at an electronic warfare range. This three-week course is designed to graduate ten pilots annually who return to their squadrons as electronic warfare experts and instructors.

Since 410 Squadron has always held the most experienced CF-18 pilots in the fighter community, it has become a recognized centre of excellence and is often charged with carrying out special fighter projects and leading the way for the remainder of the community. Most recently it has undertaken the operational testing and evaluation of the CF's new precision guided munitions, and expects soon to trial the use of night vision devices in the Hornet.

An aggressive and varied flying programme has always been the norm at 410 Squadron. This maintains pilot and technician capability at the highest level in the fighter community. 410 Squadron is proud of its distinguished heritage and maintains its tradition of professionalism both in the air and on the ground as we face the challenges of the future.