395 Squadron Edmonton was formed on the 11th of April 1946 and received its Charter on the 3rd of July 1946 after operating for four months. This makes it one of a handful of squadrons formed right after the war had ended and the only one still active. Since then many changes in training, facilities, sponsors, and staff have been made. The Squadron strength built up to over 200 cadets during the 50’s and between 1968 and 1979 making it the largest in Alberta and Western Canada for quite a few years.
395 Squadron Edmonton was formed on the 11th of April 1946 and received its Charter on the 3rd of July 1946 after operating for four months. This makes it one of a handful of squadrons formed right after the war had ended and the only one still active. Since then many changes in training, facilities, sponsors, and staff have been made. The Squadron strength built up to over 200 cadets during the 50’s and between 1968 and 1979 making it the largest in Alberta and Western Canada for quite a few years.The first hanger/facility for 395 was the WW2 hanger on the former site of the Edmonton Flying Club. The second facility that 395 Squadron used was a hanger near the present day N.A.I.T. In 1958 the hangar was destroyed by fire and temporary accommodation was later established in a WWII HHut close to where the Edmonton Inn is now located. As the Squadron had over 200 cadets parading as a wing with two complete squadrons, the new facility was not large enough. So in 1959, 395 Squadron created a sister squadron, 699 Jasper Place, by moving one whole squadron complete with staff to the west end. The Squadron made its third move to the now demolished Northwest Air Command Communication Building just across the street from the Hhut on Kingsway Ave. From these cramped quarters, the Squadron moved in 1962 to its present facility, known at that time as Building 42, Kingsway Recreation Centre and is known today as HMCS Nonsuch.
During all these moves and while 395 Squadron was still part of # 9 Wing, the Wing offices seemed to follow the Squadron around.395 Squadron unofficially had female cadets (cadettes) in 1952 and by the late 50’s they formed a separate flight in # 9 Wing. The female uniforms were sewn by the girls and the parents of 395 Squadron. One of these female cadets, F/Sgt Dianne Jamieson received her pilot wings in 1959. Later in 1975, the females were officially recognized by the military, subsequently by the cadet movement as part of the cadet organizations, land, sea and air.The Squadron has been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Edmonton West since the early 80’s. Before that, 395 Squadron as well as 12, 504, 570, & 699 Squadrons (# 9 Wing) were sponsored by # 700 City of Edmonton Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force Association. Prior to that a group of civilian citizen minded people sponsored 395 Squadron. This was quite an accomplishment since most other squadrons were sponsored by some type of organization or club. Today, the Squadron has a Parent’s Committee working with the sponsor to provide additional financial and moral support. The Squadron Banner was purchased by Hazel Dyer, a member of the 700 Wing Ladies Auxiliary, in memory of her son, Ryan. She presented the banner to 395 Squadron on November 30, 1982.
395 Squadron is very active throughout the training year participating in many extra activities such as the Battle of Britain, Remembrance Day, Church parades, they worked at the Airshows held every two years, community activities like the Edmonton Food Bank Airlift, Poppy Sales and numerous Band Concerts. Other activities are tours of CFB Edmonton, Cold Lake, the City Centre Airport, the Police Department, the U of A Observatory, the Reynolds Museum to name a few and the ever popular weekend Bush Camps at Camp Wright, Camp Worthington and the Wright property. Familiarization glider flights at Namao then Villeneuve, twice a year and power flying flights in small fixed wing planes, which have included such aircraft as: the RCMP & 440 Squadron Twin Otters, the C130 Hercules of 435 Squadron, 408 Squadron Twin Hueys and the new Griffon helicopter of 417 Sqn. are always extremely popular.
The Squadron has always been successful in earning special awards and scholarship. 395 Sqn. was presented Top Squadron in # 9 Wing several times and numerous times attained a rating in the top ten in the province. In 1973 and 2009 the Squadron won the award for Top Squadron in Alberta. Twenty years later 395 won the Most Improved Squadron in Alberta and the following year won the award for the Highest Proficiency in Alberta. In drill and particularly sports the Squadron has won many awards. See the last page for a list of some of the achievements.Over the years 395 Squadron cadets have earned hundreds of scholarships, with over 80 Power Flying Scholarships and a dozen Exchange Visits. In 1995 the squadron was awarded 11 Scholarships and the tradition continues.
