Ottawa Cold War Places to “Visit: #4. ALERT HANGARS and WARHEAD MAGAZINES (at the FORMER RCAF STATION (LATER CFB) UPLANDS, OTTAWA)
The original purpose of the Ottawa Alert hangars was to house alert CF-101 Voodoos. From 1962 to 1964, 410 squadron RCAF flew from CFB Uplands (Now Cartier International Airport), and the position of the alert hangars allowed them to taxi right on to the runway and take off instantly. 410 squadron was stood down in 1964 along with 414 in North Baywhen the number of all-weather interception squadrons was reduced from 5 to 3.
The front and back doors were spring loaded up (that is when they were down all that was required to open them was to push a button at which time they would quite forcefully spring open) allowing the fully armed (with Genie nuclear warhead rockets) Voodoo interceptors (whose engines were already spooling up) to quickly exit for an immediate take off.
Alert Hangars at CFB Uplands Ottawa – click to enlarge
Location of ALERT HANGARS (Blue Circle) & Weapons Magazines (Blue Circle) – click to enlarge
In 1960, following the Arrow cancellation, it was decided to replace the Canadian CF-100 all weather fighter with the Voodoo. A total of 66 aircraft were acquired. In 1970 these aircraft were replaced by other overhauled, refurbished and modernized Voodoos.
CF-101 Voodoo all-weather interceptor fighter aircraft – click to enlarge
For 25 years, until 1985, Voodoos provided all weather air defense through the North American Air Defense (NORAD) Agreement, using both conventional and nuclear weapons.
The Royal Canadian Air Force maintained a stockpile of AIR-2A Genie unguided nuclear air-to- air rockets as the primary wartime weapon on the CF-101 Voodoo all-weather interceptor after 1965. The rockets were held by detachments of the United States Air Force at the Canadian Voodoo bases, and would have been released to Canada if conflict threatened.
On the following Google Earth image the red circle shows the Ammunition Storage Magazines and the yellow identifies the Alert Hangars:
Overhead imagery of CFB Uplands alert hangars and ammunition storage – click to enlarge
CF-101 firing an air-to-air missile in training – click to enlarge
A CF-101B Voodoo fighter intercepting a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 ‘Bear’ bomber used for reconnaissance in Canadian air space – this type of incident was frequent during the Cold War – click to enlarge
Made in the U.S., the Voodoo was the Canadian Forces’ main fighter from 1961 to 1984. The Voodoo had a top speed of 1,220 mph (1,952 kph),
On January 21, 1981, in a typical Cold War intercept, it was scrambled from Chatham against an unidentified target approaching North America over the Atlantic Ocean. This target turned out to be a Russian Bear turboprop Bomber testing the NORAD air defense system. After the interception, the Bear turned and headed back to Russia
The Alert Hangars are currently being used to shelter the Convair 580 and DC-3 of the Emergencies Science Division of Environment Canada. Aside from that, they are not being used for much. What used to be the crew quarters for the Voodoos that were once kept there on ‘hot standby’ are in a very dilapidated state as they have not been used for anything for several years.
Click to enlarge
