Final flight of the RCAF CC-115 Buffalo

On 15 January 2022, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) conducted its final operational flight of the de Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo (DHC-5A) fixed-wing search and rescue (SAR) aircraft. I was one of the select few to have the privilege to be aboard the final flights of what is arguably an iconic aircraft. The video you see here is footage from those final flights.

442 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 19 Wing Canadian Forces Base Comox, was the last RCAF squadron to operate the type. The retirement of the Buffalo comes as parts obsolescence and maintenance issues have made the platform increasingly difficult to support.

Known for their impressive Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capability, the venerable Buffalo was perfectly suited to the highly variable conditions encountered in the coastal and mountainous regions of British Columbia and the Yukon. The flights on 15 January were partly a farewell tour for the base and the community that supported the aircraft, but they were also business as usual as the Buffalo crews conducted hours of high-value training in coordination with the squadron’s CH-149 Cormorant helicopter, and assets from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Speaking from a first-hand perspective, I can share that the mission for the final operational flights was as diverse as the geography of British Columbia. The Buffalo’s operated over mountainous glaciers, in deep valleys and over water, and in doing so dropped smoke markers, de-watering pumps, emergency communication gear, sea rescue kits and bundled drops of various other search and rescue equipment. The Buffalo’s also conducted “valley shoots”, which is a rare flight profile that sees the aircraft fly low and in between mountains so Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) can visualize tight and confined areas that would otherwise be difficult to view from higher altitudes. In addition to the great performance of the aircraft, what was most impressive was the professionalism and incredible crew coordination that I witnessed during the last operational flights.

All told, the mighty Buffalo served 55 years with the RCAF. The aircraft that 442 Squadron operated have been distributed to museums and air parks across Canada.

No tribute to the Buffalo would be complete without an acknowledgement to all the pilots, flight engineers, technicians, maintainers and SAR Techs who kept the Buffalo flying for all its years.

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