Delivered to the RCAF as 9456 on 9 November 1967 and assigned to 429sq. On 1 February 1968 it was leased to DHC as CF-YPK. Returned to the RCAF and became 115456 on 28 May 1970. Withdrawn and moved to Field Aviation Edmonton in November 2007. Destined for Trenton museum and arrived there on 9 September 2020.

DND photo.

Buff from 442 Sqn. Comox. DND photo.

Buff from 442 Sqn. Comox. DND photo.

One of my main aims in visiting Trenton was to shoot this Buffalo, but my extremely hectic schedule that day which included driving to Hamilton as part of a 550km round trip meant that I had to accept less than perfect light. 115456 left DHC's Downsview plant and began service with 429 Sqdn (Tactical Transport) at St. Hubert, Quebec in 1967. In 1975 it was converted to a dual role transport/SAR aircraft for 442 Sqdn (Transport & Rescue) at CFB Comox, BC, flying until retirement in September 2020 and ferry to the museum the next month. The CC-115s have been replaced at Comox by the CC-295.

This Buffalo participated in a local SAR Excercise, in May 2005, together with the United States Air Force and paid a visit to Calgary.

442 Squadron CC-115 Buffalo visits Vancouver International Airport from Canadian Forces Base Comox on Vancouver Island in April 1974. The aircraft is parked outside the Canadian Forces' Air Movement Unit (AMU) hangar which was located on the northwest side of runway 26 which was a hangar used by RCAF Sea Island which closed in late 1964 for budgetary reasons. This aircraft was delivered new in May 1970 in camouflage to 429 (Tactical Transport) Squadron. It was converted to SAR configuration and repainted white in the early 1970s and repainted SAR yellow in the early 1980s. Date might be 1975.

Photo taken at the Quebec Air Show

Converted to Search and Rescue configuration in 1975, this Buffalo would get the current over all yellow color scheme along with other SAR aircraft in 1981-82.

Comox glacier in the background. Callsign 'Snake'

442 Squadron

Operated by 442 Squadron based at Comox BC. Previous serial 9456.

This lovely Canadian Buffalo was one of the star visitors to the 1989 International Air Tattoo.