CFB Calgary
The pending unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force to form the Canadian Forces on February 1, 1968, precipitated a number of major changes to Canada's military. As a result, the Currie Barracks were redesignated Canadian Forces Base Calgary (CFB Calgary) on March 14, 1966.
As a former Canadian Army facility, the newly designated CFB Calgary fell under Mobile Command, the new command for Canada's land forces. Camp Wainwright at Denwood, Alberta, became a satellite auxiliary training camp under the jurisdiction of CFB Calgary on January 1, 1967, however the facility became a separately controlled base (CFB Wainwright) on August 1 of that year.
CFB Calgary was reorganized by Mobile Command on February 20, 1969, when 1 Combat Group was combined with the base itself; both the base and 1 Combat Group reported to a single commander. The base was tasked with providing administrative and support services to units posted to it in support of 1 Combat Group operations.
Initial lodger units at CFB Calgary included:
- Headquarters, 1 Combat Group
- 1st Fort Garry Horse
- 1 Signal Squadron
- 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
- Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Band
- Headquarters, 7 Tactical Air Unit (TAU)
- 1 Service Battalion (The base was officially closed by the 1 Svc Bn Operations Officer Captain Stewart Campbell CD (Ret'd))
The force structure evolved as the 1st Fort Garry Horse was disbanded in 1970 as the regiment reverted to reserve status. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the 1 Military Police Platoon along with Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) were garrisoned at CFB Calgary beginning in the 1970s.
In September 1991, the 1 Canadian Brigade Group and CFB Calgary became independent of each other under separate commands and reported to Land Force Western Area.
Read more about this topic: CFB Calgary