746 Lightning Hawk RCACS

SQUADRON HISTORY: 

746 Lightning Hawk in Langley was formed on January 9, 1964.

Sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 6 in Cloverdale, the squadron was originally named “746 Cloverdale Squadron”. 746 would experience several changes throughout its history including “746 Optimist Squadron” (when the squadron was sponsored by the Optimist Club in North Delta), then back to “746 Cloverdale Squadron” in March of 1980, and eventually “746 Lightning Hawk Squadron” when the squadron moved away from the Cloverdale area.

On September 4th, 1995, the Panorama Ridge Community Centre and home of 746 Squadron in Surrey burned to the ground in a suspected arson. The squadron essentially lost everything including $40,000 in supplies, computers, marksmanship rifles, and other equipment. This prompted the Squadron Sponsoring Committee at the time to scramble for new accommodations leading to the use of Shannon Hall in Cloverdale. After a number of years at Shannon Hall 746 Squadron was invited to parade at Canadian Forces Detachment Aldergrove for a number of years until facilities there were overtaken by the Canadian Forces for 2010 Olympic security operations. The squadron has since been grateful for the use of temporary accommodations at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley and the Envision Financial head office before settling at their current home at the Langley Regional Airport.

For the past 50 years, 746 Lightning Hawk has served hundreds if not thousands of young Canadians. Some of our former cadets have gone on to pilot snowbirds, fly airliners, advise politicians, and run companies.