A Brief History of 800 Squadron:

A more complete history of 800 Squadron's early days in Lahr & Baden, Germany, can be found here (non-affiliated site).

Follow these links for more details on the history of former Canadian Forces Bases (CFBs) Baden-Soellingen and Lahr (Wikipedia).

• CFB Lahr and CFB Baden were formed in the 'Black Forest' region of Germany during the mid-1960s during a rush for Canadian and NATO forces to exit France following the country's 1966 withdrawal of military forces from NATO.
• The two bases housed a variety of Canadian Forces units and aircraft, whose names continue to be assigned to flights in the present unit.
• The squadron was first formed at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Lahr, in Germany, September 1969.  The squadron's first Annual Inspection took place in spring of 1970.
• The squadron's cadets consisted mainly of the sons of Canadian service personnel living at CFB Lahr and Baden.
• As was the case throughout the remainder of the Canadian Cadet Movement, 800 started parading female cadets in 1975.
• The squadron had many cadets attend summer camps at Trenton and other Canadian camp locations.
• Following the re-unification of Germany and the dissolution of the USSR, NATO forces were no longer needed in Germany by the early 1990s.
• The squadron celebrated its 24th, and final, Annual Inspection in Germany on June 30th, 1993. The Squadron was disbanded when the base in Lahr was closed.
• In the late 1990s, a new squadron being formed in Mississauga was given permission to 're-activate' the 800 number.
• The current squadron was reformed on 01 August 1997, and the unit celebrated its first Annual Review in Canada in May, 1998.

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LOCAL AWARDS Do you have what it takes to be an award winner at 800? Click Here for information on some of the awards available to be won, and those who've made the grade. Most awards are handed out at the end of the Training Year, during the Squadron's Annual Ceremonial Review (ACR). Some awards, such as the Cadet Long-Service medal and its accouterments can be awarded throughout the training year.

SQUADRON HONOURS 800 Squadron has a proud record of awards and honours. Click Here to see some items from our trophy cabinet.

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Each flight at 800 Sqn is named in honour of an element related to the history of former Canadian Forces Bases (CFBs) Baden-Soellingen and Lahr.  Some of the units belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Canadian Forces.

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RCAF March Past

The Great Escape

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FLAGS & DRUMS

The Squadron Flag Party consists of 2 Flagbearers, 2 Rifle Guards, and a Commander.  Members of the flag party are typically issued white cotton or leather gloves for ceremonial parades or public performances.

The rifle guard uses real, de-activated Lee-Enfield rifles, whose production stamps date back as far as the 1930s.  Restored in December 2009 and refurbished in Spring 2015, the rifles are stained a dark walnut brown, and are marked with a large "DP" on the stock to indicate that they are "Drill Purpose".  They are further identifiable by painted white drill-bands located at the small of the butt and the forestock.  Originally, cotton web slings were built for the rifle fleet, but new leather slings have since replaced these.  All of the squadron's drill-purpose rifles have been permanently disabled from firing.

The unit possesses one National Flag, topped with a brass maple leaf finial; one Air Cadet Ensign, topped with a brass-plated eagle; and one Squadron Banner topped with a small brass eagle finial.  The flag poles carry brass hardware and are stained a dark wood tone.  These are carried on ceremonial parades and public appearances, and are held in a set of white gloss flag slings with gold-coloured buckles.  The unit also possesses a set of flags, poles and slings for routine use.

The drum major's sash is black with two gold bars, representing the two original CF Bases from the squadron's origins in Germany, as well as the two squadrons which the unit typically parades.  The decorations of the sash are, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II, the Air Cadet Crest flanked by miniature drum sticks, and the squadron crest.