CFB Comox Canadian Forces Base Comox , commonly referred to as CFB Comox , is a Canadian Forces Base located north northeast of Comox , British Columbia . It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the " CP - 140 Aurora " anti - submarine / maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft . Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 19 Wing , commonly referred to as 19 Wing Comox . CFB Comox ' s airfield is also used by civilian aircraft . The civilian passenger terminal building operations are referred to as the Comox Valley Airport operated by the Comox Valley Airport Commission . The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency . CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft only , with no more than 15 passengers History . The Royal Air Force ( RAF ) constructed the airfield at the strategic location of Comox in spring 1942 . RAF Station Comox was built to guard against any possible Japan ese threat to North America . In 1943 , the Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) took over control of the airfield , renaming the facility RCAF Station Comox . The RCAF used Comox for training crews of transport aircraft for the rest of World War II , basing a training squadron flying the Douglas " Dakota " in 1944 . From 1946 until 1952 the base was mothballed until tensions resulting from the Korean War and Cold War prompted reactivation and the establishment of a permanent RCAF base on Canada ' s Pacific coast . No . 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron initially used the Avro " Lancaster " then Lockheed " P2V Neptune " , followed by the Canadair CP - 107 " Argus " and currently the CP - 140 Aurora . No . 409 All Weather Fighter Interceptor Squadron was equipped with the Canadair CT - 33 " Silver Star " and Avro CF - 100 " Canuck " , followed by the McDonnell CF - 101 " Voodoo " , an example of which can be found on display at the main entrance of 19 Wing . In 1954 , Comox became home to a Pinetree Line radar early - warning station , operated by the " 51 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron ( radar ) " . This facility was closed in June 1958 with the advent of more advanced radar systems such as the Mid - Canada Line and the Distant Early Warning Line ( DEW Line ) . In 1964 , RCAF Station Sea Island near Vancouver International Airport was closed and turned over to the Canadian Coast Guard . Sea Island ' s " 121 Composite Unit " moved to Comox and was reorganized as " 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron " , flying the Grumman " Albatross " fixed - wing and Piasecki " H - 21 " helicopter , later re - equipping with the CH - 113 " Labrador " and CC - 115 " Buffalo " . The Labrador helicopter was replaced with the CH - 149 Cormorant starting in 2001 . On February 1 , 1968 , the RCAF merged with the Royal Canadian Navy ( RCN ) and Canadian Army to form the unified Canadian Forces . RCAF Station Comox was renamed Canadian Forces Base Comox , shortened to CFB Comox . During a 1975 reorganization of the Canadian Forces , Air Command ( AIRCOM ) was created to operate the air element . In 1980 , 407 Squadron began re - equipping with the Lockheed CP - 140 " Aurora " . In 1984 , 409 Squadron moved from CFB Comox to CFB Cold Lake leaving the base with the duties of coastal patrol , anti submarine and transport missions , and Search and Rescue ( SAR ) missions . Current use . Military use . CFB Comox is the primary air defence installation on Canada ' s Pacific coast and serves as the home base for maritime patrol / anti - submarine aircraft and fixed - wing and rotary - wing search and rescue ( SAR ) aircraft . Its primary lodger unit , 19 Wing , has two operational squadrons : 19 Wing also includes the 19 Air Maintenance Squadron , and a number of other organizations . CFB Comox is the location of the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue , where all para - rescue specialists in the Canadian Forces , known as Search And Rescue Technicians or " SAR Techs " , undergo training . CFB Comox serves as a forward operating base for temporary deployments of the CF - 18 " Hornet " fighter - interceptor . Every April , the Snowbirds practise at 19 Wing Comox . CFB Comox is used by the Royal Canadian Air Cadets for glider and powered flight training , training Glider Pilots on Schweizer SGS 2 - 33 A ' s and housing the cadets training on Cessna 172 ' s respectively in the summer months . An annex of CFB Comox , Annex A " Goose Spit " , is used by the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets for CSTC HMCS " Quadra " where 600 sea cadets undergo training in the basic trades of Gunnery , Boatswain , Music and Sail . Also it trains cadets in three specialty trades Marine Engineering , Shipwright , and Silver Sail . It is also host to the local CFSA ( Canadian Forces Sail Association ) . Civilian use . CFB Comox ' s airfield also serves as a civilian airport for commercial flights destined to Vancouver , Calgary , Campbell River , Edmonton and Mexico ( Cancun and Puerta Vallarta ) . The base hosts a biennial airshow ( although not held from 2005 to 2012 ) to celebrate Canadian Forces Day . The base is also home to the Comox Air Force Museum which features several aircraft and other historical exhibits . The base is a primary employer in the Comox Valley .