|
RAF
squadron leader Paddy Currie said his staff would miss
their central Labrador home.
"This
place is seen as remote and difficult to get to, and
hard to live in by an awful lot of Canadians," he
said. "Brits don't see it that way. This is a great
place for us to come to."
Most of
the pullout has already happened. The three barracks
that once housed up to 500 service people are now
empty, and the hangar that formerly covered British
Tornado fighter jets and Hercules Transports is
closed.
The
Bulldog, one of Labrador's most legendary bars, with
its $1 British draught beer and giant snooker table,
closed last year. |
The
British helped build CFB Goose Bay in 1942 as part of
the fight against fascism. The base was used as a
launching point for Allied troops and equipment.
In the
early years of the Cold War, it became a bomber base,
and evolved again as a primary training spot for
low-level fighter jets. With the collapse of the East
Bloc, however, demand for low-level training declined.
Two years
ago, the Dutch air force pulled out. Now, just a small
number of German and Italian units remain.
The
Department of National Defence will maintain the empty
barracks and hangars, hoping to rent the facilities
next year. The RAF may make a temporary return to
Labrador in 2006 for a winter training exercise. |
