History

The first of four Air Cadet Squadrons now in the City of Calgary was organized in December of 1940 and designated 52 'City of Calgary' Squadron.

In the fall of 1950, a group of former-RCAF members saw a need for a second Air Cadet Squadron in the city. Under the sponsorship of 70l Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force Association, 538 Buffalo Squadron came into being.

To avoid the possibility of issuing a number to the new Squadron only to find that sufficient numbers of cadets were not recruited; the Air Cadet League assigned the name ‘Buffalo Squadron’ to the new Calgary unit. The Squadron surpassed the required strength quota in a very short time and in October 1951, the Air Cadet League of Canada presented the Squadron with its Charter. It was because of this decision that our name has remained 538 Buffalo Squadron.

For the next years our Squadron, along with 52 'City of Calgary' Squadron and 604 'Moose' Squadron, paraded as part of 15 Calgary Wing. Parade facilities were located at 1206 – 1st Street S.W., and were used on different nights by all three Squadrons. As the numerous trophies from that time attest, our Squadron won many of the drill competitions, was “Best in the West”, and selected as most improved Squadron

At the June 1960 Annual Wing Parade, each of the Commanding Officers was presented with framed paintings of their squadron crests. These paintings were the first of their kind to be presented anywhere in Canada and were designed by a Calgarian, Mr. Jack Roberts. Our painting is still proudly displayed in the squadron headquarters.

The Wing was forced to relocate to temporary quarters at Mewata Armouries when our building was sold. At this time 781 'Calgary' Squadron was formed in the Bowness area of the city. This addition meant that Calgary now had four Air cadet Squadrons in the Wing.

Recognizing the growth of Calgary, the Air Cadet League of Canada, Alberta Provincial Committee made a decision to relocate the four Squadrons to different parts of the city. While 604 remained at Mewata Armouries, 52 relocated to the south-west, 781 remained in the north-west and 538 ‘Buffalo’ Squadron moved to Mountain View Elementary School in Forest Lawn.

After a number of years in this location and declining enrolment the Squadron was relocated to the Aerospace Museum in December 1986. This location provided the Squadron with many positive environmental training aids but instructional and parade space was at a premium. The Sponsor then began the search for an alternative location in the spring of 1989.

In the summer of 1989, the Squadron moved to Ernest Morrow School in Forest Lawn and entered into a lease with the Calgary Board of Education. The Squadron’s Headquarters building is a double portable unit located on the east side of the school. School facilities are used for classrooms and a parade and sports area, and is still located there today.