Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
[NOTE: at 6:20 I state that the Mount Kologet B-36 crash took place on February 15, 1950 and 4 crew died. It actually took place on the morning of February 14 and 5 men died: one in the aircraft and four after parachuting into the sea.]
Happy Canada Day, everyone!
While the True North Strong and Free is not typically associated with weapons of mass destruction, for 20 years during the Cold War, Canada was a nominal nuclear-armed power, deploying four different nuclear weapons systems as part of its commitments to NORAD and NATO. However, these weapons were not technically owned by Canada, remaining under American custody under a ‘key sharing’ agreement until released to Canadian personnel in time of war.
Lecture delivered to the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) in Winnipeg on June 26, 2025.
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Canada and he Manhattan Project
5:04 American Nukes on Canadian Soil
8:26 NORAD / NATO Before Nuclear Weapons
10:32 The Decision to Acquire Nuclear Weapons
15:18 Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC
23:09 Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
28:16 Douglas MGR-1 Honest John
31:37 Douglas AIR-2 Genie
35:23 Political Opposition
37:09 Operational Issues
42:36 End of an Era / Outro
SOURCES:
Clearwater, John, Canadian Nuclear Weapons, Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1998
Burns, Robert, Bombs in the Bush, Canada’s History, January 17, 2017, canadashistory.ca/explore/politics-law/bombs-in-the-bush
Canada, ICAN, icanw.org/canada
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Stephenville, Hidden Newfoundland,
The Nuclear Question in Canada, Diefenbaker Canada Centre, diefenbaker.usask.ca/exhibits/online-exhibits-content/the-nuclear-question-in-canada-en.php
Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Government of Canada, international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/peace_security-paix_securite/nuclear_radiological-nucleaire_radiologique.aspx?lang=eng
Canada's Cruise Missile Testing Controversy of 1983, CBC, July 15, 2018, cbc.ca/archives/canada-s-cruise-missile-testing-controversy-of-1983-1.4744435
[NOTE: at 6:20 I state that the Mount Kologet B-36 crash took place on February 15, 1950 and 4 crew died. It actually took place on the morning of February 14 and 5 men died: one in the aircraft and four after parachuting into the sea.]
Happy Canada Day, everyone!
While the True North Strong and Free is not typically associated with weapons of mass destruction, for 20 years during the Cold War, Canada was a nominal nuclear-armed power, deploying four different nuclear weapons systems as part of its commitments to NORAD and NATO. However, these weapons were not technically owned by Canada, remaining under American custody under a ‘key sharing’ agreement until released to Canadian personnel in time of war.
Lecture delivered to the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) in Winnipeg on June 26, 2025.
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Canada and he Manhattan Project
5:04 American Nukes on Canadian Soil
8:26 NORAD / NATO Before Nuclear Weapons
10:32 The Decision to Acquire Nuclear Weapons
15:18 Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC
23:09 Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
28:16 Douglas MGR-1 Honest John
31:37 Douglas AIR-2 Genie
35:23 Political Opposition
37:09 Operational Issues
42:36 End of an Era / Outro
SOURCES:
Clearwater, John, Canadian Nuclear Weapons, Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1998
Burns, Robert, Bombs in the Bush, Canada’s History, January 17, 2017, canadashistory.ca/explore/politics-law/bombs-in-the-bush
Canada, ICAN, icanw.org/canada
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Stephenville, Hidden Newfoundland,
The Nuclear Question in Canada, Diefenbaker Canada Centre, diefenbaker.usask.ca/exhibits/online-exhibits-content/the-nuclear-question-in-canada-en.php
Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Government of Canada, international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/peace_security-paix_securite/nuclear_radiological-nucleaire_radiologique.aspx?lang=eng
Canada's Cruise Missile Testing Controversy of 1983, CBC, July 15, 2018, cbc.ca/archives/canada-s-cruise-missile-testing-controversy-of-1983-1.4744435
