{"id":28236001,"date":"2026-10-16T10:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T08:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/golden-hawks-rcaf-sabre-aerobatic-team-1959-1964\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T10:30:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T08:30:54","slug":"golden-hawks-rcaf-sabre-aerobatic-team-1959-1964","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/es\/golden-hawks-rcaf-sabre-aerobatic-team-1959-1964\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden Hawks: Canada&rsquo;s Gold Sabre Display Team Before the Snowbirds"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid 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In 1959 the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/royal-canadian-air-force\/\">Royal Canadian Air Force<\/a> painted a group of Canadair Sabres gold, trimmed them in red and white, and sent them across North America as the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/display-teams\/golden-hawks\/\">Golden Hawks<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team was only meant to last one season. It flew for five, put on 317 shows, lost pilots along the way and was disbanded in 1964 for financial reasons. On the day the Snowbirds fly their last home show in the Tutor, the Golden Hawks are a reminder of how Canada&rsquo;s jet display tradition began.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:22px 0 28px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.7\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"><li><strong>Team:<\/strong> Golden Hawks, Royal Canadian Air Force aerobatic team<\/li><li><strong>Years:<\/strong> 1959&ndash;1964 (disbanded 7 February 1964)<\/li><li><strong>Formed for:<\/strong> The RCAF&rsquo;s 35th anniversary and 50 years of Canadian flight (Silver Dart, 1909)<\/li><li><strong>Aircraft:<\/strong> Canadair Sabre (Mk 5 and Mk 6), seven-aircraft team, plus a T-33 support aircraft<\/li><li><strong>Bases:<\/strong> RCAF Station Chatham and RCAF Station Trenton<\/li><li><strong>First leader:<\/strong> Squadron Leader Fern Villeneuve<\/li><li><strong>Shows:<\/strong> 317 across North America<\/li><li><strong>Legacy:<\/strong> Hawk One Sabre (2009); the Snowbirds<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">A Birthday Present in Gold<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1959 Canada had two anniversaries to celebrate: 35 years of the RCAF, and 50 years since the AEA Silver Dart made the first powered flight in Canada in 1909. The air force decided to mark them with a jet team. The original plan was a six-aircraft team for a single season, with eight pilots led by Squadron Leader Fern Villeneuve.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aircraft was the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-86-sabre\/\">Canadair Sabre<\/a>, the Canadian-built version of the North American F-86, which had equipped RCAF fighter squadrons in Europe through the 1950s. Painted gold with a red and white flash, the Sabres looked unlike any other military jets of the time. A <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/t-33-shooting-star\/\">T-33<\/a> trainer flew with the team as its support aircraft.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RAQ-fLeI2YE\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">A restored 1962 CBC television segment on the RCAF Golden Hawks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team quickly proved so popular that the RCAF brought it back for 1960. It went on to perform 317 shows across Canada and the United States, operating from <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/trenton\/\">RCAF Station Trenton<\/a> and RCAF Station Chatham in New Brunswick, and grew to seven aircraft.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/golden-hawks-pilots-team-photo-rcaf.jpg\" alt=\"Golden Hawks pilots team photo\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">An official Canadian Department of National Defence team photo of the Golden Hawks pilots in front of one of their gold Sabres. Photo: Canadian DND \/ public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Pilots<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Villeneuve led the team in 1959 and again in 1960, when Wing Commander Jack Allan commanded it. For 1961 he handed the lead to Flight Lieutenant James McCombe. The rules of the time limited single pilots to three years on the team and married pilots to two, and Villeneuve left after he married. He later flew the CF-104 Starfighter and the CF-101 Voodoo, retired in 1982 with more than 13,000 flying hours, and was inducted into Canada&rsquo;s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other pilots included Flight Lieutenants Edward Rozdeba, Jeb Kerr and Ralph Annis, and Flying Officers Jim Holt, Bill Stewart and John T. Price. The team is credited with pioneering the &ldquo;Card 5&rdquo; formation, a coordinated two-aircraft 360-degree turn and a head-on routine for the two solo jets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Cost of Flying Close<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Display flying in the 1950s was dangerous, and the Golden Hawks paid a price. On 12 March 1959, before the team&rsquo;s first season, Flight Lieutenant Sam Eisler was killed when his Sabre crashed into woodland near Chatham during a practice. On 10 August 1959, at McCall Field in Calgary, a Golden Hawks Sabre on approach collided with a Piper Tri-Pacer that had not been cleared into the control zone, killing Flight Lieutenant Jeb Kerr and the two people in the Piper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were narrow escapes too. On 21 June 1959 a bird shattered the windscreen and canopy of Flight Lieutenant J.T. Price&rsquo;s Sabre over Halifax, and he landed safely with help from Flight Lieutenant Ralph Annis. On 22 February 1961 Flying Officer Jim McCann was killed in a collision with another Sabre during formation practice, and in April 1961 Flying Officer Bill Stewart ejected at low altitude near Chatham after an engine problem and survived.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EJlRK5dI0VA\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Archive footage of the RCAF Golden Hawks and their gold Sabres.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Grounded in 1964, Flying Again in 2009<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Golden Hawks were disbanded on 7 February 1964, officially for financial reasons. Several of their Sabres survive in museums and parks across Canada and in Germany, including Sabre 6 23651, which belongs to the national collection and has been on loan to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and 23641 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2009, for the centennial of flight in Canada, Vintage Wings of Canada restored Sabre 5 23314 in Golden Hawks colours as &ldquo;Hawk One&rdquo;. Fern Villeneuve served as its honorary team leader from 2009 to 2013. The Golden Hawks&rsquo; spirit also lives on in the Canadian Forces <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/display-teams\/snowbirds\/\">Snowbirds<\/a>, the team that took up Canada&rsquo;s jet display role in 1971.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/hawk-one-sabre-golden-hawks-colours-gatineau.jpg\" alt=\"Hawk One Sabre over Gatineau\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">The Hawk One Sabre in Golden Hawks colours over Gatineau. Photo: Ken Mist \/ CC BY 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eq-8YqzzAfg\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">The Hawk One Sabre displaying in Golden Hawks colours at the Gatineau air show.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources: Wikipedia (Golden Hawks; Fern Villeneuve); Silver Hawk Author; Vintage Wings of Canada; CBC archive<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>Who were the Golden Hawks?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Golden Hawks were the Royal Canadian Air Force&rsquo;s jet aerobatic team from 1959 to 1964. They flew gold-painted Canadair Sabres and performed 317 shows across North America before being disbanded on 7 February 1964, officially for financial reasons.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why were the Golden Hawks formed?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Golden Hawks were formed in 1959 to mark two anniversaries: the 35th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the 50th anniversary of the first powered flight in Canada, made by the AEA Silver Dart in 1909. The team was first planned for a single season.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What aircraft did the Golden Hawks fly?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Golden Hawks flew the Canadair Sabre, the Canadian-built version of the North American F-86 Sabre, in Mk 5 and Mk 6 versions. The team had seven aircraft in a gold scheme, and a T-33 served as its support aircraft.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Who led the Golden Hawks?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Squadron Leader Fern Villeneuve was the first leader of the Golden Hawks in 1959 and led again in 1960, when Wing Commander Jack Allan commanded the team. Flight Lieutenant James McCombe took over the lead in 1961.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Do any Golden Hawks Sabres survive?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes. Surviving Golden Hawks Sabres include Sabre 6 23651, from the national collection and on loan to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and Sabre 6 23641 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton. Others are displayed in Halifax, Ontario parks and at the Technik Museum Speyer in Germany.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Can I fly in a T-33 like the Golden Hawks&rsquo; support jet?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes. The Golden Hawks used a T-33 as their support aircraft, and MiGFlug offers <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/flights-prices\/t-33-in-canada\/\">T-33 jet flights in Canada<\/a>, at Waterloo near Toronto, with a 45-minute flight.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who were the Golden Hawks?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Golden Hawks were the Royal Canadian Air Force\u2019s jet aerobatic team from 1959 to 1964. 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The team had seven aircraft in a gold scheme, and a T-33 served as its support aircraft.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who led the Golden Hawks?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Squadron Leader Fern Villeneuve was the first leader of the Golden Hawks in 1959 and led again in 1960, when Wing Commander Jack Allan commanded the team. Flight Lieutenant James McCombe took over the lead in 1961.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do any Golden Hawks Sabres survive?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Surviving Golden Hawks Sabres include Sabre 6 23651, from the national collection and on loan to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and Sabre 6 23641 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton. Others are displayed in Halifax, Ontario parks and at the Technik Museum Speyer in Germany.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I fly in a T-33 like the Golden Hawks\u2019 support jet?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. The Golden Hawks used a T-33 as their support aircraft, and MiGFlug offers T-33 jet flights in Canada, at Waterloo near Toronto, with a 45-minute flight.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/snowbirds-final-tutor-home-show-moose-jaw-october-2026\/\">Snowbirds Fly Their Last Tutor Home Show at Moose Jaw Today<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/snowbirds-ct-114-tutor-final-season-2026\/\">The Snowbirds Retire Their Jet<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/george-johnson-f-86-sabre-accidental-takeoff-williams-afb-1956\/\">The Mechanic Who Took Off in a Sabre and Had to Land It<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/frecce-tricolori-italian-aerobatic-team\/\">Ten Jets, One Sky<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From 1959 to 1964 the RCAF&rsquo;s Golden Hawks flew gold Canadair Sabres in 317 shows. The story of Canada&rsquo;s first great jet display team.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":28235811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[666,664],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28236001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-legends","category-military-aviation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Golden Hawks: Canada\u2019s Gold Sabre Display Team | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From 1959 to 1964 the RCAF Golden Hawks flew gold Canadair Sabres in 317 shows across North America. 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