Twelve Canadian fighter pilots fly their CF-18 Hornets in formation over Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 1, 1999.FRED CHARTRAND/The Canadian Press
Billie Flynn is a retired lieutenant-colonel for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and was the commanding officer of the ‘Balkan Rats’ during Task Force Aviano, as part of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo in 1999.
It was an unforgettable homecoming. On Canada Day in 1999, 12 CF-18 jets roared over Parliament Hill in Ottawa, marking our return from combat – a moment that Hollywood’s best could not have rivaled. But the true story behind that fly-past was an extraordinary coup, instigated by our combat unit, and, uniquely, not the result of months of preplanning by officials in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In the spring of 1999, the Canadian Armed Forces supported combat operations as a member of NATO’s Operation Allied Force, which sought to stop Serbia from continuing its campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Deploying six CF-18 Hornets from Aviano, Italy, alongside U.S. Air Force fighters, Canada’s presence expanded to 18 jets as combat operations escalated. Despite challenging conditions, Canadian pilots led day and night attacks. By early June, signs of Serbian weakness emerged, leading to negotiations for a ceasefire between Slobodan Milosevic and NATO.
Then-prime minister Jean Chrétien poses with Billie Flynn and with fighter pilots of 12 CF-18 jets after the fly-past over Parliament Hill on Canada Day, on July 1, 1999.Supplied
By the end of combat operations, the Canadian air fighting force, affectionately nicknamed the “Balkan Rats,” had flown nearly 700 combat sorties and had been at the very front of the NATO operation.
With combat over, it was time for 12 of our CF-18s to return home. At the same time, then-prime minister Jean Chrétien was leading a “Team Canada” European trip, accompanied by members of Parliament and business leaders to drum up economic opportunities on the continent. The delegation detoured to visit Aviano Air Base and meet the RCAF contingent just as we were planning our return home. My operations officer and good friend Major Glen (Flaps) Phillips suggested we do a fly-past over Parliament Hill on Canada Day once we made it home. I made a deal with Colonel André (Kermit) Viens, a long-time fighter pilot and friend who oversaw our Canadian operation, that if the prime minister agreed to this, then Kermit would let me lead the fly-past.
The chief of the defence staff had no notion of our plan, nor did anyone else in the RCAF. This approach was definitely outside the chain of command, but it would be worth the risk to secure this recognition for our returning combat servicemen and women.
I first proposed the idea to the prime minister’s chief of staff, who supported it. Next, I spent time with Aline Chrétien, an extraordinary lady, and we got her buy-in. I was to show the prime minister around a CF-18 cockpit, and I knew this would be my chance.
Billie Flynn shakes hands with then-prime minister Jean Chrétien.Supplied
During his tour, Mr. Chrétien and I talked about surface-to-air missile threats, the complexity of amassing large forces of jets for each attack, and aerial refueling, before I wondered aloud whether he thought flying 12 CF-18s over Parliament Hill on Canada Day would be a good idea. Would Canadians like that? He believed they would, so we began our preparations.
On Canada Day, 1999, our fly-past was scheduled to immediately follow a choir of young girls singing O Canada. The girls in the choir were also all blind, and I was cautioned not to fly over early or else we’d startle the singers while they were live on national television. We arrived over Ottawa right on time, with the crushing roar of 12 fighter jets closing the celebrations with spectacular effect. It was brilliant – a proud moment that exemplified how all returning servicemen and women should be honoured after serving abroad.
To add a patriotic touch, younger Hornet pilots ingeniously attached large Canadian flags to the speed brakes of each jet. As we landed, we opened the speed brakes, allowing the flags to fly proudly as we taxied in. Today, one of these flags, bearing all our signatures, is proudly displayed by the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bagotville, Que.
Upon landing, I was surprised to see my brother and parents, which made coming home from combat even more meaningful. That evening, as honoured guests at the Canada Day events on Parliament Hill, the reception we were given was unforgettable.
The fly-past was a brilliant and uniquely un-Canadian event, marking a perfect return from combat. The next day, most pilots returned to Bagotville, while some of us headed west to Cold Lake, Alta. There, I was reunited with my son Bret, then five years old, waving a Canadian flag as I taxied into our squadron. There is nothing more important than coming home to your family.
This Canada Day, let’s celebrate this great country by honouring the dedication and sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform, who safeguard the freedoms we enjoy every day. Happy Canada Day!