A once familiar sight on the Cold Lake skyline is returning. A radar dome that housed antenna used during the Cold War era will be returning again, this time as a display at the Cold Lake Air Force Museum. Jennifer Ross is the curator for the museum. She says the history of Radar in the area is a long one.
“When the base was first built back in 1952, the Radar facility was built separate from the base. It was the home of 42 Radar (squadron). There would have been three Radar Domes visible in Cold Lake.”
Ross says the idea to have a dome as a display is a long time coming. With the help of the Canadian Forces, it became a reality.
“The museum chair, Major Kael Rennie, used to be the 4 Wing traffic control officer. He had heard that the antenna and dome were to be replaced. Because the Air Force Museum is a military entity we were able to work an arrangement so that it could be installed up here as a static display.”
Ross says the display will eventually allow the public to see inside the dome, learning more about the workings of Radar. The public will get it’s first look at the display on May 19th, when the museum opens for the season.