Location Details

Canada has played an integral role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since its inception on 4 April 1949. Canada's commitment to have four fighter wings in Europe resulted in the creation of the 1 Canadian Air Division with its Headquarters in Metz, France and the following Wings located in France and Germany:
    1 (F) Wing at Marville, France;
    2 (F) Wing at Grostenquin, France;
    3 (F) Wing at Zweibrücken, Germany; and
    4 (F) Wing at Baden-Söllingen, Germany.

Logistical support for the Division was provided by 30 AMB in Langar, England.

Following a restructure of the Canadian Forces in Europe, 4 (F) Wing was renamed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Baden-Söllingen.

Service members and their families posted to CFB Baden-Söllingen often made their homes in the surrounding towns and villages. Rastatt was no exception. It is located several kilometres to the north of Baden-Söllingen.

Unlike most of North America, cemetery plots in Europe are not acquired in perpetuity but are leased for a specific period of time. Two children, Heidi Stevenson and Jennifer MacKenzie had been buried in the main cemetery in Rastatt.

Canada has entered into a 50-year agreement with the municipality of Rastatt for the maintenance of a Memorial Cairn. This Memorial Cairn bears the names of the two children and a dedication ceremony was held in 2004.

Background Information on these sites has been extracted from: the Pinetree Line Web Site; the 2 (F) Wing RCAF Grostenquin, France Information Booklet (1957); publication 4 CMBG Canada's NATO Brigade, 1983, Moritz Schauenburg Gmbh & Co. KG.