On 11 November 1942, 431 Bomber Squadron formed at Burn, England. They were in England for the duration of the war and moved to RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, after V-E Day, disbanding there on 5 September 1945. 431 Fighter Squadron formed at RCAF Station Bagotville on 18 January 1954 in order to display the Sabre to the public at airshows. They were disbanded on 1 October 1954. They were re-activated on 1 April 1978 as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, more commonly known as the Snowbirds, flying the CT-114 Tutor.

Consisting of nine CT-114 Tutor trainer aircraft, the  snowbirds are unlike any other air demonstration team in North America.  Without the high-speed passes, without the loud engines, and without the newest equipment they stun audiences all around the world with grace.