ontario town at a once secret rcaf training site
Vanastra
4938356
the Ontario Court of Appeal on August 28, 2007. Vanastra, Ontario Vanastra is a community in the municipality of Huron East, Ontario in Huron County, three kilometres south of the community of Clinton. It is located on the former property of a top secret Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station used to train and supply over 7,000 radar technicians and support staff for American, British and Canadian forces during World War II. The base was renamed Canadian Forces Base Clinton in 1966 and experienced remarkable growth and development as a peacetime training facility for wireless telegraphy. Expansion of the base
Vanastra, Ontario
4938356
the Ontario Court of Appeal on August 28, 2007. Vanastra, Ontario Vanastra is a community in the municipality of Huron East, Ontario in Huron County, three kilometres south of the community of Clinton. It is located on the former property of a top secret Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station used to train and supply over 7,000 radar technicians and support staff for American, British and Canadian forces during World War II. The base was renamed Canadian Forces Base Clinton in 1966 and experienced remarkable growth and development as a peacetime training facility for wireless telegraphy. Expansion of the base
Vanastra, Ontario
4938347
Vanastra, Ontario Vanastra is a community in the municipality of Huron East, Ontario in Huron County, three kilometres south of the community of Clinton. It is located on the former property of a top secret Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station used to train and supply over 7,000 radar technicians and support staff for American, British and Canadian forces during World War II. The base was renamed Canadian Forces Base Clinton in 1966 and experienced remarkable growth and development as a peacetime training facility for wireless telegraphy. Expansion of the base included recreational facilities, clubs and local sports teams. Following
Vanastra, Ontario
6470726
CFB Clinton Canadian Forces Base Clinton, CFB Clinton for short, was a Canadian Forces Base located near Clinton, Ontario. It initially opened in July 1941 as RAF Station Clinton under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as a training unit for radar operators during a period when radar was a top secret device. UK, Canadian, US and other servicemen were trained at Clinton, with practical flights being carried out at nearby RCAF Station Centralia. Clinton remained the primary radar training site for Canadian Forces personnel through the Cold War era, with continued expansions throughout the 1950s and 60s. As part
CFB Clinton
6759781
Edenvale Airport Edenvale Airport, , is located west of Edenvale, Ontario, Canada. From 1940 to 1945 it was known as RCAF Detachment Edenvale (No. 1 Relief Landing Field) as an emergency relief field supporting Camp Borden and used by the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan's No. 1 Service Flying Training School. After 1946 the RCAF buildings at Edenvale were demolished and the site abandoned. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Edenvale, Ontario at with a variation of 8 degrees west and elevation of . Three runways were listed as follows: In 1950 the airport became
Edenvale Airport
10125346
Canadian Army. The following year, in 1925, Croil was posted to Great Britain where he served as a liaison officer with the Royal Air Force. Croil also took a course of training at the RAF Staff College, Andover. Returning to Canada by 1928, Croil was appointed Station Commander of RCAF Station Borden in Ontario which at that time was one of a very few RCAF training bases. Returning to Great Britain for further advanced training, Croil attended the Imperial Defence College. Crossing back across the Atlantic once more, in 1934 Croil was appointed Senior Air Officer with the RCAF making
George Croil
7384787
1999 - 2011, the base sat mostly unused, except for occasional use by military and police as a training centre. Despite the site being idle, there is 24/7 security posted at the gatehouse making the site inaccessible to the public. In July 2011, a developer purchased the remainder of the property for $2,500 and by the fall of 2011, all the buildings had been demolished. Developer Miya Consulting plans to build 82 houses on the property. RCAF Station Edgar RCAF Station Edgar was part of the Pinetree Line of radar stations and was located at Edgar, Ontario Canada, about 20
RCAF Station Edgar
5868223
station closed in 1961 and the Ontario Police College eventually took over the facilities. All that remains from the RCAF days are 2 hangars, the deteriorating airfield and the taxi area, which is now used as part of the police vehicle driver training track. Outline of one of the former runways exists in what is now Alymer Wildlife Area. A memorial to the former RCAF station sits at the entrance to the Ontario Police College property. Twelve flying instructors and 26 students lost their lives training at No. 14 SFTS. RCAF Station Aylmer RCAF Station Aylmer was a Royal Canadian
RCAF Station Aylmer
6231631
RCAF Station London in 1958. In the late 1960s, the Canadian military was reorganized and eventually unified. The reorganization resulted in many military bases being closed, including Centralia, which closed in July 1966. Functions provided by Centralia were moved to various other stations. Today the airport still operates as Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome. Most of the former RCAF buildings remain. The site is now known as the Huron Industrial Park. RCAF Station Centralia RCAF Station Centralia was a Royal Canadian Air Force training base located just outside the village of Centralia near Exeter, Ontario, Canada. It became one of
RCAF Station Centralia
6265190
RCAF Station Kingston RCAF Station Kingston was a World War II air training station built in 1940 at Collins Bay near Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The station was originally built by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for use by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Like other RAF schools in Canada, it was subject to RCAF administrative and operational control. No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) was the first British Service Flying Training school to be established in Canada and the first flying training school at Kingston. The school was originally No. 7 Service Flying School based in Peterborough, England.
RCAF Station Kingston
16042538
Second World War. Portions of the former RCAF station are now classified as a National Historic Site of Canada. The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is a popular tourist attraction located at the former station that commemorates the BCATP and the former station. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at with a Var. 13 degrees E and elevation of 1322'. Six runways were listed as follows: A relief landing field for RCAF Station Brandon was located approximately 6 miles east. The site was located 5 miles northeast of the town of Chater, Manitoba. The relief field was constructed in
RCAF Station Brandon
19703498
2016 is being restored by the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association. The Cold Springs Turkey Farm took over the property in 1964, and many years later it became the Dunnville Airport. In 2003 the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering designated the Dunnville Airport property as a National Historic Civil Engineering site. RCAF Station Dunnville Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunnville was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Dunnville, Ontario. The station was home to No. 6 Service Flying Training School and is usually known by that name. Service Flying Training schools trained Pilots, either
RCAF Station Dunnville
6292211
RCAF Detachment Grand Bend RCAF Detachment Grand Bend, located near Grand Bend, Ontario, was built in 1942 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. It was the primary relief aerodrome ("R1") aerodrome for student pilots training with No. 9 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Centralia. Grand Bend was home to No. 1 Flying Control School from 1951–1957. The station was used by Centralia until 1961 when it began use with the Canadian Army. It was given back to the RCAF in 1962 and was used by RCAF Station Centralia until the aerodrome closed in 1963. Subsequent
RCAF Detachment Grand Bend
15500782
RCAF Detachment Alliston Royal Canadian Air Force Detachment Alliston was opened in July 1940 near the village of Alliston, Ontario (Lots 6, 7 & 8, Concession 11, Tecumseth Twp.), this small aerodrome served as the No. 2 Relief Landing Field for No. 1 Service Flying Training School of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, located at RCAF Station Camp Borden. The airfield at RCAF Detachment Alliston consisted of 3 runways in a standard triangular pattern, but unlike the RCAF Detachment Edenvale, they were compressed grass runways and there were no lights for night landings. The airfield was abandoned at the
RCAF Detachment Alliston
6292213
Bend Raceway, the Grand Bend Sport Parachuting Center and some local private aircraft. The only RCAF building that remains is the hangar, with the control tower perched on top. The property was subsequently owned by Bell Aerospace, Exeter plastics and P.O.G. The aerodrome is now operated as the Grand Bend Airport. RCAF Detachment Grand Bend RCAF Detachment Grand Bend, located near Grand Bend, Ontario, was built in 1942 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. It was the primary relief aerodrome ("R1") aerodrome for student pilots training with No. 9 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Centralia.
RCAF Detachment Grand Bend
7671482
CFB Uplands Canadian Forces Base Uplands (also CFB Uplands) was a Canadian Forces Base located in Ottawa, Ontario. Most of the land which formed the base was transferred to the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport after the base was closed in the 1990s. Several military units continue to exist at the former base and the Canadian Forces continues to maintain military housing at the site. The former base is now known formally as "Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) - Uplands Site." The Royal Canadian Air Force established RCAF Station Uplands as a wartime training station of the British Commonwealth Air Training
CFB Uplands
6723090
Grand Bend Airport Grand Bend Airport, , is located southeast of Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada. The airport was originally established as RCAF Detachment Grand Bend by the RCAF in 1942 as a relief, or auxiliary, aerodrome for student pilots training with No. 9 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Centralia. Grand Bend was home to No. 1 Flying Control School from 1951–1957. The station was used by Centralia until 1961 when it began use with the Canadian Army. It was given back to the RCAF in 1962 and was used by RCAF Station Centralia until the aerodrome closed in
Grand Bend Airport
8815496
RCAF Detachment Gananoque RCAF Detachment Gananoque was a relief landing field for the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) located at RCAF Station Kingston during the Second World War. The airfield was located north of Gananoque, Ontario, Canada. Gananoque consisted of a triangle-shaped runway pattern, one hangar, and a control tower. Gananoque officially became a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) facility in 1942 when RAF training schools became part of the BCATP. The station opened in 1940 and closed in 1945. The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with three runways formed
RCAF Detachment Gananoque
17576742
serving at No. 4 WS, five in flying accidents. RCAF Station Guelph RCAF Station Guelph was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located in Guelph, Ontario on the campus of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), and the Macdonald Institute. The station is usually known as No. 4 Wireless School and was home to several schools as well as test facilities for air force kitchens. The relationship between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the OAC began in January 1940 when the air force began to send airmen to the OAC
RCAF Station Guelph
5868219
RCAF Station Aylmer RCAF Station Aylmer was a Royal Canadian Air Force airfield that was built between late 1940 and June 1941 northeast of Aylmer, Ontario. It was one of many built across Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II. The first school at the airfield was No. 14 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). RCAF staff began arriving at the station before construction was finished. First to arrive was a 17-man security party under Sgt. Les Oliver in late March. Squadron Leader T. Moreton, the first officer, arrived on 2 June 1941 to manage the
RCAF Station Aylmer
10681419
east of the town is the RCAF gunnery and training school which was used during the Second World War as a training school for fighter pilots. This has now been converted into a golf course. The site of the birdwatching trails south of Old Wives Lake was home to the RCAF gunnery and bombing range during the Second World War. Remnants of the facilities can still be found in the locations. Some artifacts that have been found include antique ammunition and explosives. The Saskatchewan Transportation Company provides intercity bus service to Mossbank. Mossbank, Saskatchewan Mossbank is a town in the
Mossbank, Saskatchewan
9044161
RCAF Station Hamilton RCAF Station Hamilton was a station of the Royal Canadian Air Force located at Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada, south of the City of Hamilton. During the Second World War, it was a base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, teaching pilots from allied commonwealth nations the basics of elementary flying. Schools located here were No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 10 EFTS), which flew De Havilland Tiger Moth and Fleet Finch aircraft, and No. 33 Air Navigation School (No. 33 ANS), which flew the Avro Anson. No. 10 EFTS relocated to RCAF Station Pendleton in
RCAF Station Hamilton
4271632
men and women moved to New England to seek work where many had relatives. World War II saw the opening of RCAF Station Chatham, providing an economic stimulus for the town until its closure in 1996. RCAF Station Chatham was established as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After the war, many different aircraft were deployed at Chatham. RCAF Station Chatham was the site where the Golden Hawks Aerobatic Team was formed before it was moved. The Golden Hawks were a precursor to the current 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, or "Snowbirds". The primary purpose of the base was
Chatham, New Brunswick
6723092
subsequently owned by Bell Aerospace, Exeter plastics and P.O.G. Grand Bend Airport Grand Bend Airport, , is located southeast of Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada. The airport was originally established as RCAF Detachment Grand Bend by the RCAF in 1942 as a relief, or auxiliary, aerodrome for student pilots training with No. 9 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Centralia. Grand Bend was home to No. 1 Flying Control School from 1951–1957. The station was used by Centralia until 1961 when it began use with the Canadian Army. It was given back to the RCAF in 1962 and was used
Grand Bend Airport
6252978
RCAF Station Vulcan RCAF Station Vulcan, also referred to as RCAF Aerodrome Vulcan, was a Second World War flying training station located southwest of the town of Vulcan, Alberta, Canada. It was one station of many that were established in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The Vulcan aerodrome hosted No. 2 Flying Instructor School (FIS), which was formally established at the station on 3 August 1942. However No. 2 FIS started training at RCAF Station Claresholm on 27 April 1942 under the control of No. 15 Service Flying Training School. The aircraft used were Cornells, Cranes, Fawns,
RCAF Station Vulcan
6501881
Construction of what would become known as RCAF Station Cold Lake began in 1952 at the height of the Cold War after the site in Alberta's "Lakeland District" was chosen by the RCAF for the country's premier air weapons training base. The chosen location was near the former Town of Grand Centre (now part of the City of Cold Lake), and was based on factors such as low population density, accessibility, weather, suitable terrain, and available land for air weapons training. Although the location of the range attempted to avoid First Nations reserves, it "encompassed traditional Aboriginal and treaty areas
CFB Cold Lake
6231625
RCAF Station Centralia RCAF Station Centralia was a Royal Canadian Air Force training base located just outside the village of Centralia near Exeter, Ontario, Canada. It became one of the largest training stations in Canada. Flying schools were established across Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II. Centralia was the location for No. 9 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Service Flying Training Schools provided advanced training to pilots who had graduated from Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTSs). Trainee pilots flew the Avro Anson and North American Harvard. No. 9 SFTS had moved to
RCAF Station Centralia
20760805
38 SFTS was disbanded. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Estevan, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of . Five runways were listed as follows: A review of Google Maps on 8 June 2018 shows the area that was once home to this facility is now an open pit mine. There is no visible evidence that the facility ever existed. A Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Estevan was located approximately west. The site was located north-west of the town of Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was constructed in the
RCAF Station Estevan
7671565
CFB St. Hubert Canadian Forces Base St. Hubert was a Canadian Forces Base in the town of Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The base was closed in 1997, but the site is still active and under the administration of CFB Montreal. 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron operates from the former base's airfield. RCAF Station St Hubert was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) airbase established in World War II at the Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport. The station was home to British Commonwealth Air Training Plan No. 13 Service Flying Training School (13 SFTS) from 1 September 1941 to until February 1944, with a relief field located
CFB St. Hubert
14771544
these pilots stimulated young Lynn's interest and by the age of four, he had decided he would be a pilot. During April, 1946 his parents purchased a ride for him in an ex-RCAF Cessna AT-17 operated by Kepler Aviation, at Calgary International Airport. At the age of 17, Garrison joined the RCAF and trained at the "RCAF Officer Selection Unit" (Ontario) and Course 5411, 4 Flying Training School (RCAF Station Penhold, Alberta) During October, 1954, the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor was introduced to RCAF service in a quest to find a replacement for the Harvard. Courses 5409 and 5411, at Penhold,
Lynn Garrison
19703489
RCAF Station Dunnville Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunnville was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Dunnville, Ontario. The station was home to No. 6 Service Flying Training School and is usually known by that name. Service Flying Training schools trained Pilots, either single engine or multi-engine, and 6 SFTS was a single engine school. After graduation the new pilots were assigned various duties, which might be overseas in the Royal Air Force or an RCAF squadron; or in Canada as instructors or staff pilots in the BCATP, or for duty in RCAF
RCAF Station Dunnville
1638738
R.C.A.F. in October 1940 and received flight training in Ontario at No.9 Elementary Flying Training School, located at RCAF Station St. Catharines (St. Catharines), and at No. 2 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Uplands (Ottawa). He passed his Wings Test in June 1941. Shortly after his promotion to the rank of Pilot Officer, after having been awarded his wings, Magee was sent to the British Isles, where on arrival he was posted to No. 53 Operational Training Unit at RAF Llandow, in Wales. After completing his training with No. 53 Operational Training Unit Magee was assigned to No.
John Gillespie Magee Jr.
17576717
RCAF Station Guelph RCAF Station Guelph was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located in Guelph, Ontario on the campus of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), and the Macdonald Institute. The station is usually known as No. 4 Wireless School and was home to several schools as well as test facilities for air force kitchens. The relationship between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the OAC began in January 1940 when the air force began to send airmen to the OAC to be trained as chefs. This instruction was provided
RCAF Station Guelph
7384785
RCAF Station Edgar RCAF Station Edgar was part of the Pinetree Line of radar stations and was located at Edgar, Ontario Canada, about 20 kilometres northeast of Barrie. Built in 1952, the site was home to the 31st Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and was operational in its intended role between 1952 and 1964. The complex was sold to the provincial government of Ontario in November 1964 for CA$218,225, and was used as an Adult Occupational Centre for developmentally disabled or handicapped adults until 1999. The base consisted of 84 residences, 2 office buildings, a swimming pool, bowling alley, baseball
RCAF Station Edgar
9044164
the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. The airport is also the home of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. RCAF Station Hamilton RCAF Station Hamilton was a station of the Royal Canadian Air Force located at Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada, south of the City of Hamilton. During the Second World War, it was a base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, teaching pilots from allied commonwealth nations the basics of elementary flying. Schools located here were No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 10 EFTS), which flew De Havilland Tiger Moth and Fleet Finch aircraft, and No. 33 Air
RCAF Station Hamilton
6231627
1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Centralia, Ontario at with a variation of 5 degrees west and elevation of . The aerodrome was listed as "Under construction" with three runways as follows: Because of increasing tensions between the Soviet Bloc and the West, defence expenditures were increased and the Canadian forces were strengthened. Centralia, along with a number of other stations, underwent major rehabilitation to better accommodate aircrew training. Centralia was reactivated in January 1947 to provide accommodation and training facilities for No. 1 Radar and Communications School (No. 1 R&CS) that was based in nearby RCAF
RCAF Station Centralia
9476002
RCAF Station Virden RCAF Station Virden was a Second World War, British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) flying training station located north of Virden, Manitoba, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is now the site of Virden/R.J. (Bob) Andrew Field Regional Aerodrome. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at with a Var. 14 degrees 30' E and elevation of 1446'. The runway is listed as a 3600' diameter, Turf, All way field. The station hosted No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School (19 EFTS). Flight instructors were civilian and were members of
RCAF Station Virden
8815497
in a triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at with a variation of 12 degrees west and elevation of . Three runways were listed as follows: Today, the former station is operated as the Gananoque Airport. RCAF Detachment Gananoque RCAF Detachment Gananoque was a relief landing field for the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) located at RCAF Station Kingston during the Second World War. The airfield was located north of Gananoque, Ontario, Canada. Gananoque consisted of a triangle-shaped runway pattern, one hangar, and a control tower. Gananoque officially became a British Commonwealth Air
RCAF Detachment Gananoque
7024087
seventy men who died while training at Pennfield Ridge. There was also six civilian casualties as well. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick at with a variation of 22 degrees west and elevation of . Three runways were listed as follows: RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge was a Royal Canadian Air Force training station located in coastal Charlotte County, New Brunswick in the hamlet of Pennfield Ridge. Construction of the aerodrome began in the summer of 1940 after a suitable site was selected on a ridge high above
RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge
11249336
from many countries other than Canada and the United Kingdom, and used air stations throughout Canada, with many located on the prairies well away from congested urban areas and where the land was open and flat. Indeed, many of the old BCATP stations were expanded and used for the NATO training program. Trainees came from such countries as the UK, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, West Germany, Belgium, Greece, and Italy. Training began at RCAF Station London, Ontario, at the "NATO Training & Induction School" ( relocated to RCAF Station Centralia in 1954) where students were familiarized
NATO Air Training Plan
7024082
RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge was a Royal Canadian Air Force training station located in coastal Charlotte County, New Brunswick in the hamlet of Pennfield Ridge. Construction of the aerodrome began in the summer of 1940 after a suitable site was selected on a ridge high above the surrounding coastal plain of the north shore of the Bay of Fundy, east of the town of St. George. Proximity to a Canadian Pacific Railway line running between St. Stephen and Saint John eased the transport of building materials. General contractor Dexter Construction had 200 workers on the project
RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge
18682831
Antonio, Texas." Prior to enrolling in medical school, Fassold joined the RCAF (Auxiliary) in 1956. As a Pilot Officer, Fassold, "who held a short-service commission, was sponsored for an 18-month pilot training program by 420 (Aux) Squadron, London Ontario. This squadron was disbanded just as [he had completed] his basic flying training on the Harvard aircraft at #2 Flying Training School at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan." In 1957, "Flying Officer Fassold transferred to the Regular Force when he received his wings." He "served with 2 Air Observer School at RCAF Station Winnipeg, Manitoba and then with 412 (VIP) Transport Squadron at
Robert W. Fassold
11474933
426 Transport Training Squadron 426 Transport Training Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force, located at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. It originated as a squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) that fought during the Second World War as a bomber squadron. The motto of the squadron is "On Wings of Fire" and the squadron's badge contains a Thunderbird. The badge refers to the squadron's "Thunderbird" designation.<ref name="airforce.forces.gc.ca/426sqn"></ref> No. 426 Squadron RCAF was created during the Second World War as a result of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan to supply aircrew
426 Transport Training Squadron
6266995
September, with many of their pilots putting on an impromptu airshow before landing their aircraft for the last time. The aerodrome is still visible today; however, all of the structures from the old station have been removed. A memorial cairn has been installed at the site of the original guard house to inform visitors of the station's history. RCAF Station Pearce RCAF Station Pearce or RCAF Aerodrome Pearce or BCATP Station Pearce, was a Second World War training air station of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). It was located northeast of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada. The Pearce aerodrome
RCAF Station Pearce
1399581
retained by the BCATP in Canada, as instructors, staff pilots or in similar flying assignments. The first BCATP personnel sent to the UK were 37 Canadian observers, who received their wings at RCAF Trenton, near Trenton, Ontario, on 27 October 1940. The first BCATP-trained pilots posted to Europe as a group were 37 RAAF personnel who graduated in November 1941, from No. 2 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Uplands, Ottawa. Prior to the inception of the Empire Air Training Scheme (as it was commonly known in Australia), the RAAF trained only about 50 pilots per year. Under the Air Training
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
15663904
the plane into a full stall and crash landed at the bottom of a densely treed hillside. All on board survived with only minor injuries. Later, four RCAF personnel returned to the crash site to retrieve the radio and machine guns, destroy the secret radar gear and detonate the depth charges. No. 4 Squadron RCAF No. 4 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that was active during the Second World War. It was formed on 17 January 1933 at RCAF Station Jericho Beach and flew civil operations until 1939. During the war it was primarily used
No. 4 Squadron RCAF
15312593
the formation of service flying training schools one of which, No. 1 Service Flying Training School (No. 1 SFTS) at Camp Borden, Ontario, specialized in advanced pilot training and eventually evolved into 1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in 1965. Under this system pilot candidates could expect to advance from 3 CFFTS to 2 CFFTS, then finish at 1 CFFTS, mimicking the Royal Air Force pilot training philosophy adopted by the RCAF of three separate stages of pilot training – elementary, intermediate and advanced. 1 Flying Training School (FTS) was formed on 16 September 1945 at Centralia, Ontario, as a
1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School
9476003
the Brandon-Virden Flying Club and the Moose Jaw Flying Club. Aircraft used include the de Havilland Tiger Moth and Fairchild Cornell. A relief (emergency) landing field was located near Lenore. No. 19 EFTS opened May 16, 1941, and closed December 15, 1944. RCAF Station Virden RCAF Station Virden was a Second World War, British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) flying training station located north of Virden, Manitoba, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is now the site of Virden/R.J. (Bob) Andrew Field Regional Aerodrome. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at
RCAF Station Virden
19459175
as band and drill were also taught. Once a year, air cadets were able to go to a 10-day summer camp. The camp was a "tent village" located on an RCAF base such as RCAF Detachment Carp, a relief landing field for No.2 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Uplands, Ottawa. While at camp, cadets have an opportunity to work closely with RCAF personnel and receive practical instruction on RCAF front line aircraft, including trainers, seaplanes, fighters and bombers. In preparation for a career in the RCAF, cadets from all across Canada receive a thorough introduction to aeronautical subjects
Air Cadets (film)
19703494
for operations moved on to an Operational Training Unit for advanced training. When the school opened in 1940 trainees stayed there for nine weeks, and by 1943 the length of the course increased to sixteen weeks. At the peak of activity in 1943 roughly 1,500 people were stationed at Dunnville, and sixty four Harvard Mk. IIs, thirty six Harvard Mk. IIBs, eight Mk. II Ansons were in use, with a further six Harvards in storage. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Dunnville, Ontario at with a variation of 7 degrees west and elevation of .
RCAF Station Dunnville
7119121
was listed at with a variation of 18 degrees east and elevation of . Six runways were listed as follows: RCAF Station Moose Jaw had two Relief Landing Fields one at Buttress, Saskatchewan and one at Burdick. In 1946 RCAF Station Moose Jaw was decommissioned and the aerodrome was returned to civilian service after the war. Rising Cold War tensions saw the aerodrome reactivated by the RCAF in 1953 as the site of military pilot training. RCAF Station Moose Jaw undertook additional construction to support its expanded personnel complement. The base was used by the RCAF and its NATO allies
CFB Moose Jaw
2783220
target tug, it was used as a target-towing aircraft to support airborne gunnery training exercises. Furthermore, Battles were not only used in this role by the RAF, several overseas operators opted to acquire the type as a training platform. In August 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) received its first batch of eight Battles at RCAF Station Borden, Ontario, Canada. A total of 802 Battles were eventually delivered from England, serving in various roles and configurations, including dual-control trainers, target-tugs, and gunnery trainers for both the Bombing and Gunnery schools of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Canadian use of
Fairey Battle
17576727
used the RCAF airfield at Burtch for their airborne practice. In the beginning they were bussed from Guelph to Burtch on a daily basis; but some time later a permanent camp was built there. In 1944 airborne training was moved to the RCAF airfield at St. Catharines, Ontario. The first class of Wireless Operators left No. 4 Wireless School and were enrolled at No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School. On 20 December 1941 they received their wings in a ceremony held in Hangar F at No. 1 B&GS. W/C Russell, Commanding Officer of No. 4 W.S. was invited to officiate
RCAF Station Guelph
17485262
dedicated to the personnel who served at the station, with the reverse side of the plaque memorializing the thirty-eight Commonwealth airmen and one civilian who died while serving at No. 1 B&GS. A further memorial, in stone, to those who died serving at Jarvis is located at RCAF Station Dunnville, where there is a museum dedicated to the BCATP. RCAF Station Jarvis Royal Canadian Air Force Station Jarvis was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Jarvis, Ontario. The station was home to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School and is usually known by
RCAF Station Jarvis
3057545
its aircraft to help transport liberated prisoners of war. A total of 157 Ventura G.R. Mk. Vs were used operationally by the RCAF from 16 June 1942 to 18 April 1947 in the home defence coastal patrol role in both Eastern and Western Air Command. They were flown by 8, 113, 115, 145, and 149 Squadrons. A further 21 Ventura Mk. Is and 108 Ventura Mk. IIs were used in a training role at 1 Central Flying School, Trenton, Ontario, and at RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick (RAF No. 34 Operational Training Unit) as part of the BCATP. A
Lockheed Ventura
16930064
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Durham between 1999 and 2014. O'Toole married his wife Rebecca in 2000. They have a daughter, Mollie, and a son, Jack. Following his 1995 graduation from RMC, O'Toole was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where he attained the rank of second lieutenant. His first posting with the RCAF occurred in Trenton, Ontario, where he was involved in search and rescue operations. O'Toole also spent time at 17 Wing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he completed his training as an air navigator. In 1997, O'Toole was posted to 12
Erin O'Toole
11907363
Royal Canadian Artillery and trained to fly at No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School RAF Cambridge, and further trained for operational flying at No. 43 Operational Training Unit RAF, at RAF Andover. The squadron was formed at RAF Andover, England, on 5 March 1945, the third Air Observation Post squadron consisting of Canadian personnel to be formed at RAF Andover, after a 1944 parliamentary debate in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, resulted in the approval of three AOP squadrons to be added to the RCAF list, in support of the First Canadian Army. The squadron operated under the overall command of No.
No. 666 Squadron RCAF
6265193
No. 14 SFTS closed down in September 1945. Some of the more noteworthy pilots who trained at this station include: The old air station has been improved over the years and is now the Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport. Forty-nine airmen lost their lives while serving at Kingston, most in flying accidents. Three of these men, A/LA Moore, J.C., Lieut. Edwards, R.C., and A/LA Scorrow, E., perished when their aircraft crashed in Lake Ontario, and as of 2014 they have not been recovered. RCAF Station Kingston RCAF Station Kingston was a World War II air training station built in 1940 at Collins
RCAF Station Kingston
6369843
Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome, originally RCAF Station Centralia, , is located west of Centralia, Ontario, Canada. Originally built as a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Centralia Airport was home to the No. 9 Service Flying Training School as of September 21, 1942. Pilots were trained for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as well as other Commonwealth nation forces. In September 1947, the airport was renamed RCAF Station Centralia. During military ownership, various types of aircraft were operated including the Avro Anson, Douglas Dakota, Beechcraft Expeditor, North American Harvard, and
Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome
19703491
at RCAF Welland just five or six minutes flying time away, and within twenty four minutes flying time there were more RCAF airfields - Brantford, Burtch, Cayuga, Dufferin, Hagersville, Jarvis, Mount Hope, St. Catharines, Tillsonburg, and Willoughby. The site lay on the air route from Buffalo, New York to Detroit, Michigan, used by American Airlines and Bell Aircraft, and the Fleet Aircraft factory was close by in Fort Erie, Ontario. This gave the pilots and trainees at Dunnville many places to land if they got lost or had a mechanical problem, but it also meant there was a lot of
RCAF Station Dunnville
19480735
School, (RCAF Station Clinton), from May 1954 until May 1955. The Detachment used the Station’s operational setting to carry out the ‘equipment phase’ training of RCAF Telecommunications Branch - Radar Technicians, on the operation of the GE AN/FPS-6B long-range height finding radar. RCAF Station St. Sylvestre, Site C-6, was a Group II PINETREE Medium Radar Site, whose essential services, operations, with staffing, and their associated costs were shared with the USAF,until June 1961. As a Type C Station, it consisted of an Operations Main Building, of RCAF design, with two adjoining radar towers of similar construction, and twenty-five associated service
RCAF Station St. Sylvestre
9576345
RCAF Station Winisk Royal Canadian Air Force Station Winisk (RCAF Station Winisk) was a military installation located in Winisk, Ontario. RCAF Winisk was one of eight Sector Control Stations on the Mid-Canada Line system of radar stations. Each SCS received signals from a series of unmanned detection sites located approximately 50 km apart. In Winisk, radio wave signals were transmitted along the chain of stations to the SCS, then to MCL Site 070 Mount Kempis via tropospheric scatter system and finally to RCAF Station North Bay by land line. As there is no road or rail access to Winisk, an
RCAF Station Winisk
18325440
Citations Bibliography Canada's Air Defence Canada's Air Defence is a 33-minute 1957 Canadian documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The film depicts the role of air defence over Canada and the United States by following the training and operational exercises of a RCAF squadron. In 1956, No. 433 "Porcupine" RCAF Squadron flies the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck all-weather interceptor aircraft. The squadron is based at CFB North Bay, Ontario, and is responsible for an area that includes the immediate region and the Arctic. On a deployment to CFB
Canada's Air Defence
18325435
Canada's Air Defence Canada's Air Defence is a 33-minute 1957 Canadian documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The film depicts the role of air defence over Canada and the United States by following the training and operational exercises of a RCAF squadron. In 1956, No. 433 "Porcupine" RCAF Squadron flies the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck all-weather interceptor aircraft. The squadron is based at CFB North Bay, Ontario, and is responsible for an area that includes the immediate region and the Arctic. On a deployment to CFB Cold Lake,
Canada's Air Defence
4264938
opened on 8 August 1941 and closed on 30 March 1945. After the RCAF finished with the site it was used by the Canadian Army for various purposes and was known as Camp Hagersville. The camp was closed in 1964. In 2013 the site is an industrial park. Some of the military homes are still there, and the housing area is known as "White Oaks Village". A good view of the site and the old hangars is had from Concession 10 Walpole. The base was located at Hagersville, Ontario Hagersville is a community in Haldimand County, Ontario which gained international
Hagersville, Ontario
3914639
15, 1906, Davidson was officially declared a town. During World War II the Royal Canadian Air Force built and operated RCAF Station Davidson as a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The station was constructed on a site 7 km east of the town. This site should not be confused with Davidson Municipal Airport which is adjacent to the town, on the south end. Davidson Elementary School and Davidson High School were formerly part of the Davidson School Division, which also included schools in the communities of Kenaston, Craik and Eyebrow. As of January 1, 2006, DES and
Davidson, Saskatchewan
18682841
Wilson George Leach Major-General W.G. Leach CMM, CD, QHP, (28 September 1923 – 12 February 2015) was the 7th Canadian Surgeon General. Born in Chalk River, Ontario, Leach left high school in 1940, to work as a car-checker for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. In 1942, he enlisted in the RCAF, "and was trained as a pilot." The following year he received his "wings and a commission as a Pilot Officer." In 1945, he married Mabel Kathleen Pudney, and was posted as "a flight instructor at various RCAF flying training stations", under the British Commonwealth Air Training Program. After the
Wilson George Leach
6370931
majority for the RCAF. They were used as initial trainers in the BCATP at no fewer than 12 Elementary Flight Training Schools across Canada. Both the Fleet Finch and Tiger Moth were later replaced by the Fairchild PT-26 Cornell. The Finch was progressively phased out of service from October 1944 with the last of the Model 16s struck off strength from the RCAF inventory in 1947. Fleet Finch The Fleet Finch (Fleet Model 16) is a two-seat, tandem training biplane produced by Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario. There were a number of variants mainly based on engine variations. Over
Fleet Finch
21003065
its pilot and the other was returned to Camp Borden. Due to opposition to the RCAF performing civil operations, the squadron was transferred to the nominally civilian Directorate of Civil Government Air Operations on 1 July 1927 and its designation lapsed. Retroactively redesignated as No. 2 (Training) Squadron on 1 April, the squadron was reformed a year later as an advanced training unit, but due to a lack of aircraft, funding, and personnel it only existed on paper. No. 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron was formed on 1 April 1935 at Trenton, Ontario, equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mark I biplanes,
No. 2 Squadron RCAF
2202634
included sawmills and flour-mills powered by water from Catfish Creek. Aided by easy access to Lake Erie, Aylmer became by the mid-1860s the marketing centre for a rich agricultural and timber producing area. Benefiting greatly from the construction of the 230 km Canada Air Line Railway from Glencoe to Fort Erie, Aylmer became an incorporated village in 1872 and a town in 1887. A Royal Canadian Air Force Training Facility, RCAF Station Aylmer was located just north of Aylmer in Malahide Township from 1941 to 1961. This station is now home to the Ontario Police College and The Aylmer Wildlife
Aylmer, Ontario
9406290
RCAF Station Fingal RCAF Station Fingal was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Fingal, Ontario, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Fingal hosted No. 4 Bomber and Gunnery School (No. 4 B&GS), which trained bomb aimers and air gunners. The school opened on 25 November 1940 and closed 17 February 1945. Aircraft used included the Fairey Battle, Northrop Nomad, Westland Lysander, Bristol Bolingbroke and Avro Anson. Bombing ranges were located near Melbourne, Frome, Tempo, and Dutton. A bombing range was also located on Lake Erie. A
RCAF Station Fingal
18682834
his major clients being the Canadian Space Agency and Canada Post Corporation." In 1995, "he purchased an ex-RCAF de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, a two-seat training aircraft, which he operates commercially, providing pilot training and passenger rides, including those at Canada’s National Aviation Museum in Ottawa", Ontario. He remains the Occupational Medicine Consultant on Transport Canada’s Aviation Medical Review Board (AMRB). Robert W. Fassold Major-General R.W. Fassold OStJ, CD, QHP, BSc, MD (10 June 1933) was the 10th Canadian Surgeon General. Born in London, Ontario, Robert W., was educated at "the University of Western Ontario, where he earned" a bachelor's degree
Robert W. Fassold
20843109
an agreement with the Canadians to transfer fourteen training schools to Canada. The first was No. 7 Service Flying Training School from Peterborough, England, which was relocated to Kingston, Ontario as No. 31 Service Flying Training School, and the second was Navigation School No. 48 General Reconnaissance from St. Athan, Wales, which moved to Port Albert as No. 31 Air Navigation School in October 1940. The school opened 18 November 1940 and closed 17 February 1945. The RAF school was integrated into the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in 1942. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome
RCAF Station Port Albert
6025528
shaking loose and almost falling off. Rolls-Royce had problems delivering engines, resulting in the sarcastically-named "Yukon gliders" being parked outside Canadair as late as 1961. Initially, the CL-44-6 was produced for the RCAF as the CC-106 Yukon. Once initial problems were resolved, in RCAF service the Yukon performed well and in December 1961, a Yukon set a world record for its class when it flew 6,750 mi (10,860 km) from Tokyo to RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, in 17 hours, three minutes at an average speed of 400 mph (640 km/h). Later, a Yukon set a new record staying airborne for
Canadair CL-44
4239638
at RCAF Bagotville, Quebec. By the end of 1962, the squadrons were operating out of RCAF Comox, British Columbia, (409 Squadron), RCAF North Bay, Ontario, (414 Squadron), RCAF Uplands, Ottawa, Ontario, (410 Squadron), RCAF Bagotville, Quebec, (425 Squadron), and RCAF Chatham, New Brunswick, (416 Squadron). Defence cuts in 1964 eliminated Nos. 410 and 414 Squadrons (although a reformed 414 Squadron would operate the Voodoo years later). Each Voodoo base was laid out to allow aircraft to be kept at immediate readiness at all times. A Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facility was positioned at the end of the main runway to
McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo
3250601
1938) and then Trans-Canada Air Lines (in 1939). From the beginning of the war the Regina Flying Club was heavily involved in the contract training for the Royal Canadian Air Force(RCAF). The majority of this training was conducted out of the Regina Municipal Airport. The implementation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in the early 1940's resulted in the formation of No. 15 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS)and RCAF Station Regina at the Airport on 11 November 1940. The School was managed by the Regina Flying Club and was in operation at the site until it was closed on
Regina International Airport
18223689
No. 13 Service Flying Training School RCAF No. 13 Service Flying Training School RCAF was a RAF flight training unit flying Avro Ansons from RCAF Station St Hubert, Quebec and later from RCAF Station North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It was part of No. 3 Training Command RCAF carrying out British Commonwealth Air Training Plan ("BCATP") operations. The school was opened at St Hubert on 1 September 1941, moved to North Battleford on 25 February 1944, and was closed on 30 March 1945. It operated the North American Harvard and the Avro Anson as advanced training aircraft and while at St Hubert
No. 13 Service Flying Training School RCAF
9576347
2006, Angus stated that there are over 50,000 barrels of toxic material and that PCB levels in the soil are 16,000 times acceptable levels. RCAF Station Winisk Royal Canadian Air Force Station Winisk (RCAF Station Winisk) was a military installation located in Winisk, Ontario. RCAF Winisk was one of eight Sector Control Stations on the Mid-Canada Line system of radar stations. Each SCS received signals from a series of unmanned detection sites located approximately 50 km apart. In Winisk, radio wave signals were transmitted along the chain of stations to the SCS, then to MCL Site 070 Mount Kempis via
RCAF Station Winisk
12598834
He received his pilot's license in 1936. He served as a flying instructor at Camp Borden, Ontario from 1935-1939. In December 1941, he was posted overseas. From March 1942 until April 1943, Wing Commander Bradshaw commanded 420 Snowy Owl Squadron. During this time, Bradshaw led his squadron in some of the first 1000 plane bomber raids into Germany. At the end of World War II, Group Captain Bradshaw served at RCAF headquarters in Ottawa as Director of Air Operations. He was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore in January 1953. He served as Chief of Training for the RCAF.
Douglas Bradshaw
9476397
had a relief (emergency) landing field, located near Lethburn, Saskatchewan. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Assiniboia, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 18 degrees east and elevation of . Three runways were listed as follows: A relief Landing field for RCAF Station Assiniboia was located approximately south. The site was located east of the town of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Lethburn, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 18 degrees east and elevation of . The relief field was a square, turf, all way field measuring
RCAF Station Assiniboia
6459944
fly on the famous Dambusters Raid. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF & D of T Aerodrome - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 20 degrees east and elevation of . Six runways were listed as follows: A Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Saskatoon was located approximately south-west. The site was located north-west of the town of Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was constructed in the typical triangular pattern. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Vanscoy, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 20 degrees east and elevation of . Three
RCAF Station Saskatoon
11848602
returned to full-time farming. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he attempted enlistment in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a pilot but was rejected for being over age. In 1940 he reapplied to the RCAF, was accepted for pilot training and posted to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Trenton, Ontario, from where he graduated as an instructor. He was stationed at Edmonton and High River, Alberta and Abbotsford, British Columbia until 1944 and was awarded the Air Force Cross for outstanding contributions as a flight instructor. He was discharged from the RCAF in 1945 when he received the
Carl Agar
16133477
Stan Turner (RAF officer) Percival Stanley 'Stan' Turner, (3 September 1913 – 23 July 1985) served with the RAF and the RCAF during the Second World War. He holds the record of the most combat hours flown of any Canadian pilot. Turner's parents emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada when he was at a young age. While studying engineering there, he also joined the RCAF auxiliary. In 1938 he joined the RAF, completing his pilot training right at Britain's entry to the war. He was posted to fly Hurricanes with 242 squadron. It was over Dunkirk that he scored the first
Stan Turner (RAF officer)
4938353
1944 the BCATP began to scale back and No 5 Radio School was transferred to the RCAF's Home War Operations Training command. Although threatened with closure following World War II, RCAF Station Clinton was, in fact, saved and authorized as a peacetime RCAF Signals School. In November 1945 it became home to the No. 1 Radar and Communications School (No. 1 R&CS), which it co-hosted with nearby RCAF Station Centralia. With military forces’ integration in 1966, the base experienced remarkable growth and development over the next 24 years including married quarters and barracks supporting recreational facilities, clubs and sports teams.
Vanastra, Ontario
20843108
RCAF Station Port Albert RCAF Station Port Albert was a Second World War, Royal Canadian Air Force station located near Port Albert, Ontario, Canada in the Ashfield–Colborne–Wawanosh township. The station was home to the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Air Navigation School. In the summer of 1940 the United Kingdom was faced with the loss of Norway, Denmark, the Low Countries, and France, and the British Isles came under constant air attack by the German air force, in what is known as the Battle of Britain. The British decided to move some of their air training schools elsewhere, and reached
RCAF Station Port Albert
11442174
RCAF association with the site ceased. RCAF flying activities resumed at Uplands, with the re-activation of several WW2 fighter squadrons, they designated again for service in Europe. No.439 Squadron was first re-formed in September 1951, at Uplands, as was No.416 Squadron, in September 1952, both departing for in Europe in 1953, they flying the F86 Sabre. In 1954, standing up a 'new Mark IV' fighter squadron, progressing from an initial operating capability, having received its complement of aircrew, to a full operational capability required a change to a Mark III flying and training model. First, flying practices to confirm that
No. 428 Squadron RCAF
17549789
RCAF Station Great Whale River RCAF Station Great Whale River was located at the mouth of the river with the same name on the shore of Hudson Bay. The town surrounding the former base is now known by its native name of Kuujjuarapik. Originally built in 1955 as a detachment, it was elevated to station status in 1957 when it became Sector Control Station 400 of the Mid-Canada Line. After the Mid-Canada Line project was terminated there was no longer any need for a military presence at the site, and RCAF Station Great Whale River closed on April 2 1965.
RCAF Station Great Whale River
17485248
RCAF Station Jarvis Royal Canadian Air Force Station Jarvis was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Jarvis, Ontario. The station was home to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School and is usually known by that name. Bombing and Gunnery schools trained Air Gunners, Wireless Air Gunners, Air Observers, Air Bombers, and Navigator-Bomb Aimers. These airmen served as aircrew on bombers and maritime patrol aircraft. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was a temporary wartime measure that ended on 29 March 1945. No. 1 B&GS opened 19 August 1940 and closed on 17 February
RCAF Station Jarvis
18325437
in North America that even included ground observers called the RCAF Ground Observer Corps, was detailed. Typical of the NFB's series of short training films for the RCAF, "Canada's Air Defence" relied heavily on military assistance in obtaining footage. The film incorporated footage shot in 1956 at bases where No. 433 All-Weather (Fighter) Squadron operated. After the Second World War, the squadron, originally a heavy bomber squadron in Europe, reformed as a fighter squadron at Cold Lake, Alberta, on November 15, 1954. A move to North Bay, Ontario, came in October 1955, where the squadron flew CF-100 aircraft on North
Canada's Air Defence
5868221
Yales arrived on 23 January 1942 and were mainly used for navigation exercises. No. 14 SFTS moved to Kingston in August 1944. Other schools located at Aylmer include: The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with six runways formed in an overlaid triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at with a Var. 5 degrees W and elevation of . Six runways were listed as follows: The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Aylmer was Yarmouth Center. The site was located east of the community of Saint Thomas, Ontario. The Relief field was laid
RCAF Station Aylmer
20755605
RCAF Station Yorkton RCAF Station Yorkton was a Second World War air training station located near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), opened No. 11 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at RCAF Station Yorkton on 10 April 1941. No. 11 SFTS was closed on 1 December 1944 and the following month No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) was relocated to Yorkton from RCAF Station Davidson on 29 January 1945. No. 23 EFTS was closed 15 August 1945. The Schools and station were a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The station was decommissioned shortly
RCAF Station Yorkton
3778084
bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to No. 77 Squadron and No. 102 Squadron, both flying the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley heavy bomber. There was a decoy site at Raskelf. No. 419 Squadron and No. 424 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) moved in flying Vickers Wellington bombers and later, the Handley Page Halifax III. On 1 January 1943 the station was transferred to No. 6 Group RCAF and became a training station. The station, along with sub-stations at Wombleton, Dalton and Dishforth were designated as No. 61 (Training) Base in late 1943. No.1 Air Navigation
RAF Topcliffe
2094404
the propellant efficiently, and lower pressure to accelerate the model and sabot without destroying them, the gun used a High–low system chamber. A drilled plate limited the rate at which the propellant gases reached the round. This basic design would be key to Project HARP and many of Bull's later concepts. In 1952 ground-launched testing started at the Picton Range, a small test site set up outside Picton, Ontario, near the RCAF base at Trenton, Ontario. Air-launches from a CF-100 started in 1954, with the aircraft flying from Trenton to fire over Picton. The site was later used to launch
Velvet Glove
6265191
Its main purpose was to train pilots for the Fleet Air Arm, but in the beginning the school's first students were British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) trainees selected for service with the RCAF and RAF. Naval trainees, however, made up the majority of the trainees by the end of December 1940. Pilots were trained on Fairey Battles, which were shipped from England, and later, Harvards. Relief landing fields were located at Gananoque and Sandhurst, Ontario. The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with six runways formed in an overlaid triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was
RCAF Station Kingston
20927308
RCAF Station Moncton RCAF Station Moncton or RCAF Aerodrome Moncton or BCATP Station Moncton, was a Second World War training air station of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). It was located east of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. The Moncton aerodrome was the home of No. 8 Service Flying Training School RCAF which operated from 23 December 1940 until the school was relocated to RCAF Station Weyburn 24 January 1944. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Moncton, New Brunswick at with a variation of 23 degrees west and elevation of . Six runways were
RCAF Station Moncton
7384786
diamond, infirmary, church, and a school. As a part of the deinstitutionalisation program, the government began shutting down all its institutions, and by 1999 the Edgar Adult Occupational Centre was completely shut down. The Ontario Provincial Police then assumed use of the old recreational hall for instruction. They had been using the base off and on for police training and a number of other functions. In 1999, the government attempted to sell the 628,300 m² (155¼ acre) site to Nishnawbe Homes for $2.95 million, an organisation dedicated to building respectable communities for first-nations people, but this deal fell through. From
RCAF Station Edgar
6858734
not usable and has been removed from the Canada Flight Supplement. North Battleford/Hamlin Airport North Battleford/Hamlin Airport, , was located northeast of Hamlin, Saskatchewan, Canada. This airfield was built under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II as the R1 - primary relief field - for RCAF Station North Battleford. Pilots trained here using Airspeed Oxford aircraft; it is listed as operating from 4 September 1941 to 30 March 1945. The RCAF Aerodrome at Hamlin was the Relief Landing field for RCAF Station North Battleford, and was located approximately north of the main aerodrome. The site was
North Battleford/Hamlin Airport
11249337
with RCAF aircraft and flying terminology, and were taught flight procedures, meteorology, basic navigation and basic English. Student navigators went to an Air Navigation School (ANS) such as RCAF Station Winnipeg or RCAF Station Summerside. For pilots, the next step was Flying Training School (FTS) using Harvard aircraft. Training continued on T-33 jet trainers, Beechcraft Expeditors, or Mitchells at an Advanced Flying School (AFS). Training changed in 1956 when a Primary Flying Training school was opened at RCAF Station Centralia. At Centralia, student pilots first trained on de Havilland Chipmunks and then on Harvards. After primary training, pilots were selected
NATO Air Training Plan
20761004
RCAF Station Davidson RCAF Station Davidson was a Second World War air training station located near Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), opened No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at RCAF Station Davidson on 9 November,1942. The School and station were a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The school was relocated to RCAF Station Yorkton 19 January 1945 and the station was decommissioned shortly thereafter. No. 23 EFTS was the only RCAF operated EFTS in Canada, and was twice the size of all but 2 EFTS. The school produced 1,513 pilots of whom
RCAF Station Davidson
18260580
a monument honouring those who died. The lost aircraft, Consolidated Liberator III (B-24D) serial number 41-24236, was purchased in September 1942 from the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) as part of a four aircraft order. Once in RCAF service, the aircraft received the tail number 3701H and was to be used by No. 10 Squadron RCAF for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). However, it was deemed that the four aircraft were not capable of the ASW mission, so they were employed for training and general transport. On 19 October 1943, bad weather conditions had kept all aircraft at Gander Airport grounded
1943 Saint-Donat RCAF Liberator III crash
20406402
City, however, since the actual town of Clarke City was located west of the site, on the Sainte-Marguerite River, the RCAF decided to name the site after the adjacent community of Moisie. As construction neared completion, an advance party consisting of one officer and nine airmen arrived on a Trans-Canada Air Lines North Star at the Sept-Îles Airport on 25 May 1953. The RCAF formally took over the site on 30 June 1953 and on 15 September 1953 the site was made operational under the RCAF's Air Defence Command as part of the Pinetree Line network of radar stations. The
CFS Moisie