| Calgary air force stations |
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Several air force stations and other establishments, many of them training facilities, operated in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s.
In 1935 the RCAF constructed a landing field on a section of the Canadian Army's Currie Barracks located in southwest Calgary. The airfield was known as Currie Field or the Calgary Military Airport. [1] [2] In 1938, the aerodrome was home to two RCAF squadrons: No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron with the Westland Wapiti and No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron with the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin and later, the Hawker Hurricane. No. 1 (F) Squadron was renumbered to 401 Squadron when it was posted overseas for combat duty. During the Second World War, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) established No. 3 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at the airfield. Aircraft flown at this school were Avro Ansons and Cessna Cranes. No. 3 SFTS closed on September 28, 1945. [3]
After the war, No. 10 Repair Depot was located at the station until 1947 when No. 25 Air Materiel Base Calgary was formed. The base was renamed RCAF Station Lincoln Park. Among the station's functions, Lincoln Park was a training centre for NATO pilots. This training facility closed in 1958 and the station became an emergency landing field. RCAF Station Lincoln Park was closed in 1964, but portions of the base were retained to house military families. The former hangar line at Lincoln Park was taken over by the various Army field units garrisoned at CFB Calgary. The remaining property was sold to ATCO, the City of Calgary and Mount Royal College. The main campus of Mount Royal University now occupies a section of the old aerodrome while the old hangars are occupied by various businesses.
The airfield was one of the few double-sided aerodromes built for wartime training with six parallel runways formed in a triangle rather than the typical three runways formed in a triangle.
In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 51°01′N114°08′W / 51.017°N 114.133°W with a Var. 24 degrees E and elevation of 3,675 feet (1,120 m). Six runways were listed as follows: [4] : 83
| Runway name | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16/34 | 2,950 feet (899 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 16/34 | 3,000 feet (914 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 10/28 | 3,050 feet (930 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 10/28 | 3,200 feet (975 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 4/22 | 3,250 feet (991 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 4/22 | 3,000 feet (914 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
The primary relief landing field (R1) for No.3 SFTS was located near the community of Airdrie, Alberta. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 51°16′N113°56′W / 51.267°N 113.933°W with a Var. 24 degrees E and elevation of 3,650 feet (1,113 m). The aerodrome was listed with three runways as follows: [4] : 80
| Runway name | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16/34 | 2,975 feet (907 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard Surface |
| 10/28 | 2,975 feet (907 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard Surface |
| 4/22 | 2,975 feet (907 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard Surface |
A survey of google maps[ by whom? ] on 12 Jun 2018 shows a clear outline of the former relief airfield. The BCATP runways are all now abandoned and a new longer runway has been installed through the middle of the triangle. The site now operates as the Airdrie Airport.
The secondary relief landing field (R2) for No.3 SFTS was located near the community of Inverlake, Alberta. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 51°03′N113°37′W / 51.050°N 113.617°W with a Var. 23.5 degrees E and elevation of 3,300 feet (1,006 m). The aerodrome was listed as a turf, triangular all way field with three runways as follows: [4] : 101
| Runway name | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/26 | 3,800 feet (1,158 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | Turf |
| 8/26 | 3,800 feet (1,158 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | Turf |
| 2/20 | 3,800 feet (1,158 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | Turf |
No. 37 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) was a Second World War Royal Air Force (RAF) flying school located at McCall Field, [5] which is now Calgary International Airport in northeast Calgary. [2] The school opened on October 22, 1941. Like all RAF schools in Canada during this time, No. 37 SFTS was subject to RCAF administrative and operational control and formally became part of the BCATP in 1942. Pilots in training flew Airspeed Oxfords, Avro Ansons and Cessna Cranes. The school closed on March 10, 1944. An original BCATP building is used by the Calgary Aerospace Museum. [3]
The airfield was one of the few double-sided aerodromes built for wartime training with six parallel runways formed in a triangle rather than the typical three runways formed in a triangle.
In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 51°06′N114°01′W / 51.100°N 114.017°W with a Var. 24 degrees E and elevation of 3,545 feet (1,081 m). Six runways were listed as follows: [4] : 84
| Runway name | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/29 | 3,150 feet (960 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 11/29 | 3,750 feet (1,143 m) | 150 feet (46 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 2/20 | 3,800 feet (1,158 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 2/20 | 3,800 feet (1,158 m) | 150 feet (46 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 7/25 | 3,100 feet (945 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 7/25 | 3,700 feet (1,128 m) | 150 feet (46 m) | Hard surfaced |
No. 2 Wireless School was a BCATP radio operator school. It opened on September 16, 1940, and was located at the old Alberta Provincial Institute of Technology and Art, [6] which is now the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). As one of the largest wireless training schools, it trained thousands of radio operators. [3]
The flying squadron of No.2 WS operated from an aerodrome located near the community of Shepard, Alberta. The airborne portion of wireless operator training was conducted in de Havilland Tiger Moths, Fleet Forts and North American Harvards. [7] In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°57′N113°58′W / 50.950°N 113.967°W with a Var. 23.5 degrees E and elevation of 3,400 feet (1,036 m). The aerodrome was listed with three runways as follows: [4] : 101
| Runway name | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16/34 | 3,050 feet (930 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 10/28 | 3,050 feet (930 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 4/22 | 3,050 feet (930 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
Runway 16/34 was used as a dragstrip from the 1960s to 1983 under the name Calgary International Raceway. The last vestiges of the field in Shepard disappeared in 2001 when an industrial park was built.
Calgary was the location of No. 4 Training Command Headquarters from October 1941 to November 1944 after having moved from Regina, Saskatchewan. No. 4 Training Command Headquarters was responsible for BCATP operations in Alberta, British Columbia, and much of Saskatchewan. [3]
Canadian Forces Base Summerside was an air force base located in St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, Canada, now part of the city of Summerside.
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.
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 of many stations that were established in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
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.
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.
RCAF Station Claresholm was a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station that trained pilots for World War II service. The station was located near Claresholm, Alberta, Canada.
RCAF Station Saskatoon was a World War II British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) base operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It was located North of the City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
RAF Station De Winton was a World War II air training station located south of Calgary, and east of De Winton, Alberta, Canada. The Royal Air Force (RAF) established No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School at the station. Like other RAF stations in Canada, it was subject to RCAF administrative and operational control.
RCAF Station Fort Macleod was a World War II British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) flying training station. Administrative and operational control was the responsibility of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The old station is located south of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada.
RCAF Station Mount Pleasant was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station in Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Two of its runways remain in use by members of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Airdrie Aerodrome is a registered aerodrome located 2.6 nautical miles southeast of Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.
Medicine Hat Airport is located 2 nautical miles southwest of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. WestJet Link services the airport daily from Calgary.
RCAF Station Carberry was a Second World War air training station located near Carberry, Manitoba, Canada.
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.
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 Home Defence squadrons.
RCAF Station Estevan was a World War II, British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) base operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It was located South of the City of Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada.
RCAF Station Yorkton was a Second World War air training station located near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.
RCAF Station Bowden was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Bowden, Alberta, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
RCAF Station Penhold was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Penhold, Alberta, Canada.