RCAF Station Assiniboia

RCAF Station Assiniboia
Near Congress, Saskatchewan in Canada
RCAF Station Assiniboia
Coordinates 49°44′05″N 105°56′49″W / 49.73472°N 105.94694°W / 49.73472; -105.94694Coordinates: 49°44′05″N 105°56′49″W / 49.73472°N 105.94694°W / 49.73472; -105.94694
Site information
Operator Royal Air Force (1942); Central Manitoba Flying Training School (1942-4); Royal Canadian Air Force(1944)
Site history
In use 1942-4
Garrison information
Occupants No. 34 EFTS (1942-4);No. 25 EFTS (1944)
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: none, ICAO: none
Elevation 2370'[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
1/19 2900' Hard Surface[1]
13/31 2850' Hard Surface[1]
7/25 2900' Hard Surface[1]
Airfields
RCAF Station Assiniboia
Summary
Owner/Operator Royal Canadian Air Force
Location Rural Municipality of Lake of the Rivers No. 72, near Assiniboia, Saskatchewan
Opened February 11, 1942 (1942-02-11)
In use 1942 - 1945[2]
Occupants Royal Canadian Air Force/British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
Elevation AMSL 2,370 ft / 722 m
Map
RCAF Station Assiniboia
Location in Saskatchewan
RCAF Station Assiniboia
RCAF Station Assiniboia (Canada)

RCAF Station Assiniboia was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) flying training station located near Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

History

World War II

RCAF Station Assiniboia was originally established as a Royal Air Force(RAF) training station on 11 Feb 1942. The station was home to No. 34 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 34 EFTS). On 6 Jul 1942 the RAF turned over administration of the School to the Winnipeg Flying Club, operating as the Central Manitoba Flying Training School Ltd. who operated the school until No 34 EFTS was redesignated the No. 25 EFTS on 30 January 1944. No. 25 EFTS was operated by the RCAF until it was disbanded on 28 July 1944. [3]

No. 34 EFTS trained pilots using the Cornell aircraft.[4]

No. 25 EFTS used the Fairchild Cornell as their training aircraft.[4]

On 2 Dec 1944 No. 204 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite(REMS) was established at the station. Other units located at Assiniboia until the end of the war in 1945 include No. 41 Pre-Aircrew Training School, and No. 403 Aircraft Holding Unit.[3]

During World War II RCAF Station Assiniboia produced 2,496 pilots, the majority belonging to the RAF. The station also had a relief (emergency) landing field, located near Lethburn, Saskatchewan.

Aerodrome information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°44′N 105°57′W / 49.733°N 105.950°W / 49.733; -105.950 with a Var. 18 degrees E and elevation of 2370'. Three runways were listed as follows: [1]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
1/19 2900' 150' Hard surfaced
13/31 2850' 150' Hard surfaced
7/25 2900' 150' Hard surfaced

Relief landing field – Lethburn

A relief Landing field for RCAF Station Assiniboia was located approximately 6 miles south. The site was located east of the town of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. The relief field was a square, turf, all way field measuring 2640' x 2640'. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°38′N 105°55′W / 49.633°N 105.917°W / 49.633; -105.917 with a Var. 18 degrees E and elevation of 2350'.[5] A review of Google Maps satellite imagery on 7 June 2018 shows no details indicating a airfield at the listed coordinates.


Present day

The aerodrome is now the Assiniboia Airport.

References

Elmer, Gordon (Dec 2016). "75 years ago in Saskatchewan". Windsock. Vol. 29 no. 4. Regina, SK, Canada: Roland Groome (Regina) Chapter -- Canadian Aviation Historical Society.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 30.
  2. ↑ Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. ISBN 0660114437.
  3. 1 2 Bruce Forsythe's Military History Page (n.d.). "No. 34 Elementary Flying Training School / No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School". Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  4. 1 2 Flight Ontario Freeware Scenery Designers (n.d.). "BCATP Schools - Assiniboia". Archived from the original on 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  5. ↑ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 47.
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