RCAF Station Caron

RCAF Station Caron
Caronport, Saskatchewan
Near Caron, Saskatchewan in Canada
RCAF Station Caron
Coordinates 50°28′N 105°49′W / 50.467°N 105.817°W / 50.467; -105.817Coordinates: 50°28′N 105°49′W / 50.467°N 105.817°W / 50.467; -105.817[1]
Site information
Operator Formerly Royal Canadian Air Force
Garrison information
Occupants No. 33 EFTS
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: none, ICAO: none
Elevation 1,875 feet (572 m)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
13/31 2,800 feet (853 m) Hard Surface[1]
7/25 2,800 feet (853 m) Hard Surface[1]
1/19 2,800 feet (853 m) Hard Surface[1]
Airfields

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

History

World War II

The Station hosted No. 33 Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS). The school was opened by the Royal Air Force on 5 January 1942. The Aero Club of BC took over operation of the School 25 May 1942 and the school was closed 14 January 1944.[2]

Aerodrome Information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°28′N 105°49′W / 50.467°N 105.817°W / 50.467; -105.817 with a Var. 18 degrees E and elevation of 1,875 feet (572 m). The aerodrome was listed with three runways as follows: [1]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
13/31 2,800 feet (853 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced
7/25 2,800 feet (853 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced
1/19 2,800 feet (853 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced

A review of Google Maps on 10 June 2018 shows that none of the former aerodrome remains. It appears that the old taxiway and 13/31 runway are now occupied by housing and the remaining runways have been completely reclaimed for agriculture. The coordinates from the c.1942 publication appear to be slightly north of the actual location of the former airfield a more likely coordinate would be 50°27′41″N 105°48′42″W / 50.461395°N 105.811784°W / 50.461395; -105.811784 based on the drawings in the reference.

Relief landing field – Boharm

The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Caron was located approximately 10 miles south-east. The site was located approximately 4 miles south of the unincorporated community of Boharm, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was laid out in the standard triangular patern on a turf all way field. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°20′N 105°43′W / 50.333°N 105.717°W / 50.333; -105.717 with a Var. 18 degrees E and elevation of 1,983 feet (604 m). Three runways were listed as follows [3]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
5/23 3,300 feet (1,006 m) ---' Turf
17/35 3,300 feet (1,006 m) ---' Turf
11/29 3,300 feet (1,006 m) ---' Turf

A review of Google Maps on 10 June 2018 shows a body of water at the location indicated, no trace of an airfield exists at this location.

Present

The aerodrome is now the village of Caronport.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 36.
  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. ↑ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 31.
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