RCAF Station Davidson

RCAF Station Davidson
Davidson, Saskatchewan
Near Davidson, Saskatchewan in Canada
RCAF Station Davidson
Coordinates 51°15′N 105°53′W / 51.250°N 105.883°W / 51.250; -105.883Coordinates: 51°15′N 105°53′W / 51.250°N 105.883°W / 51.250; -105.883
Site information
Operator Formerly Royal Canadian Air Force
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: none, ICAO: none
Elevation 1,985 feet (605 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
13/31 2,800 feet (853 m) Hard Surfaced
07/25 2,700 feet (823 m) Hard Surfaced
1/19 2,900 feet (884 m) Hard Surfaced
Airfields

RCAF Station Davidson was a Second World War air training station located near Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada.

History

World War II

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.[1] 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 973 were RCAF and 540 Royal Air Force.[2]

Aerodrome Information

The airfield was constructed in the typical BCATP wartime pattern, with three runways formed in a triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 51°15′N 105°53′W / 51.250°N 105.883°W / 51.250; -105.883 with a Var. 19 degrees E and elevation of 1,985 feet (605 m). Three runways were under construction (servicable) and listed as follows: [3]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
13/31 2,800 feet (853 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
7/25 2,700 feet (823 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
1/19 2,900 feet (884 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced

Other Occupants

The RCAF Women's Division arrived at the school on 17 May 1943.

No. 205 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite (REMS) was established at the Station on 1 April 1945.[2]

Current Status

All that remains are cement foundations and the gun butt. [2] From a survey of the location on google maps on 8 Jun 2018 it appears that two of the three runways are badly deteriorated with the last in better condition. several buildings appear to have been built on the old runways.

See also


References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. 1 2 3 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.
  3. ↑ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 40.


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