RCAF Station Estevan

RCAF Station Estevan
Near Estevan, Saskatchewan in Canada
RCAF Station Estevan
Coordinates Coordinates: 49°04′N 103°00′W / 49.067°N 103.000°W / 49.067; -103.000
Site information
Operator Formerly Royal Canadian Air Force
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: none, ICAO: none
Elevation 1875'[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
18/36 2700' Hard Surface[1]
18/36 3200' Hard Surface[1]
12/30 2700' Hard Surface[1]
6/24 2700' Hard Surface[1]
6/24 3200' Hard Surface[1]
Airfields

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.

World War II (1942-4)

On 27 April 1942, the airfield became home to No. 38 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), one of dozens of military air training facilities created under the BCATP. This station flew Avro Anson twin-engine trainers until 11 Feb 1944, when 38 SFTS was disbanded.[2]

Aerodrome Information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°04′N 103°00′W / 49.067°N 103.000°W / 49.067; -103.000 with a Var. 16 degrees E and elevation of 1875'. Five runways were listed as follows: [1]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
18/36 2700' 150' Hard surfaced
18/36 3200' 75' Hard surfaced
12/30 2720' 150' Hard surfaced
6/24 2700' 150' Hard surfaced
6/24 3200' 75' Hard surfaced

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.

Relief landing field – Outram

A Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Estevan was located approximately 12 Miles 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 at 49°08′N 103°15′W / 49.133°N 103.250°W / 49.133; -103.250 with a Var. 16 degrees E and elevation of 1895'. Three runways were listed as follows [3]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
18/36 2700' 150' Hard surfaced
12/30 2700' 150' Hard surfaced
6/24 2700' 150' Hard surfaced

A review of Google Maps on 5 June 2018 shows A triangular pattern consistent with a now cultivated BCATP Aerodrome. But the coordinates stated above appear to be slightly off. Corrected coordinates are49°07′49″N 103°15′54″W / 49.130406°N 103.265059°W / 49.130406; -103.265059

Relief landing field – Chandler

The Secondary Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Estevan was located approximately 25 Miles north-west. The site was located east of the railway siding of Chandler, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was listed as Turf with a triangular runway layout. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°19′N 103°24′W / 49.317°N 103.400°W / 49.317; -103.400 with a Var. 16 degrees E and elevation of 1875'. The Aerodrome was listed as an All way field with three runways, they were listed as follows [4]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
1/19 3500' 500' Turf
13/31 4400' 500' Turf
7/25 3500' 500' Turf

A review of Google Maps on 8 June 2018 shows no visibility of an airfield at the posted coordinates. But nearby there appears to be the impression of a runway, this other site appears consisitant with the c.1942 map. The possible coordinates are 49°19′21″N 103°24′48″W / 49.322548°N 103.413232°W / 49.322548; -103.413232

Post War

On 15 September 1946, 21 personnel of the Royal Canadian Air Force were killed at the airport when the C-47 Dakota transport carrying them back to Canada from Fargo, North crashed on the airport. The pilots had been transferring Cornell Aircraft back to the United States on the completion of the Lend Lease Agreement in place during the Second World War. The airmen were on the strength of No. 124 (Communications) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario.

At some point after the war the decommissioned Station was demolished and an open pit coal mine has removed all traces of the former station.

Between the end of the war and the demolition of this facility the aerodrome was used as the Estevan Airport.[5]

Present Day

There is no trace of the former station today.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 41.
  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. 56.
  4. ↑ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 37.
  5. ↑ 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.
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