List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in Canada
This article contains a List of Facilities of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada. The BCATP was a major program for training Allied air crews during World War II that was administered by the Government of Canada, and commanded by the Royal Canadian Air Force with the assistance of a board of representatives from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Schools and facilities were set up at 231 locations across Canada.
Many of these facilities were airfields. In December 1939 the Canadian government identified 24 existing airfields that could be used, leaving 80 new ones to be built. Classroom facilities with residences were commandeered from universities, colleges, and other provincial institutions. Basic training facilities were commandeered from private schools and municipal governments. These "borrowed" facilities were augmented with new construction as required.
Planning and operation of facilities
There were four phases to the acquisition, construction, and operation of BCATP facilities:- the beginning as specified in the Riverdale Agreement of 17 December 1939
- an expansion as a result of the move of RAF facilities to Canada starting in July 1940
- an expansion as a result of the Ottawa conference of May and June 1942
- closures as a result of the decision to begin winding down in November 1943 and terminate the plan on 29 March 1945
- No. 1 Toronto, Ontario covered southern Ontario
- No. 2 Winnipeg, Manitoba covered northwestern Ontario, all of Manitoba, and part of Saskatchewan
- No. 3 Montreal, Quebec, covered Quebec and the Maritimes
- No. 4 Regina, Saskatchewan, covered most of Saskatchewan, all of Alberta and British Columbia: moved to Calgary, Alberta in October 1941
Manning Depots
Remedial high school education was offered to bring 17- and 18-year-old trainees up to the RCAF academic level. There was also a standard aptitude test — the RCAF Classification Test.
After four or five weeks, a selection committee decided whether the trainee would be placed in the aircrew or groundcrew stream. Aircrew "Wireless Air Gunner" candidates went directly to a Wireless School. "Air Observer" and "Pilot" aircrew candidates went to an Initial Training School.
Trainees were often assigned "tarmac duty" to keep busy. Some were sent to factories to count nuts and bolts, some were sent to flying schools and other RCAF facilities to guard things, clean things, paint things, and polish things. Tarmac duty could last several months or more.
The No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto was the Coliseum Building on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds that accommodated up to 5,000 personnel.
- No. 1 Toronto, Ontario
- No. 2 Brandon, Manitoba moved to Swift Current, Saskatchewan
- No. 3 Edmonton, Alberta
- No. 4 Quebec City, Quebec
- No. 5 Lachine, Quebec
- No. 6 Toronto, Ontario
- No. 7 Rockcliffe, Ontario
Aircrew training facilities
Initial Training Schools
Pilot and Air Observer candidates began their 26- or 28-week training program with four weeks at an Initial Training School. They studied theoretical subjects and were subjected to a variety of tests. Theoretical studies included navigation, theory of flight, meteorology, duties of an officer, air force administration, algebra, and trigonometry. Tests included an interview with a psychiatrist, the 4 hour long M2 physical examination, a session in a decompression chamber, and a "test flight" in a Link Trainer as well as academics. At the end of the course the postings were announced. Occasionally candidates were re-routed to the Wireless Air Gunner stream at the end of ITS.- No. 1 Eglinton Hunt Club, Toronto, Ontario
- No. 2 Regina College & Regina Normal School, Regina, Saskatchewan
- No. 3 Sacred Heart College, Victoriaville, Quebec
- No. 4 Edmonton Normal School, Edmonton, Alberta
- No. 5 Ontario Provincial School for the Deaf Belleville, Ontario
- No. 6 Toronto Board of Education, Toronto, Ontario
- No. 7 Saskatoon Normal School & Bedford Road Collegiate, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Elementary Flying Training Schools
- No. 1 Malton, Ontario
- No. 2 Fort William, Ontario
- No. 3 London, Ontario
- No. 4 Windsor Mills, Quebec at Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton, Quebec
- No. 5 Lethbridge, Alberta, moved to High River, Alberta
- No. 6 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
- No. 7 Windsor, Ontario
- No. 8 Vancouver, British Columbia, moved to Boundary Bay, British Columbia
- No. 9 St. Catharines, Ontario
- No. 10 Hamilton, Ontario, moved to Pendleton, Ontario
- No. 11 Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
- No. 12 Goderich, Ontario
- No. 13 St. Eugene, Ontario
- No. 14 Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
- No. 15 Regina, Saskatchewan
- No. 16 Edmonton, Alberta
- No. 17 Stanley, Nova Scotia
- No. 18 Boundary Bay, British Columbia
- No. 19 Virden, Manitoba
- No. 20 Oshawa, Ontario
- No. 21 Chatham, New Brunswick
- No. 22 L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
- No. 23 Davidson, Saskatchewan, moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan — operated by the RCAF.
- No. 24 Abbotsford, British Columbia
- No. 25 Assiniboia, Saskatchewan — originally No. 34 RAF
- No. 26 Neepawa, Manitoba — originally No. 35 RAF
- No. 31 DeWinton, Alberta
- No. 32 Bowden, Alberta
- No. 33 Caron, Saskatchewan
- No. 34 Assiniboia, Saskatchewan
- No. 35 Neepawa, Manitoba
- No. 36 Pearce, Alberta
Service Flying Training Schools
There were two different types of Service Flying Training Schools. Trainees in the fighter pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 14 Aylmer where
they trained in the North American Harvard or North American Yale. Trainees in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 5 Brantford where they learned multi-engine technique in an Airspeed Oxford, Avro Anson or Cessna Crane.
- No. 1 Camp Borden, Ontario
- No. 2 Uplands, Ontario
- No. 3 Calgary, Alberta
- No. 4 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- No. 5 Brantford, Ontario
- No. 6 Dunnville, Ontario
- No. 7 Fort MacLeod, Alberta
- No. 8 Moncton, New Brunswick
- No. 9 Summerside, Prince Edward Island, moved to Centralia, Ontario
- No. 10 Dauphin, Manitoba
- No. 11 Yorkton, Saskatchewan
- No. 12 Brandon, Manitoba
- No. 13 St. Hubert, Quebec, moved to North Battleford, Saskatchewan
- No. 14 Aylmer, Ontario
- No. 15 Claresholm, Alberta
- No. 16 Hagersville, Ontario
- No. 17 Souris, Manitoba
- No. 18 Gimli, Manitoba
- No. 19 Vulcan, Alberta
- No. 31 Kingston, Ontario
- No. 32 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- No. 33 Carberry, Manitoba
- No. 34 Medicine Hat, Alberta
- No. 35 North Battleford, Saskatchewan
- No. 36 Penhold, Alberta
- No. 37 Calgary, Alberta
- No. 38 Estevan, Saskatchewan
- No. 39 Swift Current, Saskatchewan
- No. 41 Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Air Observer Schools
- No. 1 Malton, Ontario
- No. 2 Edmonton, Alberta
- No. 3 Regina, Saskatchewan, moved to Pearce, Alberta
- No. 4 London, Ontario
- No. 5 Winnipeg, Manitoba
- No. 6 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
- No. 7 Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
- No. 8 L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
- No. 9 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
- No. 10 Chatham, New Brunswick
Bombing and Gunnery Schools
- No. 1 Jarvis, Ontario
- No. 2 Mossbank, Saskatchewan
- No. 3 Macdonald, Manitoba
- No. 4 Fingal, Ontario
- No. 5 Dafoe, Saskatchewan
- No. 6 Mountain View, Ontario
- No. 7 Paulson, Manitoba
- No. 8 Lethbridge, Alberta
- No. 9 Mont-Joli, Quebec
- No. 10 Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island
- No. 31 Picton, Ontario
Air Navigation Schools
- No. 1 Trenton, Ontario moved to Rivers, Manitoba and redesignated Central Navigation School
- No. 2 Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick
- No. 31 Port Albert, Ontario
- No. 32 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- No. 33 Hamilton, Ontario
- No. 2 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Wireless Schools
- No. 1 Montreal, Quebec moved to Mount Hope, Ontario
- No. 2 Calgary, Alberta
- No. 3 Winnipeg, Manitoba
- No. 4 Guelph, Ontario
Naval Air Gunner School
Flight Engineers' School
The flight engineer was the member of a heavy bomber aircrew responsible for monitoring the fuel, electrical systems and the engines. He also controlled the throttle settings and was the pilot's "assistant". Flight engineers were not co-pilots but they had some flying training andwere expected to be able to take over the controls in the event the pilot was killed or disabled.
No. 1 Aylmer, Ontario
General Reconnaissance Schools
The General Reconnaissance School trained pilots and air observers in the techniques required for ocean patrol. It was the equivalent to an Operational Training Unit, and last stop before aircrew were assigned to operations. The topics included DR Navigation, Astro Navigation, Compasses and Instruments, Meteorology, Signals, Reconnaissance, Coding, Ship Recognition, Aerial Photography, and Visual Signals. Flight Lieutenant R. E. MacBride from No. 162 Squadron RCAF trained at No. 1 GR.Aircrew spent nine weeks at a General Reconnaissance School.
- No. 1 General Reconnaissance School RCAF
- No. 31 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Operational Training Units
- No. 1 Bagotville, Quebec
- No. 3 Patricia Bay, British Columbia
- No. 5 Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia
- No. 31 Debert, Nova Scotia redesignated No. 7 OTU )
- No. 32 Patricia Bay, British Columbia moved to Comox, British Columbia and redesignated No. 6 OTU and moved to Greenwood, Nova Scotia
- No. 34 Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick
- No. 36 Greenwood, Nova Scotia redesignated No. 8 OTU
Central Flying School
Central Navigation School
The Central Navigation School was located at Rivers, Manitoba.Instrument Navigation School
The Instrument Navigation School was located near Deseronto, Ontario.Flying Instructor Schools
- No. 1 Trenton, Ontario
- No. 2 Vulcan, Alberta, moved to Pearce, Alberta
- No. 3 Arnprior, Ontario
Relief landing fields
- Airdrie, Alberta — R1 for No. 3 SFTS Calgary
- Alliston, Ontario — R2 for No. 1 SFTS Camp Borden
- Blackfalds, Alberta — R2 for No. 36 SFTS Penhold
- Boharm, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 33 EFTS Caron
- Brada, Saskatchewan — R2 for No. 15 EFTS Regina
- Brora, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 35 and No. 13 SFTF North Battleford
- Burtch, Ontario — R1 for No. 5 SFTS Brantford and principal field for No. 4 Wireless School Guelph.
- Buttress, Saskatchewan— R1 for No. 32 SFTS Moose Jaw
- Carp, Ontario — R1 for No. 2 SFTS Ottawa
- Cayuga, Ontario — R1 for No. 16 SFTS Hagersville
- Champion, Alberta — R2 for No. 19 SFTS Vulcan
- Chandler, Saskatchewan — Relief for No. 38 SFTS Estevan
- Chater, Manitoba — R1 for No. 12 SFTS Brandon
- Douglas, Manitoba — R2 for No.12 SFTS Brandon
- Chicoutimi, Quebec — R1 for No. 1 OTU Bagotville
- Dufferin, Ontario — Relief for No. 16 SFTS Hagersville
- Eden, Manitoba — R1 for No. 35 EFTS Neepawa
- Edenvale, Ontario — R1 for No. 1 SFTS Camp Borden
- Edwards, Ontario — Relief for No. 2 SFTS Ottawa
- Elgin, Manitoba — R2 for No. 17 SFTS Souris
- Ensign, Alberta — R1 for No. 19 SFTS Vulcan
- Farnham, Quebec — R2 for No. 13 SFTS St. Hubert
- Frank Lake, Alberta — Relief for No. 5 EFTS High River
- Gananoque — R1 for No. 31 SFTS Kingston
- Grand Bend, Ontario — R1 for No. 9 SFTS Centralia
- Goderich South — Relief for No. 12 EFTS Goderich
- Gladys, Alberta — R2 for No. 31 EFTS DeWinton
- Granum, Alberta — R1 for No. 7 SFTS Fort MacLeod
- Halbrite, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 41 SFTS Weyburn
- Hamlin, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 35 SFTS North Battleford
- Hartney, Manitoba — R1 for No. 17 SFTS Souris
- Hawkesbury, Ontario — Relief for No. 13 EFTS St. Eugene
- Holsom, Alberta — Relief for No. 34 SFTS Medicine Hat
- Innisfail, Alberta — R1 for No. 36 SFTS Penhold
- Inverlake, Alberta — R2 for No. 3 SFTS Calgary
- Langley, British Columbia — Relief for No. 18 EFTS Boundary Bay
- Limoges, Ontario — Relief for No. 10 EFTS Pendleton
- Maitland, Nova Scotia — Relief for No. 31 OTU Debert
- Maurice, Quebec — Relief for No. 11 EFTS Cap-de-la-Madelaine
- Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island — R1 for No. 9 SFTS Summerside
- Netley, Manitoba — R1 for No. 18 SFTS Gimli
- Netook, Alberta — R1 for No. 32 EFTS Bowden
- North Junction, Manitoba — Relief for No. 10 SFTS Dauphin
- Oberon, Manitoba — R2 for No. 33 SFTS Carberry
- Osler, Saskatchewan — R2 for No. 4 SFTS Saskatoon
- Outram, Saskatchewan — Relief for No. 38 SFTS Estevan
- Petrel, Manitoba — R1 for No. 33 SFTS Carberry
- Pontiac, Quebec — Relief for No. 3 FIS Arnprior
- Pulteney, Alberta — R2 for No. 15 SFTS Claresholm
- Ralph, Saskatchewan — R2 for No. 41 SFTS Weyburn
- Rhein, Saskatchewan — R2 for No. 11 SFTS Yorkton
- St. Aldwyn, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 39 SFTS Swift Current.
- St. Honoré, Quebec — Relief for No. 1 OTU Bagotville
- St. Joseph, Ontario — Relief for No. 9 SFTS Centralia
- St. Thomas, Ontario — R1 for No. 14 SFTS Aylmer and No. 4 B&GS Fingal
- Salisbury, New Brunswick — R2 for No. 8 SFTS Moncton
- Sandhurst, Ontario — R2 for No. 31 SFTS Kingston
- Scoudouc, New Brunswick — R1 for No. 8 SFTS Moncton
- Shepard, Alberta — R1 for No. 31 EFTS DeWinton
- Sturdee, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 11 SFTS Yorkton
- Tillsonburg, Ontario — R2 for No. 14 SFTS Aylmer
- Valley River, Manitoba — Relief for No. 10 SFTS Dauphin
- Vanscoy, Saskatchewan — R1 for No. 4 SFTS Saskatoon.
- Waterville, Nova Scotia — Relief for No. 8 OTU Greenwood
- Welland, Ontario — R1 for No. 6 SFTS Dunnville
- Wellington, Prince Edward Island — Relief for No. 1 GRS Summerside
- Whitby, Ontario — Relief for No. 20 EFTS Oshawa
- Whitla, Alberta — Relief for No. 34 SFTS Medicine Hat
- Willoughby, Ontario — Relief for No. 9 EFTS St. Catharines
- Woodhouse, Alberta — R1 No. 15 SFTS Claresholm
Groundcrew training facilities
- Air Armament School Mountain View, Ontario
- No. 1 Radio Direction Finding School Leaside, Ontario
- No. 31 Radio Direction Finding School Clinton, Ontario, later RCAF No. 5
- School of Cookery Guelph, Ontario
- No. 1 Code and Cypher School Guelph, Ontario
- No. 1 Technical Training School St. Thomas, Ontario
Support facilities
- No. 1 Test Kitchen Guelph, Ontario
- No. 1 Nutritional Laboratory Guelph, Ontario
- No. 6 Repair Depot Trenton, Ontario
- No. 8 Repair Depot Winnipeg, Manitoba
Citations