As aircraft continued to play an important role in
transportation into the north, and in roles such as fire
patrols, surveying, geology, and the extraction of natural
resources, Edmonton became the gateway. Central to these
developments was the base of activity for the pilots, which
became known as Blatchford Field. The field at the Hangmann farm
became a central location for pilots like Wop May and George
Gorman to fly out of in the 1920s. It was named after the
mayor of Edmonton, Kenneth A. Blatchford, and in 1926, $400 was
received from the federal government to keep the soil packed
down and the runways free of
weeds. With this donation came the field's official
designation as the first "Air Harbour" in Canada.
In 1927, the Northern Alberta Aero Club was established
and the first class of trained pilots graduated from Blatchford
Field. In 1928, Commercial Airways Ltd was established by Wop
May, Cy Becker and Vic Horner, with the Field serving as the base of
the operation. City council authorized $35,000 to upgrade the
airfield in 1929.
Captain James Bell became the first manager
of the Edmonton Municipal Airport in 1930 when the City of
Edmonton took over operation of the airport from the Northern
Alberta Aero Club. As the vice-president of the flying club, an
RAF veteran, and a former city employee, Bell was well-suited to
the position. He quickly gained a reputation for excellent
service and organization, and was manager until 1962.
The federal government committed the funds
needed to build proper runways at Blatchford Field in 1937, and
took jurisdiction of the Field in 1939 to use as an RCAF
training base. Canadian Pacific Air operated the #2 Air Observer School as a
part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan that produced
over 131,000 aircrew for the Allied cause during the Second
World War.
The airfield played an important role in assisting the
massive effort to build the Alaska Highway in 1942. Blatchford
Field was also used by the United States to carry out airlifts
to Alaska. By 1943, Blatchford Field had the record for all of North America as the
busiest airfield.
Blatchford Field was first renamed as the Industrial Airport,
later became known as the
Municipal Airport, and finally as the Edmonton City Centre
Airport. The airport, close to downtown Edmonton, continues to
play an important role in Alberta aviation today, serving mostly
private aircraft with a capacity of 19 seats or less.
Source: Myers, Patricia A. Sky Riders: An Illustrated History of Aviation in Alberta 1906-1945. Saskatoon: Fifth House, 1995.
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