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Heritage Trail #108 British Commonwealth Air Training Plan - Part 2
From 1941 to 1944, the
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan brought new life to
several towns in Alberta. As historian Pat Myers notes, places
like Vulcan, Penhold and Claresholm literally boomed overnight.
"Well, as you can well imagine, some of the smaller places
had no aviation facilities at all. Everything had to be built
from scratch. There was a tremendous flurry of activity. This
was right after the Depression and all of a sudden there were
jobs, jobs, jobs. These facilities had many many buildings,
everything from hangars to hospitals to barracks to mess halls
to recreation halls. Rail lines also had to be put in, so
equipment could be shipped from the town out to the site. Water
lines had to be put in, sewage lines had to be put in.
Electricity had to be run out. So the quiet prairie landscape
took on quite a bustling appearance as these were being set up."
Once each air training facility was up and running, everyone
in town was invited to an opening ceremony. And these usually
ended up as spectacular affairs that drew large crowds.
"Over four thousand people, for example, attended Opening Day
in Vulcan. Opening days were often held in conjunction with the
first graduating class. So there'd be the parade...... [a] smart
military parade with young men in uniform. There were often
flying demonstrations, sometimes the first aid crew would show
what they could do. There were speeches, usually lunch was
served. Then some of the buildings were opened for the civilians
to tour."
It didn't take long for the townspeople to open their hearts
and their homes to these young airmen from England, Australia
and other Commonwealth countries. And they, in turn, were
quickly knit into the fabric of small town life.
"Station personnel took a large part in community events,
they took part in parades and in war time funding drives. They
held dances at the base, they held concerts, and they were very
active in the sports community. Teams from the various BCATP
stations played in local sports leagues. So the stations
themselves really tried to build a good community relationship."
Despite the war raging across the Atlantic, 1941 to 1944 was
a magical time for those on the prairies involved with the
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
On the Heritage Trail,
I'm Cheryl Croucher.
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