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Royal Air Force (RAF)

In order to train in Canada, Royal Air Force (British Air Force) trainees had first to travel the dangerous Atlantic Ocean, with its deadly U-boats. Early in the war the ships they boarded were accompanied by air support to a certain distance from each coast; they had to make it, however, through a gap in the middle where the ships were left on their own (this gap was closed later in the war). The trainees were not informed where they would arrive, but eventually landed at ports in maritime Canada, or ports on the American east coast.

From the east coast they boarded a train to Moncton, New Brunswick. There they were posted to various training schools across Canada and were given over-boots and headgear to deal with the Canadian winter. If posted to Alberta, they took another train trip that could take as long as five days.

Royal Air Force trainees attended a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and a Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS). The RAF itself ran several of the schools in Alberta.

Those training on Tiger Moth planes at EFTS noticed several differences between the Canadian version and the one they flew at home. The most significant was a sliding hood over the cockpit, which made flying in the cold possible. They also experienced vastly different flying conditions, with predictable weather and easy navigation, given the railway lines that stood out well and farmers' fields divided into squares, with lines going north-south and east-west. While the actual flying was easier, RAF trainees did find landing and taking off on hard-packed snow to be a little tricky at first.

Royal Air Force Insignia

Royal Air Force Insignia

RAF Station Penhold

RAF Station Penhold