When the Second World War began in 1939, many remembered both
the success of the Canadian fighter pilots and the training
facilities that were established in Canada during the First
World War. The new technology of war brought with it an
important role for aircrew of all classifications. There was a
massive demand for highly trained maintenance personnel as well
as pilots. Canada was seen as the best choice for the training
facilities because of its physical position on the North
Atlantic trading routes, its wide open spaces, and its
geographic closeness to the massive industrial power in the
United States. The result was the establishment of the British
Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).
The BCATP was established with air training facilities across
the nation and Alberta played a very important role. Almost
every category of the air training school was located in the
province, including Initial Training Schools, Elementary Flying
Training Schools, Service Flying Training Schools, Air Observer
School, Flying Instructor School, and Bombing and Gunnery
school.
To provide services that the men in the Royal Canadian Air
Force (RCAF) could not, the Women’s Division of the RCAF became
pilots, mechanics, and ground crew among other categories of
work. The women of the Women’s Division played a critical role
in the success of the Air Training Plan.
During the war, Blatchford Field became the busiest
airport in all of North America as it was the main centre for an
Air Observer School, an Elementary Flying Training School, and
the main air link for the Americans who were building the Alaska
Highway for the Northwest Staging Route to provide military defence in Alaska if the Japanese attacked. The airfield was
also the centre drop off point for the aircraft being ferried to
Russia from the United States as a part of the Lend-Lease
Program.
Adding to the air traffic at Blatchford Field was one
of Canada’s largest aircraft repair companies, Aircraft Repair
Ltd..
Throughout the Second World War, Alberta was a busy place
contributing to many aspects of air training for the Allies, and
providing a gateway to the north where the Northwest Staging
Route provided a link for the defence of Alaska, and the
corridor for aircraft being provided for the Lend-Lease Program.
Vera Dowling: UFO Pilot – Vera Dowling
An interesting and amusing story about Vera’s experience as a flight instructor in Edmonton.
Watch | Read | Biography
Landing in the Spring – Harold Heacock
One of the jobs that Harold regularly undertook was to fly the Norseman into remote locations, airlifting in medical supplies and personnel, and taking patients out.
Watch | Read | Biography
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