Canadian Forces Station Ladner
Encyclopedia
Canadian Forces Station Ladner is a former military airport and communications station located beside Boundary Bay
and 2.5 NM east of Ladner
in Delta
, British Columbia
, Canada
, south of Vancouver
and close to the U.S.
border. After its closure it was reopened as Boundary Bay Airport
.
After the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
came into effect in 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force
began looking for locations at which to train pilots for Second World War. Boundary Bay was one location that was selected, and in 1940, land from three farms was appropriated for an airport. Construction proceeded slowly as boggy areas had to be filled with hay and gravel, but gravel roads and runways were in place for the base's opening on April 10, 1941. No. 18 Elementary Flight Training School (No. 18 EFTS) was the first unit established at the newly created Royal Canadian Air Force Station Boundary Bay. Flying De Havilland Tiger Moth
biplanes, No. 18 EFTS's training was provided by private civilian instructors. The Aerodrome was officially opened by Prime Minister MacKenzie-King on July 2, 1941 with all the pomp and circumstance one might expect to find in a small patriotic community at war. A huge air demonstration was put on by the school instructors to the delight of hundreds of local spectators. This school was sponsored by the Aero Club of B.C and named the Vancouver Air Training Co. Ltd. (VATC). Less than one year before the VATC had established No. 8 EFTS stationed at RCAF Station Sea Island
(current site of Vancouver International Airport
) On May 25, 1942, No. 18 EFTS was disbanded as a direct result of the attack on the American Naval station at Perl Harbor. It was felt that the West coast was now vulnerable to attack by the Japanese and Boundary Bay was the most advantages location for a fighter Squadron to protect Vancouver and the surrounding Coast. No. 18's personnel and equipment were transferred to No. 33 RAF EFTS at Caron Saskatchewan where the civilian staff took over operations from the RAF staff.
Between early 1942 and April 1944 there were three operational fighter squadrons rotated through Boundary. No. 133 Squadron which flew Hawker Hurricane
s and later No. 132 and No. 14 fighter squadrons both flying P-40 Kittyhawks. On April 1, 1944 No. 5 Operational Training Unit, (OTU), was established at Boundary Bay. No. 5 OTU was created for the purpose of training Commonwealth crews to fly the American built B-24 Liberator. By 1944 the Royal Air Force had decided to increase bombing operations in S.E Asia and the Pacific and the bomber of choice was the B-24. Boundary Bay was chosen because of its close proximity to the mountains and ocean which, it was believed, helped to create similar flying conditions that would be found in the future theater of operations. In addition to the Liberator the B-25 Mitchell was used as a stepping stone to the 4 engined Liberators. Other aircraft used by the unit included the Bolingbroke, for towing targets, the P-40 Kittyhawk, for fighter affiliation exercises and a Norseman for unit hack purposes. Shortly after the first course graduated it was decided that the crews would require additional Air Gunners. Therefore a satellite unit was needed to facilitate the additional staff. On July 15 No. 5 OTU Abbotsford Detachment was created and the Liberators moved to Abbotsford. Boundary Bay was now responsible for the initial training and the Liberator crews would graduate out of Abbotsford. After the war, the airport was no longer needed. No. 5 OTU left the base on October 31, 1945, and the RCAF decommissioned the base in 1946. RCAF Boundary Bay's last official function of the war was to act as a demobilization centre for the Canadian Air Force.
The site was left unused until it was transferred to Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
in 1949. Re-established as the Vancouver Wireless Station, the site operated radio
equipment for communication and gathering signals intelligence. When the Canadian Forces
were unified in 1968, the site was renamed Canadian Forces Station Ladner. The downsizing associated with unification would soon hit CFS Ladner, and in 1971 it was permanently closed. All that remains of CFS Ladner are the abandoned roadways.
for picnics, public fairs and auto racing. When it became apparent that Vancouver International Airport could no longer sustain general aviation and commercial traffic, Transport Canada
proposed reactivating Boundary Bay for general aviation. The airport underwent restoration, and on July 11, 1983 two of the three runways were reopened as Boundary Bay Airport
. The other runway and some ramp space was made available for driver training and other events.
Boundary Bay
Boundary Bay is situated on the Pacific coast of North America on the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington....
and 2.5 NM east of Ladner
Ladner, British Columbia
Ladner was created as a fishing village on the banks of the Fraser River. It is a part of the Municipality of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and a suburb of Vancouver....
in Delta
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, south of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and close to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
border. After its closure it was reopened as Boundary Bay Airport
Boundary Bay Airport
Boundary Bay Airport is located beside Boundary Bay and east of Ladner in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, south of Vancouver and close to the U.S. border. The airport, which opened 11 July 1983, serves mostly general aviation and includes facilities for aircraft maintenance, flight training,...
.
History
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
came into effect in 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
began looking for locations at which to train pilots for Second World War. Boundary Bay was one location that was selected, and in 1940, land from three farms was appropriated for an airport. Construction proceeded slowly as boggy areas had to be filled with hay and gravel, but gravel roads and runways were in place for the base's opening on April 10, 1941. No. 18 Elementary Flight Training School (No. 18 EFTS) was the first unit established at the newly created Royal Canadian Air Force Station Boundary Bay. Flying De Havilland Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
biplanes, No. 18 EFTS's training was provided by private civilian instructors. The Aerodrome was officially opened by Prime Minister MacKenzie-King on July 2, 1941 with all the pomp and circumstance one might expect to find in a small patriotic community at war. A huge air demonstration was put on by the school instructors to the delight of hundreds of local spectators. This school was sponsored by the Aero Club of B.C and named the Vancouver Air Training Co. Ltd. (VATC). Less than one year before the VATC had established No. 8 EFTS stationed at RCAF Station Sea Island
RCAF Station Sea Island
RCAF Station Sea Island began as a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station. No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School began operation here on July 22, 1940...
(current site of Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
) On May 25, 1942, No. 18 EFTS was disbanded as a direct result of the attack on the American Naval station at Perl Harbor. It was felt that the West coast was now vulnerable to attack by the Japanese and Boundary Bay was the most advantages location for a fighter Squadron to protect Vancouver and the surrounding Coast. No. 18's personnel and equipment were transferred to No. 33 RAF EFTS at Caron Saskatchewan where the civilian staff took over operations from the RAF staff.
Between early 1942 and April 1944 there were three operational fighter squadrons rotated through Boundary. No. 133 Squadron which flew Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s and later No. 132 and No. 14 fighter squadrons both flying P-40 Kittyhawks. On April 1, 1944 No. 5 Operational Training Unit, (OTU), was established at Boundary Bay. No. 5 OTU was created for the purpose of training Commonwealth crews to fly the American built B-24 Liberator. By 1944 the Royal Air Force had decided to increase bombing operations in S.E Asia and the Pacific and the bomber of choice was the B-24. Boundary Bay was chosen because of its close proximity to the mountains and ocean which, it was believed, helped to create similar flying conditions that would be found in the future theater of operations. In addition to the Liberator the B-25 Mitchell was used as a stepping stone to the 4 engined Liberators. Other aircraft used by the unit included the Bolingbroke, for towing targets, the P-40 Kittyhawk, for fighter affiliation exercises and a Norseman for unit hack purposes. Shortly after the first course graduated it was decided that the crews would require additional Air Gunners. Therefore a satellite unit was needed to facilitate the additional staff. On July 15 No. 5 OTU Abbotsford Detachment was created and the Liberators moved to Abbotsford. Boundary Bay was now responsible for the initial training and the Liberator crews would graduate out of Abbotsford. After the war, the airport was no longer needed. No. 5 OTU left the base on October 31, 1945, and the RCAF decommissioned the base in 1946. RCAF Boundary Bay's last official function of the war was to act as a demobilization centre for the Canadian Air Force.
The site was left unused until it was transferred to Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
in 1949. Re-established as the Vancouver Wireless Station, the site operated radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
equipment for communication and gathering signals intelligence. When the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
were unified in 1968, the site was renamed Canadian Forces Station Ladner. The downsizing associated with unification would soon hit CFS Ladner, and in 1971 it was permanently closed. All that remains of CFS Ladner are the abandoned roadways.
Rebirth
Following the closure of Ladner, the site was used by the community of LadnerLadner, British Columbia
Ladner was created as a fishing village on the banks of the Fraser River. It is a part of the Municipality of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and a suburb of Vancouver....
for picnics, public fairs and auto racing. When it became apparent that Vancouver International Airport could no longer sustain general aviation and commercial traffic, Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
proposed reactivating Boundary Bay for general aviation. The airport underwent restoration, and on July 11, 1983 two of the three runways were reopened as Boundary Bay Airport
Boundary Bay Airport
Boundary Bay Airport is located beside Boundary Bay and east of Ladner in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, south of Vancouver and close to the U.S. border. The airport, which opened 11 July 1983, serves mostly general aviation and includes facilities for aircraft maintenance, flight training,...
. The other runway and some ramp space was made available for driver training and other events.