RCAF Station Charlottetown
Encyclopedia
RCAF Station Charlottetown was a Royal Canadian Air Force
station located in Sherwood
, Prince Edward Island
. Today's Charlottetown Airport
maintains a remnant of the base's runways near its general aviation terminal, however all buildings and most infrastructure from the base has been removed.
. It was selected by the City of Charlottetown
for a civilian aerodrome to serve central Prince Edward Island in 1938 after the city's original aerodrome, Upton Field, was considered too small and obsolete. A 300 acres (1.2 km²) property between the Brackley Point and Norwood/Union roads was purchased for $30,000 by the municipal government. The municipal and provincial governments divided the cost of developing the new airport in exchange for an equivalent division of revenue sharing. The municipal government maintained title to the facility and agreed to operate it.
Following the outbreak of World War II
and the creation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
, the city of Charlottetown offered its airfield to the federal government in December 1939 for military use until the conclusion of the Second World War. The offer was accepted and on May 1, 1940 the Department of National Defence
announced the establishment of No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School (B&GS) under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
(BCATP), with the provision for a bombing range to be built in the Prince Edward Island National Park
near the fishing port of Covehead. Local fishermen on the north shore protested the school and plans were cancelled in 1941 when No. 5 B&GS was ultimately moved to RCAF Station Dafoe
in Saskatchewan
.
In preparation for military use, the airfield underwent significant expansion with the main access point being changed to Norwood/Union Road. Three paved runways were constructed in the classic BCATP "triangle" configuration, along with various buildings and support facilities.
was operating its base at RCAF Station Summerside and another further to the west at RCAF Station Mount Pleasant
, the Charlottetown airfield was to be operated by the Royal Air Force
(RAF). Construction was completed and the RAF took over the facility on June 15, 1941, naming it RAF Station Charlottetown.
The BCATP school located at RAF Station Charlottetown was No. 31 General Reconnaissance School (GRS), which flew the Avro Anson
. The RAF's No. 32 Air Navigation School was also located at the base until it merged with the RCAF's No. 2 Air Navigation School in 1944. Like all RAF training facilities in Canada at the time, RAF Station Charlottetown was subject to Royal Canadian Air Force
operational and administrative control. RAF stations in Canada during the war were extensions of the British Commonwealth Training Plan until they were officially incorporated into the BCATP in 1942.
Over 1200 students from Commonwealth nations had graduated from the facility. Approximately 200-300 RCAF and RAF personnel had been stationed at the training base and it employed 100 civilian workers during peak training operations.
Along with RCAF Station Summerside, the Charlottetown base also supported various patrol operations by the RCAF's Eastern Command, including coastal patrol aircraft dedicated to hunting German
U-boat
s which were operating in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River during the 1942-1944 period. U-boats sank dozens of cargo and warships during the Battle of the St. Lawrence
.
Following the base's decommissioning, the Department of Transport took over the Charlottetown Airport from the RCAF on February 1, 1946 and the airfield returned to civilian use.
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...
station located in Sherwood
Sherwood, Prince Edward Island
Sherwood is a neighbourhood of the city of Charlottetown in central Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.Sherwood is centrally located in Charlottetown on the border of Queens Royalty and the township of Lot 33....
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. Today's Charlottetown Airport
Charlottetown Airport
Charlottetown Airport, , is located north of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The airport is currently run by the Charlottetown Airport Authority, is owned by Transport Canada and forms part of the National Airports System....
maintains a remnant of the base's runways near its general aviation terminal, however all buildings and most infrastructure from the base has been removed.
Charlottetown Airport
The site of RCAF Charlottetown is located in the northeast part of Queens RoyaltyQueens Royalty, Prince Edward Island
Queens Royalty is the royalty for Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.The township was established as part of the colonial survey of 1764 undertaken by Capt. Samuel J. Holland. It was intended to host the colonial capital of Prince Edward Island and [county seat] of Queens County,...
. It was selected by the City of Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
for a civilian aerodrome to serve central Prince Edward Island in 1938 after the city's original aerodrome, Upton Field, was considered too small and obsolete. A 300 acres (1.2 km²) property between the Brackley Point and Norwood/Union roads was purchased for $30,000 by the municipal government. The municipal and provincial governments divided the cost of developing the new airport in exchange for an equivalent division of revenue sharing. The municipal government maintained title to the facility and agreed to operate it.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the creation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
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...
, the city of Charlottetown offered its airfield to the federal government in December 1939 for military use until the conclusion of the Second World War. The offer was accepted and on May 1, 1940 the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
announced the establishment of No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School (B&GS) under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
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...
(BCATP), with the provision for a bombing range to be built in the Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park is a National Park located on Prince Edward Island. Situated along the island's north shore, fronting the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the park measures approximately 60 km in length and ranges from several hundred metres to several kilometres in width...
near the fishing port of Covehead. Local fishermen on the north shore protested the school and plans were cancelled in 1941 when No. 5 B&GS was ultimately moved to RCAF Station Dafoe
RCAF Station Dafoe
RCAF Station Dafoe was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force station located near Dafoe, Saskatchewan, Canada. The station was home to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan's No. 5 Bomber and Gunnery School. The school opened January 1941 and closed January 1945...
in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
In preparation for military use, the airfield underwent significant expansion with the main access point being changed to Norwood/Union Road. Three paved runways were constructed in the classic BCATP "triangle" configuration, along with various buildings and support facilities.
RAF Station Charlottetown
Whereas the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal 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...
was operating its base at RCAF Station Summerside and another further to the west at RCAF Station Mount Pleasant
RCAF Station Mount Pleasant
RCAF Station Mount Pleasant was a Royal Canadian Air Force station in Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Two of its runways remain in use by members of the Experimental Aircraft Association....
, the Charlottetown airfield was to be operated by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF). Construction was completed and the RAF took over the facility on June 15, 1941, naming it RAF Station Charlottetown.
The BCATP school located at RAF Station Charlottetown was No. 31 General Reconnaissance School (GRS), which flew the Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
. The RAF's No. 32 Air Navigation School was also located at the base until it merged with the RCAF's No. 2 Air Navigation School in 1944. Like all RAF training facilities in Canada at the time, RAF Station Charlottetown was subject to 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...
operational and administrative control. RAF stations in Canada during the war were extensions of the British Commonwealth Training Plan until they were officially incorporated into the BCATP in 1942.
RCAF Station Charlottetown
The RAF presence in Prince Edward Island disappeared when the No. 31 GRS ceased operation in February 1944 and the RCAF's No. 2 Air Navigation School (ANS) began operation. At this time the airfield changed its name to RCAF Station Charlottetown. The No. 2 ANS ceased operation in July 1945 and the No. 1 Aircraft Holding Unit (AHU) used the aerodrome for a short period until it closed later in 1945. All military activities were subsequently transferred to RCAF Station Summerside.Over 1200 students from Commonwealth nations had graduated from the facility. Approximately 200-300 RCAF and RAF personnel had been stationed at the training base and it employed 100 civilian workers during peak training operations.
Along with RCAF Station Summerside, the Charlottetown base also supported various patrol operations by the RCAF's Eastern Command, including coastal patrol aircraft dedicated to hunting German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s which were operating in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River during the 1942-1944 period. U-boats sank dozens of cargo and warships during the Battle of the St. Lawrence
Battle of the St. Lawrence
The Battle of the St. Lawrence involved a number of submarine and anti-submarine actions throughout the lower St. Lawrence River and the entire Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Strait of Belle Isle and Cabot Strait from May-October 1942, September 1943, and again in October-November 1944...
.
Following the base's decommissioning, the Department of Transport took over the Charlottetown Airport from the RCAF on February 1, 1946 and the airfield returned to civilian use.