RCAF Station Hamilton
Encyclopedia
RCAF Station Hamilton was a station of the Royal Canadian Air Force
located at Mount Hope
, Ontario
, Canada
, 15 mi (24.1 km) south of the City of Hamilton
.
During the Second World War
, it was a base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
, teaching pilots from allied commonwealth
nations the art of combat flying. Schools located here were No. 10 Service Flying Training School (No. 10 SFTS), which flew De Havilland Tiger Moth
and Fleet Finch
aircraft, and No. 33 Air Navigation School (No. 33 ANS), which flew the Avro Anson
. No. 10 SFTS relocated to RCAF Station Pendleton
in 1942; No. 33 ANS closed in October 1944.
After the war, it became a base for Hamilton 424 Reserve Squadron, supported by regular force personnel. During the post-war years, 424 Squadron, under Air Defence Command, flew the P-51 Mustang
and Vampire jet fighter
. Later, under Air Transport Command, 424 flew the Beechcraft Expeditor and the De Havilland Otter
. Other units located here included No. 16 Wing (Auxiliary), No. 2424 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (Auxiliary), which trained Pinetree Line
radar operators, and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve's No. 1 Training Air Group.
Although the popular notion is the amalgamation and reorganization of Canada's armed forces caused the closure of RCAF Station Hamilton in 1964, those who served in the RACAF at the time know that the closure was a result of an infamous austerity program initiated by the Diefenbaker government - the same government that forced the scraping of the Avro Arrow. The airport was known as Mount Hope Airport for many years and today is called the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.
Mount Hope is the location of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
.
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...
located at Mount Hope
Glanbrook Township, Ontario
Glanbrook was a rural township of about 10,000 inhabitants south of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with which it was amalgamated in 2001. Unlike the other municipalities which became part of the new city of Hamilton, Glanbrook lacked a sense of common identity....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
, 15 mi (24.1 km) south of the City of Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
.
During the Second World War
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...
, it was a base for 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...
, teaching pilots from allied commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
nations the art of combat flying. Schools located here were No. 10 Service Flying Training School (No. 10 SFTS), which flew 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...
and Fleet Finch
Fleet Finch
-See also:* List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in Canada -Bibliography:* Molson, Ken M. and Taylor, Harold A. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.* Page, Ron D. and Cumming, William. Fleet: The Flying Years. Erin,...
aircraft, and No. 33 Air Navigation School (No. 33 ANS), 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...
. No. 10 SFTS relocated to RCAF Station Pendleton
Pendleton Airport
Pendleton Airport, , is located northwest of Pendleton, Ontario, Canada, east of Ottawa. The airfield is currently operated by the Gatineau Gliding Club.-History:...
in 1942; No. 33 ANS closed in October 1944.
After the war, it became a base for Hamilton 424 Reserve Squadron, supported by regular force personnel. During the post-war years, 424 Squadron, under Air Defence Command, flew the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
and Vampire jet fighter
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
. Later, under Air Transport Command, 424 flew the Beechcraft Expeditor and the De Havilland Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, but was overall a larger aircraft.-Design and...
. Other units located here included No. 16 Wing (Auxiliary), No. 2424 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (Auxiliary), which trained Pinetree Line
Pinetree Line
The Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
radar operators, and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve's No. 1 Training Air Group.
Although the popular notion is the amalgamation and reorganization of Canada's armed forces caused the closure of RCAF Station Hamilton in 1964, those who served in the RACAF at the time know that the closure was a result of an infamous austerity program initiated by the Diefenbaker government - the same government that forced the scraping of the Avro Arrow. The airport was known as Mount Hope Airport for many years and today is called the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.
Mount Hope is the location of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is a Canadian aviation museum located at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport near Hamilton, Ontario. The museum has 36 military jets, propeller-driven aircraft and helicopters on display....
.