RCAF Station Kingston
Encyclopedia
RCAF Station Kingston was a Second World War air training station built in 1940 at Collins Bay
near Kingston, Ontario
, Canada. The station was originally built by the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) for use by the Royal Air Force
(RAF). Like other RAF schools in Canada, it was subject to RCAF administrative and operational control.
No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) was the first British Service Flying Training school to be established in Canada and the first flying training school at Kingston. The school was originally No. 7 Service Flying School based in Peterborough
, England. Its main intent was to train pilots of the Fleet Air Arm
, but in the beginning the school's first students were British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
(BCATP) trainees selected for service with the RCAF and RAF. Naval trainees, however, made up the majority of the trainees by the end of December 1940. Pilots were trained on Fairey Battle
s, which were shipped from England, and later, Harvards
. Relief landing fields were located at Gananoque
and Sandhurst, Ontario.
In 1942, the school formally became part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1944 No. 31 SFTS was merged with the RCAF's No. 14 SFTS when this school was transferred to Kingston from RCAF Station Aylmer
. Aircraft used by No. 14 SFTS included Harvards, Yales and Anson
s. No. 14 SFTS closed down in September 1945.
Some of the more noteworthy pilots who trained at this station include:
The old air station has been improved over the years and is now the Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport
.
Collins Bay, Ontario
Collins Bay is a bay and natural harbour, as well as a community, within the western part of the municipality of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Collins Bay was at one time a small village, but it became absorbed by the city of Kingston. Now Collins Bay consists mostly of residential subdivisions, a...
near Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Canada. The station was originally built by 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...
(RCAF) for use 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). Like other RAF schools in Canada, it was subject to RCAF administrative and operational control.
No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) was the first British Service Flying Training school to be established in Canada and the first flying training school at Kingston. The school was originally No. 7 Service Flying School based in Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, England. Its main intent was to train pilots of the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
, but in the beginning the school's first students were 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) trainees selected for service with the RCAF and RAF. Naval trainees, however, made up the majority of the trainees by the end of December 1940. Pilots were trained on Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
s, which were shipped from England, and later, Harvards
T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
. Relief landing fields were located at Gananoque
RCAF Detachment Gananoque
RCAF Detachment Gananoque was a relief landing field for the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Service Flying Training School located at Kingston during the Second World War. The airfield was located north of Gananoque, Ontario, Canada...
and Sandhurst, Ontario.
In 1942, the school formally became part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1944 No. 31 SFTS was merged with the RCAF's No. 14 SFTS when this school was transferred to Kingston from RCAF Station Aylmer
RCAF Station Aylmer
RCAF Station Aylmer was a Royal Canadian Air Force training base that was established on July 3, 1941 just north-east of Aylmer, Ontario, Canada. It was one of many built across Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II....
. Aircraft used by No. 14 SFTS included Harvards, Yales and 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...
s. No. 14 SFTS closed down in September 1945.
Some of the more noteworthy pilots who trained at this station include:
- David Clarabut who earned a Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(DSC) for his role on the attack on the German battleship TirpitzGerman battleship TirpitzTirpitz was the second of two s built for the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Imperial Navy, the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and launched two and a half years later in April... - Robert Hampton GrayRobert Hampton GrayRobert Hampton "Hammy" Gray VC, DSC was a Canadian naval officer, pilot, and recipient of the Victoria Cross during World War II, one of only two members of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to have been thus decorated in that war.Gray was born in Trail, British Columbia, Canada, but resided in...
, Canada's last Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
recipient of the Second World War - Gordon Cheeseman Edwards, Mentioned in Despatches for the attacks on the Tirpitz
- Philip Steele Foulds who earned a DSC for his role in an attack on an enemy convoy
The old air station has been improved over the years and is now the Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport
Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport
Kingston Airport or Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport, , is an airport located west of the core of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.The airport is named after former MP Norman McLeod Rogers , Minister of Labour and then National Defence in Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's cabinet...
.