RCAF Station Sea Island
General Overview
Base / Station: Sea Island
Province: British Columbia
Dates of Operation or Period of Information:
Units:
- No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School
- July 1940 – December 1941
Aircraft Flown:
Commanding Officers:
| Group Captain Conway Macalister Farrell, DFC. | 10 November 1943 to 18 May 1944 |
| Group Captain Joseph Menard William St. Pierre, AFC, DFC (US). | 15 April to 4 December 1945 |
| Group Captain James Dean Somerville, DSO, DFC, CD. | 10 August 1959 to January 1960 |
Financial Impact:
Site Evolution
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Vancouver” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
- Vancouver International Airport
Image from the RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases circa 1942.
On Track – 1978
Location – Google Map
Photo Gallery
Thank you to Mike Anglin for sharing this photo with me (National Defence Image)
Thank you to Mike Anglin for sharing this photo with me (I believe this photo was originally a National Defence Image but there are captions on the photo that seem to dispute that.)
Station Magazine
“Western Wings”
Station Magazine
“The C-Ylander”
Daily Diary – Links – No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School
Effective 20 December 1941 No 8 Elementary Flying Training School was moved to Boundary Bay, British Columbia. It appears that the school was dissolved on the move and was made part of No 18 Elementary Flying Training School on arrival at Boundary Bay.
Fatalities
Aircraft List
Course List
No 8 Elementary Flying Training School
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- Military Bruce – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Sea Island Heritage Society
Station Commander from 10 November 1943 to 18 May 1944 was Group Captain Conway Macalister Farrell, DFC.
Station Commander from 10 August 1959 to January 1960 was Group Captain James Dean Somerville DSO, DFC, CD.
Station Commander from 15 April to 4 December 1945 was Group Captain Joseph Menard William St. Pierre, AFC, DFC (US).