RCAF Station Lachine
I would like to provide a special thank you to Francios Dutil for this assistance with the information on this page.
General Information
Base / Station: Lachine
Province: Quebec
Dates of Operation or Period of Information:
- 1941 – 1959
Integral Units:
- No. 5 “M” Depot
- No 1 “Y” Depot
- No _ Release Center
- Air Transport Command HQ
- 9 August 1951 – 1 September 1959
- 426 Squadron
- 1 April 1949 – 31 August 1959
- 436 Squadron
- 1 April 1953 – 1 July 1956
- No 2 Air Movement Group
- 1 April 1951 – 31 August 1959
- RCAF Station Lachine (Dorval Site)
Aircraft Flown: N/A
Commanding Officers:
| Group Captain Adelard Raymond, CBE, Air Efficiency Award, Legion of Honour and War Cross (France) | 10 November 1941 – 30 March 1943 |
| Group Captain William Francis Montgomery Newson, DSO, DFC & bar | 29 July 1945 – 31 August 1946 |
| Wing Commander E.F.J. Charles | Unknown – 15 November 1946 |
| Group Captain Robert Wendell McNair, DSO, DFC & 2 bars, CD, Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, Legion of Honour and War Cross (France) | August 1950 – July 1951 |
| Group Captain John Kennedy Francis MacDonald, DFC | March – June 1951 |
| Wing Commander R.F. Douglas, CD | Unknown – 8 May 1953 |
| Wing Commander R. I. Thomas, AFC | 8 May 1953 – |
| Group Captain E.R. Johnson | – 8 September 1954 |
| Wing Commander P.S. Delaney | 8 September 1954 – |
Financial Impact:
Date / Reason for closure:
- .
Location – Google Map
This location was determined from a redit post post by MatanteAchalante in response to this thread.
Their response was as follows “It was roughly between Sherbrooke street, Provost avenue, 25th and 32nd avenues.
The area has been totally obliterated by construction in the 1960’s”
They also included a photo of the base from the Montreal Archives that I will add at the top of the page.
Photo Gallery
Station Magazine
“”
Daily Diary – Links – No. 5 “M” Depot
1941
1942
1943
Daily Diary – Index – No 1 “Y” Depot
1945
Daily Diary – Index – RCAF Station Lachine
1946
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1946
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1952
Fatalities
This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No. 5 “M” Depot and No 1 “Y” Depot and other sources. The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Lachine, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains 0 personnel.
Notable Alumni
Aircraft List
Notes
Course List
No 5 “M” Depot
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Site Plan:
- Aerodrome Disposal File:
I was Born on the base in 1955 – love moved to downsview afb 1958
Station commander from March to June 1951 was Group Captain John Kennedy Francis MacDonald, DFC.
Station commander from August 1950 to July 1951 was Group Captain Robert Wendell McNair, DSO, DFC & 2 bars, CD, Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, Legion of Honour and War Cross (France),
Station commander from 29 July 1945 to 31 August 1946 was Group Captain William Francis Montgomery Newson, DSO, DFC & bar.
Station commander from 10 November 1941 to 30 March 1943 was Group Captain Adelard Raymond, CBE, Air Efficiency Award, Legion of Honour and War Cross (France).
In addition to other wartime duties, It was the military station supporting the military units using the runways at Dorval between September 1941 and August 1959. Some references put the following units in Dorval, Quebec, because they flew out of there, but they were actually under RCAF Station Lachine situated barely a mile away. Station Lachine closed on 12 September 1959.
-Air Transport Command HQ from 9 August 1951 to 1 September 1959.
-426 Sqn from 10 March 1947 to 31 August 1959.
-436 Sqn from 1 April 1953 to 1 July 1956.
-2 Air Movement Unit from 1 April 1951 to 31 August 1959.