RCAF Station Claresholm
General Information
Base / Station: Claresholm
Province: Alberta
Dates of Operation or Period of Information:
- 1941-45,
- 1951-58
Units:
- No. 15 Service Flying Training School
- Formation order issued 12 April 1941
- formed 9 June 1941 as a multi-engine school
- Re-formation order issued 14 March 1945
- Reformed as a reserve training school with a skeleton staff 30 March 1945
- Disbandment Order issued 4 May 1945
- Unit disbanded 15 May 1945
- Aircraft flown:
- Anson,
- Crane,
- Tiger Moth,
- Menasco Moth,
- Hurricane (only 1)
- No 2 Flying Instructors School
- Formed as a sub-unit of No 15 Service Flying Training School at Claresholm on 27 April 1942
- Formed as an Independent Unit at Vulcan, Alberta on 3 August 1942.
- Moved to Pearce, Alberta on 3 May 1943
- became inactive on 29 December 1944
- disbanded on 20 January 1945
- Aircraft Flown:
- Various
- 3 Flying Training School
- formed 1 Aug 51 as a training unit for NATO aircrew
- Closed: 25 Aug 58, reduced need for training
- Aircraft Flown:
- Harvard,
- possibly Chipmunk
- Pilot’s Gunnery School
- formed
- Aircraft flown:
- Harvard
- Station Flight
- formed to provide refresher training and inter-base travel
- Closed 25 Aug 58 with the closing of the station
- Aircraft flown:
- Harvard
- Primary Relief Landing Field – Woodhouse (R1)
- Secondary Relief Landing Field – Champion (R2)
Commanding Officers:
- Wing Commander H.L. Campbell Jun – Nov 1941
- Group Captain W.E. Kennedy Nov 41- Jan 45
- Squadron Leader C.V. Mark Jan-Feb 45
- Wing Commander R.F. Gladden Feb-Mar 45
- Squadron Leader S.A. Bushell Mar-Apr 45
- Squadron Leader F.R. Hardy Apr-May 45
- Group Captain D.G. Price Sep 51-
Financial Impact:
Date / Reason for Closure:
- 25 Aug 58 the station was closed
Post RCAF Evolution:
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Claresholm Indus” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
civilian airfield, all runways (3 active) and taxiways still exist, most hangars still exist, suspect other base building still exist
On Track – 1978
Site Plan – 1942
Source – 1 Canadian Air Division, RCAF
Please click on image to download a PDF copy.
Site Plan – 1952
(Circa 1952) (Source 1 Canadian Air Division)
Please click on image to download a PDF copy.
Location – Google Map
Station Magazine
“Windy Wings”
Daily Diary – Links – No. 15 Service Flying Training School
The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba has created a transcription of this Daily Diary.
Their web site is AirMuseum.ca
Fatalities
This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No. 15 Service Flying Training School and other sources. The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Claresholm, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains 26 personnel.
23 February 1942
29 April 1942 – No 2 FIS
5 July 1942
8 July 1942
- LAC Edward Ernest Gutteridge
- LAC Robert Guthrie Johnston
- LAC William Claude MacDonald
- LAC Claude MacDonald Stearns
14 December 1942
24 December 1942
26 January 1943
30 October 1943
26 December 1943
20 July 1944
11 August 1944
28 August 1944
21 January 1945
7 February 1945
30 January 1954
26 November 1954
4 January 1956
10 April 1956
Aircraft List
Tiger Moth
4196
Course List
No 15 Service Flying Training School
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Bomber Command Museum of Canada
- Facility Disposal File:
Other Sources:
My late father trained on Harvards in 51 with 3 FTS here. I have several photos available
My father served here in the late 50’s. Was there a station magazine for that time period?
Kevin,
I have to this date not come across any but I would not be surprised if there was. If ever I come across any from the later years and can get them digitized I will add them.
Nathan
I was a student pilot at Claresholm from August 1955 to April 1956 then on to Portage La Prairie Manitoba for my jet training. I am having difficulty finding info about Station Claresholm for that period. Any suggestions?
My cousin was training at RCAF Station Claresholm when he died in a crash, along with his flight instructor, on February 1, 1954. He was a student pilot at Number 3 Flying Training School in Claresholm. His name : Raymon Valdes age 23. Flight instructor: H.J.McIntosh. It would be appreciated if their names could be added to the list of those who died at this training school.