Relief Landing Field –
Douglas
General Information
Base / Station: Douglas
Province: Manitoba
Period(s) of Use:
Location: 49°55’N 99°39’W
Elevation: 1262’
Dates of Operation or Period of Information: 1940 -1945
Units: Secondary Relief Landing Field (R. 2) to Brandon
Structures:
Commanding Officers: N/A
Unit Duties / Information:
As with the airfield at Chater, this was designed to be used as landing and take-off facilities for pilots undergoing advanced training.
Part way through the war the airfield was enhanced to allow for Beam Approach Landing Training. This text was provided to me by John McNarry in the RCAF.info facebook group. “The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum has recreated the “BAT” Beam Approach Training building from Douglas.
It is a modified version of a Motor Transport building that had a radio and observation room with abay window and a conning tower built onto the north end of the building as it was situated at Douglas.
The aircraft flying approaches using the dipole could be observed by the staff.
The MT garage bays contained a crash truck ambulance and staff car.
The BAT room had a standard set of bunk beds. Meals were served in the adjacent farm house.
Currently there is a row of grain bins on the garage foundation. No other visible evidence of the site remains.”
Aircraft Flown: N/A
Financial Impact: $89,000 (total cost of BCATP construction to 15 Mar 1942)
Date / Reason for closure:
The airfield closed along with that of Brandon’s following the expiration of the BCATP agreement.
Site details:
- Aerodrome:
- Runways:
- Turf runways.
- 2/20 – 3000’
- 14/32 – 3000’
- 8/26 – 4000’
- Runways:
Current Status: The site was abandoned, no trace of the aerodrome exists other than the concrete foundation of the former Motor Transport Garage.
Key dates:
11 Aug 1943 – New beam approach Field at Douglas, Man., is being put into operation, and it is felt that certain M.T. Vehicles, such as a crash tender and ambulance, should be allotted to that field permanently. (source ORB No. 12 SFTS, Brandon, MB)
Location – Google Map
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- Military Bruce
- Manitoba Historical Society
- Aerodrome Disposal File
Other Sources: