RCAF Station Virden
General Overview
Base / Station: Virden
Province:
Dates of Operation:
- 1941 – 1944
Units:
- No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School
- Relief Landing Field – Lenore
- Relief Landing Field – Hargrave
Location:
- N 49° 53’ W 100° 55’
Elevation:
- 1446’
Unit Duties / Information:
- No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School was opened at Virden May 16, 1941 to provide primary training for entrants into the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Upon graduation from No. 19 EFTS, the students were wings qualified and sent on to a Service Flying Training School for more advanced training.
Aircraft Flown:
- Cornell and
- Tiger Moth
National Defence Photo REA 226-15
Image from the RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases circa 1942.
National Defence Photo REA 107-121
National Defence Photo REA 226-15
Financial Impact:
- $492,926 (total cost of BCATP construction to 15 Mar 1942)
Commanding Officers:
Date / Reason for closure:
- No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School was closed December 15, 1944 as the need for primary training for pilots was reduced and in accordance with the accelerated phase-out plan for the BCATP.
Site Evolution
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Virden” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
- abandoned airfield, no base buildings believed to exist
On Track – 1978
Location – Google Map
YouTube Videos
Station Magazine
“The Wind”
Station Magazine
“Tiger Rag”
Publication
“Virden Days”
Photo Gallery
Daily Diary – Links – No 19 Elementary 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
1944
Fatalities
This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No 19 Elementary Flying Training School and other sources. The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Virden, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains 5 personnel.
31 August 1941
1 December 1941
2 July 1942
30 July 1942
Notable Alumni
Aircraft List
Notes
Related documents:
Course List
No 19 Elementary Flying Training School
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Site Plan:
- http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/virdenhangar.shtml
- Aerodrome Disposal File: