RCAF Station Chatham
General Information
Base / Station: Chatham
Province: New Brunswick
Dates of Operation or Period of Information:
- 1941-1945,
- 1949-199__
Units:
- No. 21 Elementary Flying Training School
- opened May 15, 1941
- Conducted initial pilot training on light aircraft
- Aircraft operated – Fleet Finch II
- Moved to ? – 14 Aug 42
- No. 10 Air Observer School
- opened June 6, 1941
- Provided training to Air Navigators
- Aircraft operated – Avro Anson
- Closed – 30 April 45, end of war
- No. 1 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
- Provided initial jet training to fighter pilots
- Aircraft operated:
- de Havilland Vampire
- Canadair Sabre
- Closed – 31 Oct 61, reformed as Sabre Transition Unit
- No. 421 (Fighter) Squadron
- air defence unit
- Aircraft operated:
- de Havilland Vampire
- 19 Jan 51, transferred to 1 CAD
- Golden Hawks
- air demonstration team
- Aircraft operated:
- Canadair Sabre
- 13 Nov 62, moved to Trenton
- Sabre Transition Unit
- formed Oct 31, 1961
- Provided initial/conversion training on the Sabre Aircraft
- Aircraft operated:
- Canadair Sabre
- Disbanded – Dec 68, end of Sabre ops
- No. 416 All Weather (Fighter) Squadron
- formed Nov 1962
- NORAD duties
- Aircraft operated:
- McDonnell-Douglas CF-101 Voodoo
- Disbanded – 31 Dec 84, end of CF-101 ops
- 425 Munitions Maintenance Sqn (USAF)
- formed 1964
- NORAD duties
- Disbanded – 1975
- No. 434 Sqn
- July 9, 1985
- tactical air support
- Aircraft operated:
- Canadair CF-116 Freedom Fighter
- Disbanded – 13 June 1988
- Air Defence Artillery School
- Sept 11, 1985
- Ground to air weapons training unit for the Canadian Army
- 119 Air Defence Battery
- Sept 11 1985
- Ground to air weapons unit for the Canadian Army
Image from the
RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases
circa 1942.
Commanding Officers:
- Wing Commander E.B. Hale, DFC, CD
- 2 May 1949 – 18 July 1951
- Wing Commander P.S. Turner, DSO, DFC
- 18 July 1951 – 16 January 1953
- Group Captain A.G. McKenna
- 16 Jan 53 – 27 May 55
- Group Captain M.E. Pollard
- 27 May 55 – 12 Aug 57
- Wing Commander J.F. Allen
- 12 Aug 57 – 8 Oct 57 (acting)
- Group Captain N.W. Timmerman
- 8 Oct 57 – 14 July 60
- Group Captain A.F. Banville
- 14 July 60 – June 63
- Group Captain J.R. Beggs
- June 63 – 29 June 66
- Group Captain W.R. Cole
- 29 June 66 – 23 Oct 67
- Colonel A.J. Bauer
- 16 Nov 67 – 30 July 71
- Colonel K.J. Thorneycroft
- 30 July 71 – 9 Aug 74
- Colonel P.D. Manson
- 9 Aug 74 – 20 Aug 76
- Colonel R.W. Fentiman
- 20 Aug 76 – 5 Aug 80
- Colonel H.A. Rose
- 5 Aug 80 – 20 July 83
- Colonel M.C. Randall
- 20 July 83 – 11 July 86
- Colonel A.M. Lee
- 11 July 86 – 30 June 89
Financial Impact:
Date / Reason for Closure:
- RCAF Station Chatham – 31 Dec 45, end of war
- CFB Chatham –
Current Status: civil airfield CYCH; most base buildings remain, only runway 09/27 is active although all other runways/taxiways still exist
Site Plan – 1958
(1958) (Source 1 Canadian Air Division)
If you would like a PDF Copy Please Click to Download.
Location – Google Map
Photo Gallery
Thank you to Mike Anglin for sharing this photo with me (National Defence Image)
YouTube
Station Magazine
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Welcome Guide
Daily Diary – Links – No. 21 Elementary Flying Training School
Daily Diary – Links – No. 10 Air Observer School
The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba has created a transcription of this Daily Diary.
Their web site is AirMuseum.ca
Historical Report – Links – RCAF Station Chatham
Fatalities
This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No. 21 Elementary Flying Training School, No 10 Air Observer School and other sources. The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Chatham, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains 10 personnel.
23 January 1942
25 February 1942
7 April 1942
Notable Alumni
Aircraft List
Notes
Related documents:
Course List
No 21 Elementary Flying Training School
Course List
No 10 Air Observer School
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Site Plan:
- Aerodrome Disposal File: