RCAF Station Ottawa – Rockcliffe
General Information
Location/Base: Rockcliffe
Province: Ontario
Years in Use:
Units:
- No 1 Refresher Squadron
- Reorganized from the Conversion Training Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario
- Reorganized 15 March 1943
- Disbanded October 1943
- Provided upgrading to Service Flying Training School Students who were bove average in flying but have failed in ground subjects.
- Provided refresher flying for repatriated returning to flying duties.
- Provided practice and solo communication flying for Air Force Headquarters General List personnel.
- Provide unforeseen flying requirements which may arise in the future such as transfers from Non-Flying List to General List, ect.
- No 3 (Temporary) Manning Depot
- Formed at Rockcliffe on or about 10 June 1940
- Moved to Edmonton, Alberta
- No 7 (GP) Sqn
- [10 Sept ’39]
- reduced to AFHQ Comms Flight, 3 Oct ’39
- No 7 Manning Depot (Women’s Division)
- [11 Apr ’42-31 Mar ’44, May-Aug’44]
Image from the RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases circa 1942.
Special thanks to Matt Heintz for providing a better copy of this image.
- No 12 Communications Flight 12 Sep ’39- [became 12 Comms Sqn]
- No 124 (Ferry) Sqn [1 Jan ’43 (?’42)]
- No 168 (Heavy Transport) Sqn [4 June ’44]
- No 7 (Photographic) Wing [4 June ’44]
- No 13 (Photo) Sqn [4 June ’44]
- No 9 (Transport) Group HQ [10 Aug ’45]
- Test and Development Establishment -formed pre-war
- 408 Sqn
- Aircraft Used
- Lancaster,
- Canso A,
- Dakota
- Aircraft Used
- Air Materiel Command HQ Summer/Fall ’54-
- No 108 Communications Flight
- 412 (Transport) Sqn ’45?-Jun ’55
- Conversion Training Squadron
- Formed at Picton, Ontario, 29 November 1940
- Relocated to Rockcliffe, 1 December 1941
- Reorganized into No 1 Refresher Squadron, 15 March 1943 (see above)
- Photographic Establishment
- AFHQ Piston Training Flight
- RCAF Materiel Laboratory
- No 3 Supply Depot
- Communications Control HQ
- No 4 Communications Unit
- Central Band of RCAF 1 Dec 54-
- Joint Photographic Intelligence Centre
- Eastern Special Investigation Unit
- Canadian Forces Hospital
- Central Experimental and Proving Establishment – Mobile Support Equipment Detachment
- Canadian Forces Materiel Command HQ [1 Feb ’68]
Aircraft Types:
- No 7 GP Squadron-
- FC 71,
- Bellanca
- No 168 Squadron
- B-17 Fortress,
- Dakota,
- Liberators
- No 12 Communications Flight
- Dakota,
- Lodestar-?
- Lockheed 10A,
- Yale,
- Grumman Goose,
- Fairchild 71B,
- Hawker Tomtit
- No 13 Photo Squadron
- Mitchell,
- Canso A,
- Spitfire PR Mk V
Commanding Officers:
- Group Captain GS O’Brian [Jan ’44]
- Wing Commander D.C.S. MacDonald, DFC ’61
Financial Impact:
Date/Reason for Closure:
Site Evolution
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Ottawa/Rockcliffe” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
On Track – 1978
Site Plan – Unknown Year – Late 1970’s
(click to access a full resolution scan)
Location – Google Map
Station Magazine
“The Rocket”
Station Magazine
“The Rockcliffe Record”
Station Magazine
“The Falcon”
Welcome Guide
CFB Ottawa
Daily Diary – Links –
No. 1 Refresher Squadron
1943
RCAF Station Rockliffe – Daily Diary
RCAF Station Rockcliffe Historical Reports
Fatalities
Aircraft List
Course List – No 3 (Temporary) Manning Depot
This List is incomplete and will be enhanced as my time permits and as requests are received.
| Course Number | Start Date | Graduation Date | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|---|
Notable Alumni
Stan Brede – Notable Canadian Photographer who served as a RCAF photographer during the second world war.
For More information – External Links
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Wikipedia
Other Sources:
How do i get information on someone who was stationed here before 1960