RCAF Station North Battleford
General Information
Base / Station: North Battleford
Province: Saskatchewan
Dates of Operation or Period of Information: 4 Sept 41-30 Mar 45
Units:
- No.13 Service Flying Training School
- The formation order authorizing the formation of the school was issued 25 July 1941.
- was opened September 1, 1941 to train pilots who had just graduated from an Elementary Flying Training School.
- They were given advanced training on multi-engined aircraft and separated according to whether they would be flying fighters or bombers.
- The school was ordered to move from St Hubert, Quebec through a Movement order issued 27 January 1944.
- The school was ordered to reform as a reserve training school on 14 March 1945.
- The disbandment order closing the school was issued 4 May 1945.
- No.35 Service Flying Training School
- Formed July 1941
- Disbanded – 25 Feb 44, reduced need for aircrew
- Primary Relief Landing Field – Hamlin
- Secondary Relief Landing Field – Brada
Image from the RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases circa 1942.
Aircraft Flown:
- No.13 SFTS
- No.35 SFTS
- Oxford
Commanding Officers:
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 “North Battleford” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
- civil airfield CYQW,
- One of the Wartime Hangars was purchased by the Community of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan in 1947. The former hangar still serves as the communities arena. A little more information can be found in this article.
On Track – 1978
North Battleford Aerodrome (Part 1)
North Battleford Aerodrome (Part 2)
Aerial Photo – Circa 1944
Location – Google Map
Photo Gallery
Station Magazine
“?????”
Station Magazine
“The Prairie Howler”
Station Magazine
“Prop Wash”
Daily Diary – Links – No. 35 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
Daily Diary – Links – No. 13 Service Flying Training School
Unit Daily Diary index for No 13 Service Flying Training School from formation to February 1944 can be found on the RCAF Station St Hubert page.
Fatalities
This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No. 13 Service Flying Training School and No 35 Service Flying Training School. The list may not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station North Battleford. From my reading so far there were 39 deaths of service personnel that were stationed at North Battleford.
23 August 1941
30 September 1941
17 October 1941
15 March 1942
13 April 1942
5 August 1942
3 September 1942
29 September 1942
3 October 1942
8 October 1942
28 December 1942
5 July 1943
8 July 1943
5 October 1943
19 October 1943
20 October 1943
28 October 1943
6 November 1943
23 November 1943
2 December 1943
2 August 1944
8 September 1944
4 December 1944
12 February 1945
11 June 1945
Aircraft List
Courts Martial
The following personnel were recommended for courts martial and a file was created on the Charged Offence, not all Offences were tried. This list is not complete but I will be working my way through the reels in the upcoming months.
- Sergeant Basil Hamilton Friend (RAF-522396)
- Trial Date – 27 August 1941
- File is 90 pages
- Leading Aircraftman Raymond Keith Jones (RAAF-118337)
- Trial Date – 21 February 1945
- File is 63 pages
- Flying Officer Walter Frederick Lane (RAF-86625)
- Trial Date – 9 April 1942
- File is 46 pages
- Aircraftman 2nd Class Ernest Albert Pentlow (RAF-1640512)
- Trial Date – 25 January 1944
- File is 66 pages.
Course List
No 35 Service Flying Training School
Course List
No 13 Service Flying Training School
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Aerodrome Disposal File:
Other Sources: