Information of trainees in Banff please

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by 41SqnWRAF, May 31, 2011.

  1. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  2. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Hi, Banff is an absolute no for RAF training, too high, too many mountains. Penhold is a for certain, as is Bowden. Penhold is 1.5 hours from Calgary and 2.5 from Banff, Bowden is 1.0 hours from Calgary and 2.0 hours from Banff. Both have better elevations than Banff, but are close enough for day trips. Dewinton is also possible, 20 minutes from Calgary (40 back then). Royal Air Force Station #34 Service Flying Training School Medicine Hat 1941 - 1944 is also a for certain (Medicine Hat is 3.0 hours east of Calgary, 4.0 to Banff.) See "Prairie Wings" book for more. RAF base#39 SFTS Swift Current, Saskatchewan is too far, like 6.0 hours to Calgary.

    Wainwright was a POW camp for Germans (1100 of them), CFB Suffield was used by the British during WWII but for chemical warfare testing.

    Here are all Alberta RCAF bases. You'll need to look at each one to determine if the RAF used them or not during the War.

    List of Royal Canadian Air Force stations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    R.A.F. Penhold (later RCAF Penhold, then CFB Penhold, and now the Harvard Park area of Springbrook) and R.A.F. Bowden (now the location of a federal prison) were two in Central Alberta of 27 RAF bases across Canada. Construction of R.A.F. Penhold started in the summer of 1939 and opened as No. 36 Service Flying Training School in September 1941.

    The Penhold facility started with 31 buildings and 5 large double hangers (two more hangars were soon added). Training began with 20 Airspeed Oxfords but the fleet grew to almost 200. There is indication that there may have been a few DeHaviland Tiger Moths and Fleet Finches in reserve.

    Assembling these experts, developing airfields, procuring equipment including aircraft, was a major undertaking. Training actually began at some facilities in the spring of 1940 and lasted 12 weeks, 60 pilots training at a time.

    By the end of 1943, more than 3,000 students were graduating each month across Canada. By the end of the war the BCATP had produced 131,553 aircrew including pilots, wireless operators, air gunners and navigators. More than 55 per cent were Canadians.

    The program started winding down in February 1944 as there was getting to be a surplus of trained personnel and the program ended March 31, 1945. The Penhold base was closed in the fall of 1944 having officially trained 1,555 students although there are conflicting reports on the exact number. Most of the electronic equipment was destroyed in 1945 and most buildings were demolished except for the hangars and a few other structures.

    The base re-opened in 1951 as R.C.A.F. Penhold to support No. 4 Flying Training School for NATO using the North American Harvard aircraft.

    PM me if you have questions regarding actual location of these bases within Alberta and proximity to Banff, although most would allow trip to Banff if they had a couple days leave, several could be day trips.

    Wayne
     
  3. 41SqnWRAF

    41SqnWRAF Junior Member

    I finally got these photos....:D
    (Hope they're ok)
    Still don't know what happened between leaving 37EFTS and being at 254sqn. I'm guessing he didn't have much time at 254sqn.
    So happy with all the information you have all helped with. I'm still searching and asking around. I would love to find out his whole RAF career. I think he was awarded with a couple of medals while he was on 254 as well which is brilliant.
    Thanks again and hope the photos work and are ok for you
     

    Attached Files:

  4. 36SFTS1941

    36SFTS1941 Junior Member

    Hello,
    I am interested in any information regarding RAF Penhold and the trainees there during 1941. My father, now deceased, was a trainee and from the many photos was stationed there before being tranfered to a Sqn in Essex, England. I understand that although undergoing Link Training he never graduated as a pilot, but became air crew - possibly a gunner - and was involved in the eventual airlifts out of france / belgium at end of WW2.

    I have number of photos of the link trainer, the training section group photo with names, and his 'jaunts' to Banff, Calgary, etc with his fellow trainees.

    My Father was already in the army in India prior to outbreak of WW2, so at some point tranferred into the RAF - was this common practice at that time?

    Any information would be greatly appreciated.
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Welcome 36SFTS1941

    good idea if you posted any information/photos forum members will possibly be able to assist further

    regards
    Clive
     

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