An interesting year to remember the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during WW2 The BCATP museum in Brandon, Manitoba states: “During its five-year life, the “The Plan” involved almost 360 units and schools operating from approximately 230 sites, not including relief airfields. “The Plan” exceeded expectations: 131,553 aircrew from four nations were trained as well as some 80,000 ground crew, including approximately 17,000 in the Women’s Division. Vintage Wings of Canada / Les Ailes d’Époque du Canada Log In | Facebook
It is easy to forget certain things about the war. When we consider Canada's participation in the Second World War, we understandably think about the ordeals of Hong Kong and Dieppe, the difficult battles in Italy, the spectacular landing on 6 June 1944, and the long campaign to reclaim Europe that followed. The contributions of Canadian pilots to the Battle of Britain, and of the Royal Canadian Navy to the victory in the Atlantic, are also remembered. However, all too often, we forget that the war was also taking place on Canadian soil. In fact, during the early years of the conflict, it was mostly in Canada that the war found its victims: over 1,000 airmen had already lost their lives on Canadian bases before the raid on Dieppe was launched in August 1942. From the beginning of 1942 to the end of 1944, 831 fatal air accidents took place in Canada – an average of 23 per month, or five every week. Each week, at least a dozen airmen died in Canada, an enormous number... During the first years of the war, Canada was the most dangerous place a pilot could be... The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and RCAF Fatalities During the Second World War by Dr. Jean Martin Canadian Military Journal, Spring 2002 View attachment 66135