Neepawa Airport is located west of Neepawa,

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

, Canada, immediately north of the Yellowhead Highway. The airport is operated by the town of Neepawa. It is used by owners of

light Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 tera ...

and

ultralight aircraft Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailer ...

, chiefly for pleasure flying and crop dusting. The airport has also been employed for hanglider training. The property supports several light industrial enterprises.

History

The present-day airport building was originally the

RCAF Station Neepawa RCAF Station Neepawa was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). History World War II RCAF Station ...

, constructed during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

under the

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), or Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zea ...

(BCATP). It was one of many dozens of Canadian airports once used to train pilots and other air crew for the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

and other British Commonwealth air forces. Tens of thousands of eager BCATP trainees from across the globe spent time in and around small towns throughout Canada, often experiencing severe winter weather for the first time. Their lives in Manitoba, on and off base, are dramatized in the 1993 film '' For the Moment'', starring New Zealand actor

Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor. He was born in New Zealand, spent ten years of his childhood in Australia, and moved there permanently at age twenty one. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maxi ...

. After the war until the 1960s, the original control tower was operated in support of civil aviation by the

Canadian Department of Transport Transport Canada (french: Transports Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of road, rail, marine and air transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportati ...

. Other airport facilities, including a hangar and a rifle range, continued for some years to serve Squadron 9 of the

Royal Canadian Air Cadets The Royal Canadian Air Cadets (french: Cadets de l'Aviation royale du Canada) is a Canadian national youth program for young individuals aged 12 to 18. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, the program is administered by the Canadian F ...

and the local militia organization. Many of the original wooden buildings have since been demolished.

References

{{authority control Registered aerodromes in Manitoba Neepawa Airports in Westman Region, Manitoba

History

See also

References