RCAF Station Estevan was a

World War II 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 ...

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) base operated by the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

(RCAF). It was located South of the City of

Estevan Estevan is the eighth-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is approximately north of the Canada–United States border. The Souris River runs by the city. This city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5. History The ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

World War II (1942-4)

On 27 April 1942, the airfield became home to 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 ...

's, No. 38 Service Flying Training School(SFTS). Although the school was run by the Royal Air Force it and others were considered extensions of the British Commonwealth Training Plan until they were officially incorporated into the BCATP in 1942. 38 SFTS flew

Avro Anson The Avro Anson is a British twin-engined, multi-role aircraft built by the aircraft manufacturer Avro. Large numbers of the type served in a variety of roles for the Royal Air Force (RAF), Fleet Air Arm (FAA), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) a ...

twin-engine trainers until 11 Feb 1944, when 38 SFTS was disbanded.

Aerodrome Information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Estevan, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of . Five runways were listed as follows: A review of Google Maps on 8 June 2018 shows the area that was once home to this facility is now an open pit mine. There is no visible evidence that the facility ever existed.

Relief landing field – Outram

A Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Estevan was located approximately west of Estevan, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was constructed in the typical triangular pattern. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Outram, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of . Three runways were listed as follows: A review of Google Maps on 5 June 2018 shows A triangular pattern consistent with a now cultivated BCATP Aerodrome. But the coordinates stated above appear to be slightly off. Corrected coordinates are

Relief landing field – Chandler

The Secondary Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Estevan was located approximately north-west. The site was located east of the railway siding of Chandler, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was listed as Turf with a triangular runway layout. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Chandler, Saskatchewan at with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of . The Aerodrome was listed as an All way field with three runways, they were listed as follows A review of Google Maps on 8 June 2018 shows no visibility of an airfield at the posted coordinates. But nearby there appears to be the impression of a runway, this other site appears consisitant with the c.1942 map. The possible coordinates are

Post War

On 15 September 1946, 21 personnel of the

were killed at the airport when the

C-47 Dakota The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (Royal Air Force, RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force, RNZAF, and South African Air Force, SAAF designation) is a airlift, military transport ai ...

transport carrying them back to Canada from Fargo, North crashed on the airport. The pilots had been transferring Cornell Aircraft back to the United States on the completion of the Lend Lease Agreement in place during the Second World War. The airmen were on the strength of No. 124 (Communications) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario. At some point after the war the decommissioned Station was demolished and an open pit coal mine has removed all traces of the former station. Between the end of the war and the demolition of this facility the aerodrome was used as the Estevan Airport.

Present Day

There is no trace of the former station today.

References

External links

Bruce Forsyth's Military History Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Estevan Military airbases in Saskatchewan Canadian Forces bases in Canada (closed) Airports of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Defunct airports in Saskatchewan Military history of Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Air Force stations