RCAF Station Jericho Beach, originally known as the ''Jericho Beach Air Station'', was one of the first Canadian air stations opened by the

Canadian Air Board The Air Board was Canada's first governing body for aviation, operating from 1919 to 1923. The Canadian government established the Air Board by act of Parliament on June 6, 1919, with the purpose of controlling all flying within Canada. Canada wa ...

. Jericho Beach is located in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

History

Jericho Beach began operation in 1920 as a flying boat station, one of several that would open along the British Columbia coast.Program Summaries (2000): "Jericho Beach and the West Coast Flying Boat Stations."
Vancouver Historical Society. Retrieved on: 2009-07-19. Federal and provincial government departments used the aircraft based here for civil roles such as anti-smuggling, fishery, and forestry patrols, and transportation to remote communities. Some of the aircraft used at Jericho Beach since 1920 included the

Curtiss HS-2L The Curtiss HS was a single-engined patrol flying boat built for the United States Navy during World War I. Large numbers were built from 1917 to 1919, with the type being used to carry out anti-submarine patrols from bases in France from June 1 ...

Canadian Vickers Vancouver The Canadian Vickers Vancouver was a Canadian transport/patrol flying boat of the 1930s built by Canadian Vickers. It was a twin-engine, equal-span biplane. The hull was of metal and the rest of the structure of fabric-covered wood. Development ...

Canadian Vickers Vedette The Canadian Vickers Vedette was the first aircraft designed and built in Canada to meet a specification for Canadian conditions. It was a single-engine biplane flying boat purchased to meet a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) demand for a smaller ...

, and

Stranraer Stranraer ( , in Scotland also ; gd, An t-Sròn Reamhar ), also known as The Toon, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Inch in the historic county of Wigtownshire. It lies on the shores of L ...

. 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) took over Jericho Beach in 1924, and the station was renamed "RCAF Station Jericho Beach." No. 4 and No. 6 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadrons, and No. 1 Signal Squadron began operating from the station. In 1930, the RCAF used Jericho Beach as their centre for seaplane and flying boat training. By 1940, the seaplane squadrons had moved to

RCAF Station Sea Island RCAF Station Sea Island was a World War II, British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station located near Vancouver, British Columbia. History World War II No 8 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) formed here on 22 July 1940. Aerodrome info ...

, and No. 3 Operational Training Unit (OTU) began operations, training aircrew on flying boats. No. 3 Repair Depot was also established in 1940, and along with No. 3 OTU, would remain until 1945. In 1942 the army's Pacific Command Headquarters moved to Jericho Beach, and in 1947, the army took control of the station. There remained, however, a small RCAF presence. Over the years, the station hosted many other army and

Canadian Forces } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...

units. Most of the base facilities were transferred to the City of Vancouver in 1969, and the area renamed "Jericho Park."Jericho Beach Flying Boat Station
. Royal Canadian Legion, BC/Yukon Command. Retrieved on: 2009-07-17. Jericho Beach detachment was closed in 1996. Most of the base's buildings, including the old flying boat hangars, have been taken down. The few that remain and are being used for non-military purposes.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* Milberry, L., ed. (1984). ''Sixty Years—The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984''. Toronto: Canav Books. . * Weicht, C. (1997). ''Jericho Beach and the West Coast Flying Boat Stations.'' MCW Enterprises.

External links

Jericho Beach Garrison

Film of Vickers Vedette operating from Jericho

Film of an RCAF Fairchild FC-2 operating from Jericho in 1928
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History

See also

References

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Bibliography

External links