RCAF Station Claresholm

RCAF Station Claresholm was a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station that trained pilots for World War II service. The station was located near Claresholm, Alberta, Canada.

RCAF Station Claresholm
Claresholm, Alberta in Canada
RCAF Station Claresholm hangars in 2006
RCAF Station Claresholm is located in Alberta
RCAF Station Claresholm
RCAF Station Claresholm
Location in Alberta
Coordinates50°00′17″N 113°37′48″W
Site information
OwnerRoyal Canadian Air Force
Site history
BuiltJune 9, 1941 (1941-06-09)
In use1958 (1958)
FateBecame Claresholm Industrial Airport
Airfield information
Elevation2,950 ft (900 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
2/20 3,000 ft (910 m) Hard Surface
2/20 2,970 ft (910 m) Hard Surface
16/34 2,950 ft (900 m) Hard Surface
16/34 3,270 ft (1,000 m) Hard Surface
11/29 3,180 ft (970 m) Hard Surface
11/29 2,930 ft (890 m) Hard Surface
Airfields

History

World War II

No. 15 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) opened on 9 June 1941, and closed on 30 March 1945.[1] The school used Anson and Cessna Crane aircraft, and its relief airfields were RCAF Woodhouse, a few kilometers east at 49°59′24″N 113°26′51″W, and RCAF Pulteney, a few kilometers north. No. 2 Flying Instructor School (FIS) was established as a sub unit of No. 15 SFTS on 27 April 1942 but relocated in September 1942 to Vulcan.[2] Student pilots at No.2 FIS flew Tiger Moths and Cessna Cranes.

Aerodrome information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°00′N 113°38′W with a variation of 23 degrees east and elevation of 3,325 ft (1,013 m). Six runways were listed as follows:[3]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
2/20 3,000 ft (910 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
2/20 3,100 ft (940 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
14/32 3,100 ft (940 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
14/32 3,100 ft (940 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
8/26 3,000 ft (910 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
8/26 3,200 ft (980 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced

Relief landing field – Woodhouse

The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Claresholm was located southeast of the community of Claresholm. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°00′N 113°27′W with a variation of 23 degrees east and elevation of 3,300 ft (1,000 m). Three runways were listed as follows:[4]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
2/20 3,020 ft (920 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
14/32 3,020 ft (920 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
8/26 3,020 ft (920 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced

A more accurate set of coordinates can be found at 49°59′24″N 113°26′51″W[5] at this location the outline of the three runways is still visible on Google Earth. The site is presently used for agricultural purposes.

Postwar

Claresholm was placed on care and maintenance status until reactivated in 1951 as a NATO training centre run by No. 3 Flying Training School (flying Harvards). The station closed again in 1958 when the school was relocated to Gimli, Manitoba. It is now the Claresholm Industrial Airport. As of August 2011, hangars 2 to 4 are derelict and deteriorating.

References
  1. Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. ISBN 0660114437.
  2. "RCAF Daily Diary of #15 S.F.T.S., Claresholm, Alta". heritage.canadiana.ca. 27 April 1942. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 86.
  4. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 118.
  5. "Map: Cranbrook-Lethbridge, Air Navigation Edition." Hydrographic and Map Service: Canada Department of Mines and Resources, Surveys and Engineering Branch, July 1941.
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