RCAF Station Fort Macleod

RCAF Station Fort Macleod was a World War II British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) flying training station. Administrative and operational control was the responsibility of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The old station is located south of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada.

RCAF Station Fort Macleod
Summary
Locationsouth of Fort Macleod, Alberta
Built1940
In use1940-1944
Coordinates49°42′00″N 113°25′00″W

No. 7 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) began operation in December 1940, flying the twin engine Anson. The school closed on November 17, 1944.[1]

After the war the station remained open and hosted No. 1 Repair Equipment and Maintenance Unit (1 REMU) which was responsible for storing and repairing RCAF aircraft. The station is now Fort Macleod Airport. Many of the old buildings used during the BCATP days can still be seen. A relief landing field was located near Granum.

Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell was born here in 1943: her father, a flight lieutenant in the RCAF, was a flying instructor.

Aerodrome Information

The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with six runways formed in an overlaid triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°42′N 113°25′W with a Var. 23 degrees E and elevation of 3,125 feet (952 m). Six runways were listed as follows: [2]: 103 

Runway Name Length Width Surface
5/23 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
5/23 2,950 feet (899 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
16/34 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
16/34 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
10/28 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
10/28 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced

Relief Landing Field - Granum

The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with three runways forming a triangle and an apron housing a combined hangar and control tower off of the northeast corner. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°49′N 113°27′W with a Var. 23 degrees E and elevation of 3,255 feet (992 m). Three runways were listed as follows: [2]: 97 

Runway Name Length Width Surface
13/31 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
6/24 3,050 feet (930 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced
1/19 3,000 feet (914 m) 100 feet (30 m) Hard surfaced

Relief Landing Field - Standoff

The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern as a large grass triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 49°33′N 113°20′W with a Var. 22 1/2 degrees E and elevation of 3,290 feet (1,003 m). Three runways were listed as follows: [2]: 113 

Runway Name Length Width Surface
16/34 3,900 feet (1,189 m) 600 feet (183 m) Turf
10/28 3,900 feet (1,189 m) 600 feet (183 m) Turf
4/22 3,900 feet (1,189 m) 600 feet (183 m) Turf

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. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force.
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