RCAF Station Virden was a

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) 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 environmental commands within the unified Can ...

(RCAF) station. It was a

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a large-scale multinational military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during the Second Wo ...

(BCATP) flying training station located north of Virden,

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 ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. It is now the site of Virden/R.J. (Bob) Andrew Field Regional Aerodrome. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at with a Var. 14 degrees 30' E and elevation of 1446'. The runway is listed as a 3600' diameter, turf, all way field. The station hosted No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School (19 EFTS). Flight instructors were civilian and were members of the Brandon-Virden Flying Club and the Moose Jaw Flying Club. Aircraft used include the

de Havilland Tiger Moth The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland, de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other operators as a primary traine ...

and

Fairchild Cornell Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson White in 1865. Since ...

. A relief (emergency) landing field was located near Lenore. No. 19 EFTS opened on May 16, 1941, and closed on December 15, 1944.

References

External links

Hangar picture of Cornell aircraft

Retrieved 2012-3-8

Retrieved 2012-3-8 {{DEFAULTSORT:Virden Royal Canadian Air Force stations Military airbases in Manitoba Military history of Manitoba Airports of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Military installations closed in 1944 Airports in Westman Region, Manitoba Buildings and structures in Westman Region, Manitoba