RCAF Station Neepawa was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. It was operated and administered by the

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). The station is now operating as the Neepawa Airport.

History

RCAF Station Neepawa was originally opened by the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

on 30 March 1942 near the community of Neepawa,

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 ...

, constructed as a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. That year, on the 24th of August, it was taken over by the Moncton Flying Club. RCAF Station Neepawa was originally home to No. 35 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 35 E.F.T.S.). Tens of thousands of eager BCATP trainees from across the globe spent time in and around small towns throughout Canada, often experiencing severe winter weather for the first time. Their lives in Manitoba, on and off base, are dramatized in the 1993 film '' For the Moment'', starring New Zealand actor Russell Crowe. On 30 January 1944, No. 35 E.F.T.S. was re-designated No. 26 E.F.T.S. RCAF Station Neepawa was thereafter closed on 25 August 1944.

Facility

Aerodrome

In , the aerodrome was listed at with a variation 12.5 degrees east and elevation of . Three runways were listed as follows:

Relief landing field – Eden

The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Neepawa was located east of the unincorporated community of Eden, Manitoba. The relief field consisted of an aircraft hangar, a small landing strip and a maintenance shop. The location of the field was .

References

Neepawa Neepawa Buildings and structures in Westman Region, Manitoba Military airbases in Manitoba Military history of Manitoba 1942 establishments in Manitoba {{Manitoba-struct-stub