RCAF Station Sea Island was a
World War II
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 ...
,
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 ...
station located near
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 cit ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
.
History
World War II
No 8 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) formed here on 22 July 1940.
Aerodrome information
In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at with a Var. 24 degrees E and elevation of Sea level. The aerodrome was listed as under construction usable and three runways were listed as follows:
Postwar
After the war the station was renamed RCAF Station Vancouver.
No 442 Squadron was re-activated as No 442 "City of Vancouver" Auxiliary Fighter Squadron at Sea Island 15 April 1946, but was later re-designated an Auxiliary Transport Squadron. No 123 Rescue Flight and NO 121 Composite Flight (KU) were also formed at Sea Island.
On 1 December 1951, No 442 Squadron was split in half to form No 443 "City of New Westminster" Squadron.
RCAF Station Vancouver closed on 31 March 1964.
Today this area is the site of
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is an international airport located on Sea Island (British Columbia), Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond, British Columbia, serving the city of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland region. It is lo ...
.
References
Bruce Forsyth's Canadian Military History Page
Royal Canadian Air Force stations
RCAF Station Sea Island
Military airbases in British Columbia
Military history of British Columbia
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