RCAF Station Centralia
Encyclopedia
RCAF Station Centralia was a Royal Canadian Air Force
training base located just outside the village of Centralia near Exeter
, Ontario
, Canada
. It became one of the largest training stations in Canada.
Flying schools were established across Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
during World War II
. Centralia was the location for No. 9 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Service Flying Training Schools provided advanced training to pilots who had graduated from Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTSs). Trainee pilots flew Ansons
and Harvards. No. 9 SFTS had moved to Centralia from RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island
, in 1942.
No. 9 SFTS ceased operation in June 1945 and was replaced by No. 1 Aircrew Conditioning Unit (ACU). ACUs trained service personnel for operations in the war's Pacific theatre
. When No. 1 ACU was closed after the war, the RCAF formed No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS) which used Ansons and Harvards. The first, and last flying course was in January 1946. The course lasted for three weeks before it was cancelled.
Because of increasing tensions between the Soviet Bloc and the West, defence expenditures were increased and the Canadian forces were strengthened. Centralia, along with a number of other stations, underwent major rehabilitation to better accommodate aircrew training.
Centralia was reactivated in January 1947 to provide accommodation and training facilities for No. 1 Radar and Communications School (No. 1 R&CS) that was based in nearby RCAF Station Clinton. No. 1 Instrument Flying School (IFS) was relocated to Centralia from RCAF Station Trenton
in the spring of 1947. This school gave students an opportunity to obtain their instrument rating qualifications. The Expeditor
was the aircraft used for this training. In 1956, No. 1 IFS moved to RCAF Station Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
.
RCAF Station Centralia became the aerodrome's official designation in September 1947 and No. 1 Flying Training School was reactivated. Students participating in this school flew Harvards. No. 1 FTS was one of Canada's contributions to the training of foreign airmen for a new multinational force. The last FTS course was completed in March 1957 and No. 1 Flying Training School was deactivated and merged with the Advanced Flying School at Saskatoon. The Harvards used for FTS training were transferred to western flying training schools.
In April 1948, the RCAF's School of Flying Control was formed at Centralia. The school trained Flying Control Officers and Aircraft Control Assistants for deployment in control towers and operations rooms in RCAF stations. In May, a flying detachment for the No. 1 Air Radio Officers School based at RCAF Station Clinton was established.
Centralia was actively involved with the NATO Air Training Plan
. The NATO Training & Induction School, originally located at RCAF Station London, re-located to RCAF Station Centralia in 1954. The school's purpose was to inform personnel about various aspects of working with NATO. In October 1954, the Pre-Flight School was formed at Centralia. This school provided ground instruction to students before they began flight training. In 1956 Centralia began hosting the Primary Flying Training School using the Chipmunk
. Graduate pilots were sent to western Canada for more advanced training on Harvards.
No.2 Personnel Selection Unit (PSU), which was responsible for officer selection for air crew, moved to Centralia from RCAF Station London in 1958.
In the late 1960s, the Canadian military was reorganized and eventually unified. The reorganization resulted in many military bases being closed, including Centralia, which closed in July 1966. Functions provided by Centralia were moved to various other stations.
Today the airport still operates as Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome. Most of the former RCAF buildings remain. The site is now known as the Huron Industrial Park.
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
training base located just outside the village of Centralia near Exeter
Exeter, Ontario
Exeter is a Canadian community in the municipality of South Huron, in the southern portion of Huron County, Ontario, located approximately 50 kilometres north of London. The community proclaims itself the "Home of the White Squirrel", owing to the presence of the unusually-coloured mammals...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It became one of the largest training stations in Canada.
Flying schools were established across Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Centralia was the location for No. 9 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Service Flying Training Schools provided advanced training to pilots who had graduated from Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTSs). Trainee pilots flew Ansons
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
and Harvards. No. 9 SFTS had moved to Centralia from RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, in 1942.
No. 9 SFTS ceased operation in June 1945 and was replaced by No. 1 Aircrew Conditioning Unit (ACU). ACUs trained service personnel for operations in the war's Pacific theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. When No. 1 ACU was closed after the war, the RCAF formed No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS) which used Ansons and Harvards. The first, and last flying course was in January 1946. The course lasted for three weeks before it was cancelled.
Because of increasing tensions between the Soviet Bloc and the West, defence expenditures were increased and the Canadian forces were strengthened. Centralia, along with a number of other stations, underwent major rehabilitation to better accommodate aircrew training.
Centralia was reactivated in January 1947 to provide accommodation and training facilities for No. 1 Radar and Communications School (No. 1 R&CS) that was based in nearby RCAF Station Clinton. No. 1 Instrument Flying School (IFS) was relocated to Centralia from RCAF Station Trenton
CFB Trenton
Canadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
in the spring of 1947. This school gave students an opportunity to obtain their instrument rating qualifications. The Expeditor
Beechcraft Model 18
The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
was the aircraft used for this training. In 1956, No. 1 IFS moved to RCAF Station Saskatoon
RCAF Station Saskatoon
RCAF Station Saskatoon was a World War II British Commonwealth Air Training Plan base operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force . It was located at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
RCAF Station Centralia became the aerodrome's official designation in September 1947 and No. 1 Flying Training School was reactivated. Students participating in this school flew Harvards. No. 1 FTS was one of Canada's contributions to the training of foreign airmen for a new multinational force. The last FTS course was completed in March 1957 and No. 1 Flying Training School was deactivated and merged with the Advanced Flying School at Saskatoon. The Harvards used for FTS training were transferred to western flying training schools.
In April 1948, the RCAF's School of Flying Control was formed at Centralia. The school trained Flying Control Officers and Aircraft Control Assistants for deployment in control towers and operations rooms in RCAF stations. In May, a flying detachment for the No. 1 Air Radio Officers School based at RCAF Station Clinton was established.
Centralia was actively involved with the NATO Air Training Plan
NATO Air Training Plan
The NATO Air Training Plan was an aircrew training program which ran from 1950 - 1958, authorized by NATO, and implemented by the Royal Canadian Air Force...
. The NATO Training & Induction School, originally located at RCAF Station London, re-located to RCAF Station Centralia in 1954. The school's purpose was to inform personnel about various aspects of working with NATO. In October 1954, the Pre-Flight School was formed at Centralia. This school provided ground instruction to students before they began flight training. In 1956 Centralia began hosting the Primary Flying Training School using the Chipmunk
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
. Graduate pilots were sent to western Canada for more advanced training on Harvards.
No.2 Personnel Selection Unit (PSU), which was responsible for officer selection for air crew, moved to Centralia from RCAF Station London in 1958.
In the late 1960s, the Canadian military was reorganized and eventually unified. The reorganization resulted in many military bases being closed, including Centralia, which closed in July 1966. Functions provided by Centralia were moved to various other stations.
Today the airport still operates as Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome. Most of the former RCAF buildings remain. The site is now known as the Huron Industrial Park.