RCAF Station Fingal
Coordinates: 42°41′22″N 081°19′58″W / 42.68944°N 81.33278°W
RCAF Station Fingal | |
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Fingal in the 1940s | |
Active | 25 November 1940 – 17 February 1945 |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Role |
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Aircrew training |
Part of | No. 1 Training Command |
Schools | No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School |
Station Magazine | Fingal Observer |
Commanders | |
????? | ????? |
Aircraft flown | |
Trainer |
Avro Anson Fairey Battle Westland Lysander Bristol Bolingbroke Northrop Nomad |
RCAF Station Fingal was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Fingal, Ontario, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Fingal hosted No. 4 Bomber and Gunnery School (No. 4 B&GS), which trained bomb aimers and air gunners. The school opened on 25 November 1940 and closed 17 February 1945. Aircraft used included the Fairey Battle, Northrop Nomad, Westland Lysander, Bristol Bolingbroke and Avro Anson. Bombing ranges were located near Melbourne, Frome, Tempo, and Dutton. A bombing range was also located on Lake Erie. A marine unit was based in Port Stanley.[1][2]
The area is now a wildlife preserve called the "Fingal Wildlife Management Area". Wildlife habitat has been restored and area has been set aside for agricultural demonstration purposes. Interpretive trails with signage have been installed.
Fingal scenes
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Historical plaque
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Back of plaque, list of casualties
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Double hangar base in 2014
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Roadway in 2014
See also
- St. Thomas Municipal Airport (Ontario)
- RCAF Station Guelph
- No. 6 Group RCAF
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
References
- ↑ Forsyth, Bruce (1998). "A Short History of Abandoned and Downsized Canadian Military Bases". Military Bruce Historical Writings by Bruce Forsyth. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ↑ 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.
- Fingal Wildlife Management Area Retrieved 2 March 2014