RCAF Station Comox
General Overview
Base / Station: Comox
Province: British Columbia
Dates of Operation or Period of Information:
Units:
- No 6 Operational Training Unit
- No 32 (RAF) Operational Training Unit
- No. 51 (Aircraft Control and Warning) Sqn
- Pinetree Line Radar Station
- 1954-1959
- Callsign “Waterfall”
- 407 Squadron
- Lancaster
- Neptune
- 409 Squadron
- CF-100
- Voodoo
Commanding Officers:
- Flying Officer V.F. Mahony
- 14 August 1943 – December 1943
- Flight Lieutenant A.C. Hinton
- December 1943 – January 1944
- Flight Lieutenant D.H. Inglis
- January 1944 – May 1944
- Squadron Leader J.A. Pritchard
- May 1944 – ?
- Group Captain G.S. Austin
- June 1952 – June 1954
- Wing Commander C.W. McNeill
- June 1954 – July 1954
- Group Captain R.C. Weston
- July 1954 – April 1958
- Group Captain R.F. Miller
- April 1958 – July 1962
- Group Captain E.G. Ireland
- July 1962 –
Financial Impact:
Date / Reason for Closure: Still an active air base.
Site Evolution
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Comox” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
Image from the
RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases
c.1942
Air Route Manual, USAAF, United States to Alaska, January 21, 1944
Description
Lat. 49 deg 43’N., Long. 124 deg 54’W.
Magnetic Variation – 25 deg E.
Markings – Wind tee.
Lighting – Rotating beacon, contact lights. Flares.
Repairs – None
Servicing – 90 and 100 octane fuel available.
Radio – Range
Weather Service – None.
Accommodations – None
On Track – 1978
Development Plan – 1959
Location – Google Map
Photo Gallery
Thank you to Mike Anglin for sharing this photo with me (National Defence Image)
Station Magazine
“The Thunderbird”
Station Magazine
“Totem Times”
Welcome Guide
Daily Diary – Index – No. 6 Operational Training Unit
1944
No 32 Operational Training Unit was moved from
Patricia Bay, B.C. effective 1 June 1944 and
redesignated No 6 Operational Training Unit.
1946
January
No 6 Operational Training Unit was moved to
Greenwood, Nova Scotia effective 15 January 1946.
Daily Diary – Index – RCAF Station Comox
Semi Annual Historical Report – RCAF Station Comox
Fatalities
This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No. Service Flying Training School and other sources. The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Comox, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains __ personnel.
Notable Alumni
Aircraft List
Courts Marshal
The following personnel were recommended for courts marshal and a file was created on the Charged Offence, not all Offences were tried. This list is not complete but I will be working my way through the reels in the upcoming months.
- Flying Officer Edward James Renvoize (RAF – 51530)
- Member was charged with Absent without Leave
- Trial Date – 20 December 1944
- File is 92 pages in length.
- Member was found not guilty.
Notes
Related documents:
Course List
No 32 Operational Training Unit
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- http://civildefencemuseum.ca/comox-bc
- Site Plan: