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RCAF Station Virden



General Overview

Base / Station: Virden

Province:

Dates of Operation:

  • 1941 – 1944

Units:

Location:

  • N 49° 53’ W 100° 55’

Elevation:

  • 1446’

Unit Duties / Information:

  • No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School was opened at Virden May 16, 1941 to provide primary training for entrants into the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Upon graduation from No. 19 EFTS, the students were wings qualified and sent on to a Service Flying Training School for more advanced training.

Aircraft Flown:

  • Cornell and
  • Tiger Moth
Virden, Manitoba Aerial Photo
National Defence Photo REA 226-15
RCAF Aerodrome Virden, Manitoba.
Image from the RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases circa 1942.
Virden, Manitoba Aerial Photo
National Defence Photo REA 107-121
Virden, Manitoba Aerial Photo 22 May 1943
National Defence Photo REA 226-15

Financial Impact:

  • $492,926 (total cost of BCATP construction to 15 Mar 1942)

Commanding Officers:

Airfield:

  • Circular turf all way airfield 3600’ in diameter.  This may be the only field of this configuration used in the BCATP.

Date / Reason for closure:

  • No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School was closed December 15, 1944 as the need for primary training for pilots was reduced and in accordance with the accelerated phase-out plan for the BCATP.

Site Evolution

  • The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Virden” – See photos on this page.

Current Status:

  • abandoned airfield, no base buildings believed to exist

On Track – 1978

On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) Virden Aerodrome (Part 1)
On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) Virden Aerodrome (Part 2)

Location – Google Map


YouTube Videos


Station Magazine
“The Wind”

Station Magazine
“Tiger Rag”


No 19 Elementary Flying Training School, Virden, Manitoba, sports day, diving into pool, Drewry bottle being recovered, 1944 (Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada – Joe Arenberg collection – 90-02-438 – B&W 2.3×2.3 neg)
Unknown man typing in office, No 19 Elementary Flying Training School, Virden, Manitoba, 1944 (Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Joe Arenberg collection, 90-02-486, B&W 2.25×2.25 neg)

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba has created a transcription of this Daily Diary.
Their web site is AirMuseum.ca


1944

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November


Fatalities

This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No 19 Elementary Flying Training School and other sources.  The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Virden, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains 5 personnel.


Notable Alumni


Aircraft List


Related documents:


Course List
No 19 Elementary Flying Training School



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