RCAF Station Ottawa – Rockcliffe
General Information
Location/Base: Rockcliffe
Province: Ontario
Years in Use:
Units:
- No 1 Refresher Squadron
- Reorganized from the Conversion Training Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario
- Reorganized 15 March 1943
- Disbanded October 1943
- Provided upgrading to Service Flying Training School Students who were bove average in flying but have failed in ground subjects.
- Provided refresher flying for repatriated returning to flying duties.
- Provided practice and solo communication flying for Air Force Headquarters General List personnel.
- Provide unforeseen flying requirements which may arise in the future such as transfers from Non-Flying List to General List, ect.
- No 3 (Temporary) Manning Depot
- Formed at Rockcliffe on or about 10 June 1940
- Moved to Edmonton, Alberta
- No 7 (GP) Sqn
- [10 Sept ’39]
- reduced to AFHQ Comms Flight, 3 Oct ’39
- No 7 Manning Depot (Women’s Division)
- [11 Apr ’42-31 Mar ’44, May-Aug’44]
Image from the RCAF Pilots Manual of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases circa 1942.
Special thanks to Matt Heintz for providing a better copy of this image.
- No 12 Communications Flight 12 Sep ’39- [became 12 Comms Sqn]
- No 124 (Ferry) Sqn [1 Jan ’43 (?’42)]
- No 168 (Heavy Transport) Sqn [4 June ’44]
- No 7 (Photographic) Wing [4 June ’44]
- No 13 (Photo) Sqn [4 June ’44]
- No 9 (Transport) Group HQ [10 Aug ’45]
- Test and Development Establishment -formed pre-war
- 408 Sqn
- Aircraft Used
- Lancaster,
- Canso A,
- Dakota
- Aircraft Used
- Air Materiel Command HQ Summer/Fall ’54-
- No 108 Communications Flight
- 412 (Transport) Sqn ’45?-Jun ’55
- Conversion Training Squadron
- Formed at Picton, Ontario, 29 November 1940
- Relocated to Rockcliffe, 1 December 1941
- Reorganized into No 1 Refresher Squadron, 15 March 1943 (see above)
- Photographic Establishment
- AFHQ Piston Training Flight
- RCAF Materiel Laboratory
- No 3 Supply Depot
- Communications Control HQ
- No 4 Communications Unit
- Central Band of RCAF 1 Dec 54-
- Joint Photographic Intelligence Centre
- Eastern Special Investigation Unit
- Canadian Forces Hospital
- Central Experimental and Proving Establishment – Mobile Support Equipment Detachment
- Canadian Forces Materiel Command HQ [1 Feb ’68]
Aircraft Types:
- No 7 GP Squadron-
- FC 71,
- Bellanca
- No 168 Squadron
- B-17 Fortress,
- Dakota,
- Liberators
- No 12 Communications Flight
- Dakota,
- Lodestar-?
- Lockheed 10A,
- Yale,
- Grumman Goose,
- Fairchild 71B,
- Hawker Tomtit
- No 13 Photo Squadron
- Mitchell,
- Canso A,
- Spitfire PR Mk V
Commanding Officers:
| Group Captain Norman Russell Anderson, CB, MID, Legion d’Honneur (France), Legion of Merit (USA), Order of the White Lion (Czech). | 20 June 1938 to 30 January 1939 |
| Group Captain G.S. O’Brian | January 1944 |
| Wing Commander D.C.S. MacDonald, DFC | 1961 |
Financial Impact:
Date/Reason for Closure:
Site Evolution
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) lists the Aerodrome as “Ottawa/Rockcliffe” – See photos on this page.
Current Status:
On Track – 1978
Site Plan – Unknown Year – Late 1970’s
(click to access a full resolution scan)
Location – Google Map
Station Magazine
“Crosswinds”
Station Magazine
“The Rockcliffe Record”
Station Magazine
“The Rocket”
Station Magazine
“The Falcon”
Welcome Guide
CFB Ottawa
Daily Diary – Links –
No. 1 Refresher Squadron
1943
RCAF Station Rockliffe – Daily Diary
RCAF Station Rockcliffe Historical Reports
Fatalities
Aircraft List
Course List – No 3 (Temporary) Manning Depot
This List is incomplete and will be enhanced as my time permits and as requests are received.
| Course Number | Start Date | Graduation Date | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|---|
Notable Alumni
Stan Brede – Notable Canadian Photographer who served as a RCAF photographer during the second world war.
For More information – External Links
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- Wikipedia
Other Sources:
How do i get information on someone who was stationed here before 1960
Station commander from 20 June 1938 to 30 January 1939 was Group Captain Norman Russell Anderson, CB, MID, Legion d’Honneur (France), Legion of Merit (USA), Order of the White Lion (Czech).