RCAF Station Dauphin

RCAF Station Dauphin was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The Station was home to No. 10 Service Flying Training School(S.F.T.S.) from 5 Mar 1941-14 Apr 1945.[1]

RCAF Station Dauphin
Rural Municipality of Dauphin, Manitoba Near Dauphin, Manitoba in Canada
RCAF Station Dauphin
Coordinates	51°06′N 100°03′W
Site information
Operator	Formerly Royal Canadian Air Force
Site history
Built by	P.W. Graham & Sons
In use	1941-5
Fate	Converted to civilian airport
Garrison information
Occupants	No. 10 Service Flying Training School(S.F.T.S.) (1941-1945)
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: none, ICAO: none
Elevation	990 ft (300 m) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 14L/32R 2,700 ft (820 m) Hard Surface 14R/32L 2,700 ft (820 m) Hard Surface 2L/26R 2,610 ft (800 m) Hard Surface 2R/26L 2,610 ft (800 m) Hard Surface 8L/26R 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surface 8R/26L 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surface
Airfields

The aerodrome is now the Lt. Col W.G. (Billy) Barker VC Airport.

History

A site was selected for construction of a training aerodrome south of the community of Dauphin, Manitoba. The total cost of construction of the facility was approximately one million dollars. Building construction was completed by P.W. Graham & Sons, of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan for $337,214 and plumbing work at the site was completed by F.W. Bumstead of Dauphin for $50,000. No. 10 Service Flying Training School was established at the base on 5 March 1941, but the official opening of the school was not held until 15 April of the same year.[2] The school was disbanded on 15 April 1945 and the airport was decommissioned by the RCAF after the war.

Aerodrome data

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Dauphin, Manitoba at 51°06′N 100°03′W with a variation of 14 degrees east and elevation of 990 ft (300 m). Six runways were listed as follows:[3]

Runway Name	Length	Width	Surface
14L/32R	2,700 ft (820 m)	100 ft (30 m)	Hard surfaced
14R/32L	2,700 ft (820 m)	100 ft (30 m)	Hard surfaced
2L/20R	2,610 ft (800 m)	100 ft (30 m)	Hard surfaced
2R/20L	2,610 ft (800 m)	100 ft (30 m)	Hard surfaced
8L/26R	2,720 ft (830 m)	100 ft (30 m)	Hard surfaced
8R/26L	2,720 ft (830 m)	100 ft (30 m)	Hard surfaced

Relief Landing Field - Valley River

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Valley River, Manitoba at 51°13′N 100°13′W with a variation of 14 degrees east and elevation of 1,018 ft (310 m). The field is listed as an "All way field" with three runways as follows: [4]

Runway Name	Length	Width	Surface
2/20	3,400 ft (1,000 m)	----	Turf
13/31	3,400 ft (1,000 m)	----	Turf
8/26	3,400 ft (1,000 m)	----	Turf

Relief Landing Field - North Junction

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - North Junction, Manitoba at 51°13′N 100°05′W with a variation of 14 degrees east and elevation of 980 ft (300 m). The field is listed as an "All way field" with three runways as follows: [5]

Runway Name	Length	Width	Surface
8/26	3,030 ft (920 m)	1,000 ft (300 m)	Turf
1/19	2,910 ft (890 m)	1,000 ft (300 m)	Turf
13/31	2,940 ft (900 m)	1,000 ft (300 m)	Turf

References

1. 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.
2. Kramer, Nathan; Goldsborough, Gordon. "Service Flying Training School No. 10". Retrieved 1 Feb 2019.
3. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 5.
4. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 24.
5. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 15.

External links

• Bruce Forsyth's Canadian Military History Page
• No. 10 Service Flying Training School, Dauphin, MB