RCAF Station Neepawa
RCAF Station Neepawa was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
RCAF Station Neepawa | |||||||||||
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Near Neepawa, Manitoba in Canada | |||||||||||
RCAF Station Neepawa | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 50°14′N 099°30′W[1] | ||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||
In use | 1942-44 | ||||||||||
Garrison information | |||||||||||
Occupants | No. 35 E.F.T.S.(1942-4); No. 26 E.F.T.S.(1944) | ||||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||||
Elevation | 1,275 ft (389 m) AMSL | ||||||||||
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Airfields |
History
World War II
RCAF Station Neepawa was originally opened by the Royal Air Force on 30 March 1942 near the community of Neepawa, Manitoba. On the 24th of August of that year it was taken over by the Moncton Flying Club. RCAF Station Neepawa was originally home to No. 35 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 35 E.F.T.S.). On 30 Jan 1944, No. 35 E.F.T.S. was re-designated No. 26 E.F.T.S. RCAF Station Neepawa was closed on 25 August 1944.
The Station was constructed as a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan[2]
Aerodrome
In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°14′N 99°30′W with a variation 12.5 degrees east and elevation of 1,275 ft (389 m). Three runways were listed as follows:[1]
Runway Name | Length | Width | Surface |
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15/33 | 2,600 ft (790 m) | 150 ft (46 m) | Hard surfaced |
9/27 | 2,550 ft (780 m) | 150 ft (46 m) | Hard surfaced |
3/21 | 2,600 ft (790 m) | 150 ft (46 m) | Hard surfaced |
Relief landing field – Eden
The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Neepawa was located 1 mi (1.6 km)east of the unincorporated community of Eden, Manitoba. The relief field consisted of an aircraft hangar, a small landing strip and a maintenance shop. The location of the field was 50.37300°N 99.43850°W.[3]
Present Day
The airport is now operating as the Neepawa Airport
References
- Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 13.
- 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.
- Drysdale, Allan; Goldsborough, Gordon. "EFTS No. 26 Relief Field / Eden Airport". Retrieved 1 Feb 2019.