RCAF Station Yorkton

RCAF Station Yorkton was a Second World War air training station located near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

For the Cold War Radar Station operated near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, see CFS Yorkton.
RCAF Station Yorkton
Near Yorkton, Saskatchewan in Canada
RCAF Station Yorkton
Coordinates51°16′N 102°27′W
Site information
OwnerDept of National Defence
OperatorFormerly Royal Canadian Air Force
Site history
Built1940
In use1941-1945
FateYorkton Municipal Airport
Garrison information
Past
commanders		G/C George R. Howsam
GarrisonNo. 11 SFTS (1941-1944); No. 23 EFTS (1945)
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: none, ICAO: none
Elevation1,619 ft (493 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
8/26 3,850 ft (1,170 m) Hard Surfaced
8/26 3,200 ft (980 m) Hard Surfaced
3/21 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surfaced
3/21 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surfaced
12/30 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surfaced
12/30 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surfaced
17/35 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surfaced
17/35 2,720 ft (830 m) Hard Surfaced
Airfields

History

World War II

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), opened No. 11 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at RCAF Station Yorkton on 10 April 1941. No. 11 SFTS was closed on 1 December 1944 and the following month No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) was relocated to Yorkton from RCAF Station Davidson on 29 January 1945. No. 23 EFTS was closed 15 August 1945. The Schools and station were a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The station was decommissioned shortly thereafter.[1]

Construction of the Station began in 1940. The facility was opened on June 11, 1941 and the first commander was Group Captain George R. Howsam. The school consisted of 40 buildings, including a mess hall, a 35-bed hospital, and hangars to shelter 200 planes.[2]

Aerodrome information

The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with six runways formed in an overlaid triangle. The aerodrome in Yorkton however had 2 additional runways running roughly north-south on the east side of the overlaid triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Yorkton, Saskatchewan at 51°16′N 102°27′W with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of 1,619 feet (493 m). Eight runways were listed as follows: [3]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
8/26 3,850 ft (1,170 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
8/26 3,200 ft (980 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
3/21 2,720 ft (830 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
3/21 2,720 ft (830 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
12/30 3,000 ft (910 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
12/30 3,300 ft (1,000 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
17/35 2,600 ft (790 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard surfaced
17/35 2,160 ft (660 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced

Relief landing field – Sturdee

The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Yorkton was located approximately 6 miles south-east. The site was located approximately 1 miles south of the unincorporated community of Calley, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was laid out in the standard triangular pattern. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Sturdee, Saskatchewan at 51°12′N 102°22′W with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of 1,665 feet (507 m). Three runways were listed as follows: [4]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
1/19 2,700 ft (820 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard
13/31 2,700 ft (820 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard
7/25 2,700 ft (820 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard

A review of Google Maps on 11 June 2018 shows a clear outline of a triangular aerodrome about 1/2 a mile south of the posted coordinates.

Relief landing field – Rhein

The secondary Relief Landing Field (R2) for RCAF Station Yorkton was located approximately 12 miles north-east. The site was located approximately 3.5 miles south of the community of Rhein, Saskatchewan. The Relief field was turf with a triangular runway layout. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Rhein, Saskatchewan at 51°18′N 102°10′W with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of 1,691 feet (515 m). Three runways were listed as follows: [5]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
2/20 3,500 ft (1,100 m) 800 ft (240 m) Turf
13/31 3,500 ft (1,100 m) 800 ft (240 m) Turf
8/26 3,500 ft (1,100 m) 800 ft (240 m) Turf

A review of Google Maps on 11 June 2018 shows no identifiable trace of the former aerodrome in the vicinity of the posted coordinates.

Post War

Current Status

From a survey of the location on google maps on 11 Jun 2018 it appears that all but two of the original eight runways have been removed. One of the 3/21 runways has been lengthened. One of the 12/30 runways is still in use but is listed as gravel/asphalt. The airport is currently operated at the Yorkton Municipal Airport.

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See also

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. The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
  3. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 70.
  4. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 64.
  5. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 61.
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