Link to:
Commanding Officers | Photos & Maps | Sources
During the Second World War, this site west of Rivers in what is now the Municipality of Riverdale was used for aircrew training under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Though hampered by weather-related construction delays, the base and school opened on 25 November 1940. Staff arrived in advance, having taken training at the RCAF Station at Trenton, Ontario. Trained on Avro Ansons, the initial class of airmen numbered some 500.
Period
Commanding Officer
1940-1941
Wing Commander R. M. Smith
1941-1943
Group Captain Alexander Lewis
1943-1945
Group Captain W. A. Murray
1945-1954
?
1954-1957
John Alexander “Jack” Sproule (1917-1995)
Former barracks of the No. 1 Air Navigation School (July 2015)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.00969, W100.30728
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 1 Air Navigation School (Wheatland, Municipality of Riverdale)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 1 Air Navigation School Monument (Municipality of Riverdale)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 5 Air Observers School (Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School (Macdonald, RM of Portage la Prairie)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School (Paulson, RM of Dauphin)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School / No. 7 Air Observers School / Southport Aerospace Centre (Southport, RM of Portage la Prairie)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School (RM of Wallace-Woodworth)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School (Municipality of North Cypress-Langford)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School, Eden Relief Field / Eden Airport (RM of Rosedale)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 10 Service Flying Training School / Barker Airport (RM of Dauphin)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 10 Service Flying Training School, North Junction Relief Field (RM of Dauphin)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 10 Service Flying Training School, Valley River Relief Field (RM of Dauphin)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 12 Service Flying Training School / Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Chater Relief Field / Chater Aerodrome (RM of Elton)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Douglas Relief Field (Municipality of North Cypress-Langford)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 17 Service Flying Training School (Municipality of Souris-Glenwood)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 17 Service Flying Training School, Hartney Relief Field / Hartney Aerodrome (Municipality of Grassland)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 18 Service Flying Training School / No. 2 Flying Training School / Canadian Forces Base Gimli / Gimli Industrial Park Airport (Municipality of Gimli)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 18 Service Flying Training School, Netley Relief Field / Netley Field (RM of St. Andrews)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 33 Service Flying Training School (Municipality of North Cypress-Langford)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 33 Service Flying Training School, Oberon Relief Field / Oberon Aerodrome (Municipality of North Cypress-Langford)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 33 Service Flying Training School, Petrel Relief Field / Petrel Aerodrome (Municipality of North Cypress-Langford)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 3 Wireless School (500 Shaftesbury Boulevard, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Winter Fair Building / Brandon Arena / No. 2 Manning Depot (Eleventh Street, Brandon)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 5 Release Centre / Jameswood Place South (Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 8 Repair Depot / Jameswood Place (Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: No. 2 Equipment Depot / No. 7 Equipment Depot / Carpiquet Barracks (Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: First Flight Monument (Memorial Park, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Cardale Air Crash Monument (RM of Oakview)
“November boom,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 October 1940, page 3.
“Rivers Air School to open in November,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 October 1940, page 5.
“Rivers Air School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 November 1940, page 19.
“Rivers Air School gets under way,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 November 1940, page 3.
“R.C.A.F. Officers are promoted,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 December 1940, page 21.
“Flying by stars,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 1941, page 3.
“Murray takes Rivers Command,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1943, page 3.
“Seven air stations in Manitoba to hold final wings parades,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 March 1945, page 3.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 11 October 2021
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