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 under the No. 2 Air Training Command. 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.
After the Second World War, the base became home to the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre. The on-base residential development was named New Sarum and Brooke School was opened for children of military servicemen stationed here within the over-400 dwellings [as of 1967]. When CFB Rivers closed, the land was transferred from the Department of National Defence to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for utilization as an Indigenous industrial training centre known as the Oo-Za-We-Kwun Centre. The Centre operated until 1980 when it was shuttered.
Period
Commanding Officer
1940-1941
Wing Commander R. M. Smith
1941-1943
Group Captain Alexander Lewis
1943-1945
Group Captain W. A. Murray
1945-1947
?
1947-1948
Group Captain M. G. Doyle
1948-1951
Group Captain P. A. Gilchrist DCF CD
1951-1954
?
1954-1957
John Alexander “Jack” Sproule (1917-1995)
1957-1961
Group Captain R. O. Shaw
1961-1964
Group Captain Clifford Murray Black DFC CD
1964-1967
Group Captain Robert T. P. Davidson DFC CD (1917-?)
1967-1970
Group Captain James E. Hanna
Aerial view of the former CFB Rivers (April 2025)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Former barracks of the No. 1 Air Navigation School (July 2015)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Former barracks of the No. 1 Air Navigation School (August 2021)
Source: George Penner
Aerial view of the former barracks of the No. 1 Air Navigation School (April 2025)
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.
“Group Captain Gilchrist to assume command Joint Air School at ceremony,” Brandon Daily Sun, 15 September 1948, page 1.
“Rivers in readiness for great crowds expected to give royal couple tumultuous reception,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 October 1951, page 2.
“Lt:-Col. G. Corbould to be Dep. Commandant,” Rivers Gazette, 30 May 1957, page 40.
“Rivers newly completed collegiate ...],” Brandon Sun, 27 September 1957, page 3.
“New Commandant has distinguished record,” Brandon Sun, 16 August 1961, page 3.
“Brief Rivers ceremony as command changes,” Brandon Sun, 16 August 1961, page 3.
“Change of Command at CJATC Rivers,” Rivers Gazette Reporter, 16 July 1964, page 1.
“Sunday is Decoration Day here,” Brandon Sun, 9 June 1965, page 3.
“Centennial kickoff [photo caption],” Brandon Sun, 25 January 1967, page 19.
“Good turn-out at Decoration service,” Rivers Gazette Reporter, 22 June 1967, page 1.
“New Commander for Rivers base,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 August 1967, page 9.
“20 years ago today,” Brandon Sun, 17 September 1968, page 8.
“CFB Rivers stripped of schools,” MacGregor Herald, 23 April 1970, page 2.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 11 June 2025
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