RCAF Station Fingal

42°41′22″N 081°19′58″W

RCAF Station Fingal
side view of university residence
Fingal in the 1940s
Active25 November 1940 – 17 February 1945
CountryCanada
BranchRoyal Canadian Air Force
RoleBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
Aircrew training
Part ofNo. 1 Training Command
SchoolsNo. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School
Station MagazineFingal Observer
Commanders
W/CW. D. Van Vliet - 1940
Aircraft flown
TrainerAvro Anson
Fairey Battle
Westland Lysander
Bristol Bolingbroke
Northrop Nomad

RCAF Station Fingal was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) air station located near Fingal, Ontario, Canada. It was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).[1]

Fingal hosted No. 4 Bomber and Gunnery School (No. 4 B&GS), which trained bomb aimers and air gunners. The school opened on 25 November 1940 and closed 17 February 1945. Aircraft used included the Fairey Battle, Northrop Nomad, Westland Lysander, Bristol Bolingbroke and Avro Anson. Bombing ranges were located near Melbourne, Frome, Tempo, and Dutton. A bombing range was also located on Lake Erie. A marine unit was based in Port Stanley.[2][3]

The area is now a wildlife preserve called the "Fingal Wildlife Management Area". Wildlife habitat has been restored and area has been set aside for agricultural demonstration purposes. Interpretive trails with signage have been installed.

Aerodrome Information

The airfield was constructed in a typical BCATP wartime pattern, with three runways formed in a triangle. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 42°41′N 81°19′W with a Var. 5 degrees W and elevation of 705 feet (215 m). The runway outlines are still clearly visible in aerial photographs. Three runways were listed as follows: [4]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
1/19 3,182 feet (970 m) 150 feet (46 m) Not Listed
14/32 2,944 feet (897 m) 150 feet (46 m) Not Listed
7/25 2,820 feet (860 m) 150 feet (46 m) Not Listed

Fingal scenes
  • Historical plaque
    Historical plaque
  • Back of plaque, list of casualties
    Back of plaque, list of casualties
  • Double hangar base in 2014
    Double hangar base in 2014
  • Roadway in 2014
    Roadway in 2014

See also

References
  1. Ferguson, Blair (2004). Southwold Remembers... The Fingal Observer: No. 4 B & G School. Fingal, Ontario: Township of Fingal. ISBN 0-9732019-2-4.
  2. Forsyth, Bruce (1998). "A Short History of Abandoned and Downsized Canadian Military Bases". Military Bruce Historical Writings by Bruce Forsyth. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  3. 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.
  4. Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1. Royal Canadian Air Force. c. 1942. p. 111.


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