RCAF Station Vulcan
RCAF Station Vulcan, also referred to as RCAF Aerodrome Vulcan, was a Second World War flying training station located southwest of the town of Vulcan, Alberta, Canada. It was one station of many that were established in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
The Vulcan aerodrome was officially opened on October 30, 1942 and hosted No. 2 Flying Instructor School (FIS), which had moved to Vulcan from Claresholm. The aircraft used were Cornells, Cranes, Fawns, Finches, Harvards, Oxfords, Tiger Moths and Ansons. In April 1943, No. 2 FIS moved to the Pearce aerodrome near Fort Macleod and No. 19 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) took over the facilities, training future bomber pilots using the Anson. No. 19 SFTS ceased operation on April 14, 1945.
For a period of time the old station operated as the Vulcan Industrial Airport. Although the runways still exist, the aerodrome has seen many aircraft since the war. Six of the original seven hangars remain standing. The remaining hangars are used for storage and for private industrial purposes.Three of the building owners are working to restore the their hangers.
In 2009 new ownership began re-invigorating the airport and in 2011 was reopened as Vulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome and is being operated by Wheatland Industries.[1] The aerodrome is currently being used by private aircraft and one commercial operator, Vertical Extreme Skydiving.[2] One of the main runways is being resurfaced.
See also
References
- ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
- ^ Vertical Extreme Skydiving Retrieved: 2011-03-11
- BCATP Information from Bombercrew.com Retrieved: 2010-09-20
- Bruce Forsyth's Canadian Military History Page Retrieved: 2010-09-20