Lecture Topics

March 11th, 2010: Clarence Simonsen

Lecture Title: Three Corners

In this lecture, Clarence retells the history of the RAF schools which operated in Alberta during 1940-44, focusing on No. 32 Elementary Flying Training School of the Royal Air Force located at Bowden, Alberta.

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was created in an agreement by the United Kingdom and Canada on 17 Sept. 1939. During the war a total of 26 aircrew training schools of the RAF operated in Canada as part of the BCATP.

The United Kingdom accepted full financial responsibility for their schools in Canada, but had access to medical, maintenance, and other RCAF services. The RAF schools were commanded by RAF officers who more or less followed their own British customs and traditions.