September 10, 1939: Canada declared war on Germany. No. 112 (AC) Squadron in Winnipeg prepared its Westland Lysander Army Cooperation aircraft for a combat deployment in Europe.

November 27-December 20, 1939: The longest ambulance flight in Canadian history took place when pilot W.E. Catton flew the Canadian Airways Junkers W-34 from Winnipeg to Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories and return.

December 17, 1939: The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan agreement (BCTAP) was signed with No. 2 Training Command established in Winnipeg. Elementary Flying Training Schools in Manitoba were No. 14 Portage la Prairie, No. 19 Virden, No. 23 Davidson and Nos. 26 and 35 Neepawa. Service Flying Training Schools in Manitoba were No. 10 Dauphin, No. 12 Brandon, No. 17 Souris, No. 18 Gimli and No. 33 Carberry (RAF). Air Observers Schools in Manitoba at No. 5 Winnipeg and No. 7 Portage la Prairie. The Central Navigation School was at No. 1 Rivers, Manitoba. The Wireless School was No. 3 Winnipeg, while Manitoba Bombing and Gunnery Schools were at No. 3 Macdonald, No. 5 Dafoe and No. 7 Paulson, Manitoba.

1940: Dauphin Airport was built as part of the BCATP training bases.

January 1, 1940: RCAF Overseas Headquarters was established in London, in anticipation of the first advance party of No. 112 (AC) Squadron. Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) inaugurated a transcontinental airmail service east to Moncton, New Brunswick.

February 1940: Lyncrest Airport (Winnipeg) was established by Donald S. Patterson of the Patterson Grain company.

April 1, 1940: Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) inaugurated a second daily transcontinental air service.

May 20, 1940: An advance party of the No. 112 (AC) squadron sailed from Montreal for Liverpool. A second party set out three weeks later.

October 1, 1940: Winnipegger S/L Kent, flying with 303 RAF (Polish) Squadron was involved in a air battle with 40 enemy aircraft that led to the award of a Distinguished Flying Cross.

December 9, 1940: No. 2 Fighter Squadron was formed at DIgby, Lincolnshire, England from 112 (AC) Squadron.

January 7, 1941: RCAF squadrons overseas were renamed with No. 2 becoming 402 Squadron. TCA received the first of the new Lockheed 14 Lodestar airliners.

March 1, 1941: No. 402 Squadron became operational with Hurricane I fighters at DIgby, Lincolnshire, England.

April 9, 1941: The Air Cadet League of Canada was granted a Dominion Charter authorizing it to operate as a charitable, non-profit corporation based on a November 11, 1940: Order-in-Council PC 6647. This order authorized the formation of the Air Cadet League of Canada and set forth the responsibilities of the civilian body and of the RCAF. Individual air cadet squadrons were started in Manitoba.

April 15, 1941: No. 402 Squadron carried out the first RCAF offensive patrol over enemy territory in a raid over Boulogne, France.

May 1941: No. 402 Squadron reequipped with Hurricane Mk IIB fighters.

June 1941: No. 402 Squadron began training to become the first "Hurribomber" (Hurricane IIC) unit, commencing operations in this role in November, carrying pairs of 250-pound bombs beneath the wings.

August 19, 1941: No. 402 Squadron resumed its fighter role and operated over Dieppe with Spitfire Mk IXs supporting the Canadian amphibious attack.

1942: The Pas and Churchill Airports were constructed as part of the Crimson Route for the U.S. Air Force, as staging bases for aircraft flown to Russia.

March 1942: No. 402 Squadron moved to Colerne, converting to Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb fighters.

May 4, 1943: The first paratroop training jumps were carried out at Camp Shilo, Manitoba.

May 16-17, 1943: In the Dams Raid, air gunner F/O Harvey S. Glinz from Winnipeg was killed.

July 22, 1943: The first regular transatlantic flights were initiated by TCA, using converted Avro Lancaster aircraft.

March 1, 1944: No. 170 (Ferry) Squadron was formed in Winnipeg.

June 12-13, 1944: During a raid on Normandy, Winnipegger P/O Andrew Mynarski died while trying to free a trapped crewmember. His action led to the award of the Victoria Cross (VC).

March 31, 1945: The BCATP ended but training bases that were built in Manitoba continued to function as airports.

Top