| RCAF Station Penhold | |||||||||||||||||
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| Near Penhold, Alberta in Canada | |||||||||||||||||
 <div style="position: absolute; top: Expression error: Missing operand for *.%; left: 768.8%; height: 0; width: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> RCAF Station Penhold | |||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°10′37″N 113°53′24″W / 52.177°N 113.890°WCoordinates: 52°10′37″N 113°53′24″W / 52.177°N 113.890°W | ||||||||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Dept of National Defence (Canada) | ||||||||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||||||||
| In use | 1941-4; | ||||||||||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||||||||||
| Occupants | No. 36 SFTS (1941-44) | ||||||||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 2,950 ft (900 m) AMSL | ||||||||||||||||
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| Airfields | |||||||||||||||||
RCAF Station Penhold was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located near Penhold, Alberta, Canada.
History[]
World War II[]
The station was operated and administered by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). On 28 September 1941 the Station became home to No. 36 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). The School was disbanded on 3 November 1944.[1]
Aerodrome Information[]
In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 52°11′N 113°54′W / 52.183°N 113.9°W with a Var. 24.5 degrees E and elevation of 2,850 ft (870 m). Six runways were listed as follows:|}[2]
| Runway Name | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/20 | 3,000 ft (910 m) | 100 ft (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 2/20 | 2,970 ft (910 m) | 100 ft (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 16/34 | 2,950 ft (900 m) | 100 ft (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 16/34 | 3,270 ft (1,000 m) | 100 ft (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 11/29 | 3,180 ft (970 m) | 100 ft (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
| 11/29 | 2,930 ft (890 m) | 100 ft (30 m) | Hard surfaced |
Relief landing field – Innisfail[]
The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Penhold was located northwest of the community of Innisfail. For more information please see Innisfail Aerodrome
Relief landing field – Blackfalds[]
The Secondary Relief Landing Field (R2) for RCAF Station Penhold was located west of the community of Blackfalds near 52°23′N 113°52′W / 52.383°N 113.867°W
Cold war[]
The station was home to a Pinetree Line radar station and the provincial emergency government headquarters bunker for the province of Alberta.
Present Day[]
The aerodrome is now operated as the Red Deer Regional Airport
References[]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 111.
The original article can be found at RCAF Station Penhold and the edit history here.