RCAF Station Macdonald
Encyclopedia
RCAF Station Macdonald was a World War II
air training station located forty miles northwest of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
. The station was built by the Royal Canadian Air Force
as a satellite facility of #14 Elementary Flying Training School, located at Portage La Prairie.
Owing to its close proximity to Lake Manitoba
, the station was used as an air gunnery and air bombing school. RCAF Station Macdonald was equipped with hangars, asphalt runways, H-hut barracks blocks, mess halls, a recreation centre and a base theatre.
Married quarters were simple two unit metal affairs with no basements. As these were small in number, a system of points were used to access them. These points were based on years of service, rank and number of dependents. One started on an unprotected waiting list that one could be "bumped" in ranking if someone had higher point. Once one reached the top of the "unprotected list" and a PMQ became available one advanced to a "protected list" that one could not be bumped...and one waited their turn. Many who were "posted" to Macdonald had to leave their families at their previous base or seek civilian housing as they waited for base housing.
In 1953-1954, the station was the home of #1 PWS (Pilot Weapons School), utilizing the North American Harvard Mk.II and North American P-51 Mustang aircraft for air-to-air gunnery and air-to-ground rocket training.
RCAF Station Macdonald was closed and dismantled due to downsizing throughout the RCAF, prior to 1964.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
air training station located forty miles northwest of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. The station was built by the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
as a satellite facility of #14 Elementary Flying Training School, located at Portage La Prairie.
Owing to its close proximity to Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake...
, the station was used as an air gunnery and air bombing school. RCAF Station Macdonald was equipped with hangars, asphalt runways, H-hut barracks blocks, mess halls, a recreation centre and a base theatre.
Married quarters were simple two unit metal affairs with no basements. As these were small in number, a system of points were used to access them. These points were based on years of service, rank and number of dependents. One started on an unprotected waiting list that one could be "bumped" in ranking if someone had higher point. Once one reached the top of the "unprotected list" and a PMQ became available one advanced to a "protected list" that one could not be bumped...and one waited their turn. Many who were "posted" to Macdonald had to leave their families at their previous base or seek civilian housing as they waited for base housing.
In 1953-1954, the station was the home of #1 PWS (Pilot Weapons School), utilizing the North American Harvard Mk.II and North American P-51 Mustang aircraft for air-to-air gunnery and air-to-ground rocket training.
RCAF Station Macdonald was closed and dismantled due to downsizing throughout the RCAF, prior to 1964.