RCAF Station Edmonton
Alberta Canada
The history of CFB Edmonton begins at an old airfield called Blatchford Field (named after a former mayor of Edmonton, Kenneth Blatchford), a few kilometres south from where CFB Edmonton would eventually be established. The airfield began operating after the First World War and became important to the opening up and development of the Canadian north. During the Second World War Blatchford Field became a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) training station under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. No. 16 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 16 EFTS) and No. 2 Air Observers School (No. 2 AOS) used the aerodrome. The RCAF also ran No. 4 Initial Training School (No. 4 ITS) which was a ground school located offsite. No. 16 EFTS closed in 1942 and No. 2 AOS closed in 1944. After No. 2 AOS closed, the station formally became known as RCAF Station Edmonton. Many RCAF squadrons and units were located here, including a survival school and the RCAF Winter Experimental Establishment (WEE). A USAAF B-29 bomber detachment also used the station.
During the war the airfield became a staging point for the U.S. defence of Alaska and was heavily used by the U.S. military. Aircraft had to be ferried and transport aircraft used the aerodrome to support the construction of the Alaska Highway. Air traffic increased significantly and flying activities were becoming hazardous. Since the old airfield could not be expanded because of its proximity to the city of Edmonton, the U.S. Government built a new air facility at Namao, about 11 kilometres north of the city. The Americans ran the Namao airfield until the end of the war when the Canadian Government took it over. RCAF Station Edmonton, located at the old Blatchford Field, developed some severe limitations and so all RCAF Squadrons and support units were transferred to the ew"" RCAF Station Namao on 1 October 1955. Blatchford Field was turned over to the Edmonton municipal government.
During the Cold War RCAF Station Namao was used by the United States Strategic Air Command. The station also hosted the Edmonton Rescue Coordination Centre, and served as home base for United Nations Food Aid flights, delivering much-needed aid to Ethiopia, Somalia, and Bosnia. Because Namao at that time had a 14,000-foot (4,300 m) runway, it was a designated an emergency space shuttle landing site by NASA.[citation needed]
In 1968, when Canada's armed forces were amalgamated, RCAF Station Namao was redesignated Canadian Forces Base Edmonton (Lancaster Park) and was under command of the new Air Transport Command and later Air Command. Flying units based at CFB Edmonton were:
- 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
- 418 ""City of Edmonton"" Air Reserve Squadron
- 435 Transport Squadron
- 440 Transport and Rescue Squadron
- 447 Transport Helicopter Squadron