| Revision as of 00:08, 24 November 2013 editCambridgeBayWeather (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators253,305 edits Add time zone and unlink runway surface← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:45, 11 December 2013 edit undoKirály-Seth (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,631 edits →History: Vancouver Landfill is not on the former site of CFS Ladner.Next edit → | ||
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| The site was left unused until it was transferred to ] in 1949. Re-established as the '''Vancouver Wireless Station callsign WVS ''', the site operated ] equipment for communication and gathering ]. The Vancouver Wireless Station had facilities much like other post-war bases, including singles quarters, 150 permanent married quarters, dining halls and messes, a Medical Inspection Room, administration building, gymnasium with a sport field with 2 ball diamonds and tennis courts, a chapel, woodworking and automotive shops, a grocery store (later CANEX), engineering & transport sections and a firehall. Most of these facilities were located on a property directly north of the airfield. | The site was left unused until it was transferred to ] in 1949. Re-established as the '''Vancouver Wireless Station callsign WVS ''', the site operated ] equipment for communication and gathering ]. The Vancouver Wireless Station had facilities much like other post-war bases, including singles quarters, 150 permanent married quarters, dining halls and messes, a Medical Inspection Room, administration building, gymnasium with a sport field with 2 ball diamonds and tennis courts, a chapel, woodworking and automotive shops, a grocery store (later CANEX), engineering & transport sections and a firehall. Most of these facilities were located on a property directly north of the airfield. | ||
| When the ] were unified in 1968, the site was renamed '''Canadian Forces Station Ladner'''. The downsizing associated with unification would soon hit CFS Ladner, and in 1971 it was permanently closed |
When the ] were unified in 1968, the site was renamed '''Canadian Forces Station Ladner'''. The downsizing associated with unification would soon hit CFS Ladner, and in 1971 it was permanently closed. | ||
| ==Rebirth== | ==Rebirth== | ||
Revision as of 03:45, 11 December 2013
Airport in Delta, British Columbia| Canadian Forces Station Ladner | |||||||||||||||
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 The main hangar at Boundary Bay is the only original structure left from the RCAF station | |||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | |||||||||||||||
| Owner | |||||||||||||||
| Location | Delta, British Columbia | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | PST (UTC−08:00) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−07:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 6 ft / 2 m | ||||||||||||||
| Website | www.CZBB.com | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  CFS LadnerLocation in British Columbia | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Sources: Canada Flight Supplement | |||||||||||||||
Canadian Forces Station Ladner is a former military airfield and communications station located beside Boundary Bay and 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) east of Ladner in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, south of Vancouver and close to the U.S. border. After its closure it was reopened as Boundary Bay Airport.
History
After the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan came into effect in 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force began looking for locations at which to train pilots for Second World War. Boundary Bay was one location that was selected, and in 1940, land from three farms was appropriated for an airport. Construction proceeded slowly as boggy areas had to be filled with hay and gravel, but gravel roads and runways were in place for the airfield's opening on 10 April 1941. No. 18 Elementary Flight Training School (No. 18 EFTS) was the first unit established at the newly created Royal Canadian Air Force Station Boundary Bay. Flying De Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes, No. 18 EFTS's training was provided by private civilian instructors. The Aerodrome was officially opened by Prime Minister MacKenzie-King on 2 July 1941 with all the pomp and circumstance one might expect to find in a small patriotic community at war. A huge air demonstration was put on by the school instructors to the delight of hundreds of local spectators. This school was sponsored by the Aero Club of B.C and named the Vancouver Air Training Co. Ltd. (VATC). Less than one year before the VATC had established No. 8 EFTS stationed at RCAF Station Sea Island (current site of Vancouver International Airport) On 25 May 1942, No. 18 EFTS was disbanded as a direct result of the attack on the American Naval station at Pearl Harbour. It was felt that the West coast was now vulnerable to attack by the Japanese and Boundary Bay was the most advantages location for a fighter Squadron to protect Vancouver and the surrounding Coast. No. 18's personnel and equipment were transferred to No. 33 RAF EFTS at Caron Saskatchewan where the civilian staff took over operations from the RAF staff.
Between early 1942 and April 1944 there were three operational fighter squadrons rotated through Boundary. No. 133 Squadron which flew Hawker Hurricanes and later No. 132 and No. 14 fighter squadrons (RCAF) both flying P-40 Kittyhawks. On 1 April 1944 No. 5 Operational Training Unit, (OTU), was established at Boundary Bay. No. 5 OTU was created for the purpose of training Commonwealth crews to fly the American built B-24 Liberator. By 1944 the Royal Air Force had decided to increase bombing operations in S.E Asia and the Pacific and the bomber of choice was the B-24. Boundary Bay was chosen because of its close proximity to the mountains and ocean which, it was believed, helped to create similar flying conditions that would be found in the future theater of operations. In addition to the Liberator the B-25 Mitchell was used as a stepping stone to the 4 engined Liberators. Other aircraft used by the unit included the Bolingbroke, for towing targets, the P-40 Kittyhawk, for fighter affiliation exercises and a Norseman for unit hack purposes. Shortly after the first course graduated it was decided that the crews would require additional Air Gunners. Therefore a satellite unit was needed to facilitate the additional staff. On 15 July 1944 No. 5 OTU Abbotsford Detachment was created and the Liberators moved to Abbotsford. Boundary Bay was now responsible for the initial training and the Liberator crews would graduate out of Abbotsford. After the war, the airport was no longer needed. No. 5 OTU left the airfield on 31 October 1945, and the RCAF decommissioned the station in 1946. RCAF Boundary Bay's last official function of the war was to act as a demobilisation centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The site was left unused until it was transferred to Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in 1949. Re-established as the Vancouver Wireless Station callsign WVS , the site operated radio equipment for communication and gathering signals intelligence. The Vancouver Wireless Station had facilities much like other post-war bases, including singles quarters, 150 permanent married quarters, dining halls and messes, a Medical Inspection Room, administration building, gymnasium with a sport field with 2 ball diamonds and tennis courts, a chapel, woodworking and automotive shops, a grocery store (later CANEX), engineering & transport sections and a firehall. Most of these facilities were located on a property directly north of the airfield.
When the Canadian Forces were unified in 1968, the site was renamed Canadian Forces Station Ladner. The downsizing associated with unification would soon hit CFS Ladner, and in 1971 it was permanently closed.
Rebirth
Following the closure of Ladner, the site was used by the community of Ladner for picnics, public fairs and auto racing. When it became apparent that Vancouver International Airport could no longer sustain general aviation and commercial traffic, Transport Canada proposed reactivating Boundary Bay for general aviation. The airport underwent restoration, and on 11 July 1983 two of the three runways were reopened as Boundary Bay Airport. The other runway and some ramp space was made available for driver training and other events.
The municipality of Delta maintains the area north of the airport as North 40 Park Reserve, which includes a large off-leash dog area.
References
- Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
- Delta Parks and Recreation. "North 40 - Dog Off Leash Area" (PDF). Retrieved 6 January 2013.
