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Typical Air Base

A typical air base had a number of roles. Everything an airman needed to train and survive, was provided within the confines of the gates. Some of the air bases built in Alberta were small and just able to meet the needs of the rigorous training regime and the necessities of life. Others, such as the Medicine Hat or Calgary stations, were larger and included services lacking in the smaller bases.

Regardless of the size of the station, there were certain consistencies among them all. Each base needed to have enough buildings to house and support all aircrew trainees, civilian employees and personnel.

All trainees stayed in barracks (dormitory-style accommodations) and were issued the same bed clothes, two sheets, one pillow case and one or two extra blankets. Barracks were long rooms filled with rows of bunk beds. In between them were bathrooms for the use of all men from the adjoining barracks. There were other buildings that could be found at every station such as the mess hall, at which all trainees were expected to be present at the specified time, in appropriate dress, for meals. Also needed was a hospital, where those who fell ill or injured could be cared for, and a canteen so that trainees could have a place to meet and socialize while not on duty or studying.

As all of the schools in Alberta were training aircrew, stations needed to be equipped with tarmacs, runways and landing strips, on which aircraft could manoeuvre around, to and from the station. Also needed were hangars where aircraft could be stored, a control tower, from which the aircraft would be directed, a guard house to protect the station, classrooms where airmen were instructed and a drill hall where men could execute drills.

Some stations had the facilities to provide much more in terms of service, making life on the base comparable to civilian life. In terms of living and messing, officers, airmen, airwomen and civilians were kept separate and on the larger stations, each group had not only their own quarters, but a mess hall and canteen as well. The larger stations often provided buildings for recreation to house interests in sports, theatre, music and literature and fields for outdoor sports. On larger stations, it was not uncommon to find a barber, a post office, laundry service, tailor, a library and YMCA services. In addition to better living conditions, were increased training facilities. A larger station would possess multiple hangars, garages (for the motor transport section), supply depot, increased storage capacities, a trainer section, repair shops, chapel, weather bureau, etc.

To view pictures of facilities at various British Commonwealth Air Training Plan bases in Alberta, follow this link.