RCAF Detachment Grand Bend

RCAF Detachment Grand Bend, located near Grand Bend, Ontario, was built in 1942 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. It was the primary relief aerodrome ("R1") for student pilots training with No. 9 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Centralia. Grand Bend was home to No. 1 Flying Control School from 1951–1957. The station was used by Centralia until 1961 when it began use with Canadian Army. It was given back to the RCAF in 1962 and was used by RCAF Station Centralia until the aerodrome closed in 1963. Subsequent owners of the property were Eagleson Construction, John Twynsta Holdings Ltd , POG Ltd (Pickling Onion Growers)and the Grand Bend Motorplex.

  • The RCAF hangar seen from the taxiway, control tower on top
  • The RCAF hangar seen from the north
  • Runway 07, with race track surface on left side
  • Private aircraft area near runway 07
  • The RCAF main entrance
RCAF Grand Bend
Near Grand Bend, Ontario in Canada
The airfield site in 2018
RCAF Grand Bend
Coordinates
Site information
OperatorFormerly Royal Canadian Air Force
Controlled byNo. 1 Training Command
Site history
FateSold, automotive racetrack and private airport
Garrison information
GarrisonR1, No. 9 Service Flying Training School (1942)
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: none, ICAO: none, LID: CPL4
Elevation650 ft (200 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01/19 2,600 ft (790 m) Hard Surface
07/25 2,600 ft (790 m) Hard Surface
13/31 3,100 ft (940 m) Hard Surface
Airfields

Aerodrome information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Grand Bend, Ontario at 43°17′N 81°43′W with a variation of 5 degrees west and elevation of 650 ft (200 m). The aerodrome was listed with three runways as follows:[1]

Runway Name Length Width Surface
9/25 2,600 ft (790 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard Surfaced
1/19 2,600 ft (790 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard Surfaced
13/31 3,100 ft (940 m) 150 ft (46 m) Hard Surfaced

The Grand Bend Motorplex uses the original runway 13/31 as a drag racing track. Runway 01/19 is now an access to the dragstrip and also the Grand Bend Speedway oval and Grand Bend Motocross dirt bike tracks. The remaining runway 07/25 of the airfield is shared by the Grand Bend Raceway, the Grand Bend Sport Parachuting Center and some local private aircraft. The only RCAF building that remains is the hangar, with the control tower perched on top. The property was subsequently owned by Bell Aerospace, Exeter plastics and P.O.G. The aerodrome is now operated as the Grand Bend Airport.

References
  1. Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 117.
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