British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Memorial Statue

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Type

Other

This memorial is dedicated to those who died with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada. It was erected by the Wartime Pilots and Observers Association on Winnipeg on 9 September 1984. In September 1984, the 2.14m Monument "First Flight" was unveiled on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg. Near the Cenotaph, the statue was dedicated to all the Commonwealth and Allied Airmen trainees and instructors who died during training in Canada. The dedication ceremony was attended by Air Force officials and 5,000 service men from 16 countries and held in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Sculptor, Mrs. Young prepared the Airman Memorial for the sculpture that was at Artcast, in Georgetown, Ontario early in 1984. The sculpture was cast in silicon bronze and then finished by hand.

Inscription

[front/devant]

AIRMAN IN TRAINING
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THOSE AIRMEN AND INSTRUCTORS
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
WHILE TRAINING IN CANADA DURING WORLD WAR II

ERECTED BY
THE WARTIME PILOTS AND OBSERVERS ASSOCIATION OF WINNIPEG
SEPTEMBER 9, 1984

R.C.A.F. - R.A.F. - R.A.A.F. - R.N.Z.A.F.

[back/arrière]

B.C.A.T.P. MEMORIAL
AIRMAN IN TRAINING

THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN CAME
INTO BEING ON DECEMBER 17, 1939. CANADA AGREED TO
PROVIDE MEN AND FACILITIES FOR THE TRAINING OF AIRCREW
FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED
KINGDOM.
THIS PLAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAINING OF 130,000
YOUNG AIRMEN FROM THE COMMONWEALTH, THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND OCCUPIED EUROPE DURING THE
YEARS 1940-1945.
THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE
YOUNG AIRMEN AND INSTRUCTORS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM WHILE TRAINING UNDER THIS
PLAN.

ERECTED BY THE WARTIME PILOTS AND OBSERVERS
ASSOCIATION OF WINNIPEG AND DEDICATED AT THE 4TH
COMMONWEALTH WARTIME AIRCREW REUNION ON
SEPTEMBER 9, 1984

1914 - 1918 1939 - 1945