British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Memorial

[plaque]

THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN
29 APRIL 1940 - 31 MARCH 1945

ON 17 DECEMBER, 1939, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA AND
NEW ZEALAND, SIGNED AN AGREEMENT RELATING TO "TRAINING OF PILOTS,
AND AIRCRAFT CREWS IN CANADA AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT SERVICE".

THIS AGREEMENT INAUGURATED THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING
PLAN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE.

CANADA BECAME THE MAIN CENTRE OF AIRCREW TRAINING FOR THE
COMMONWEALTH, AND THOSE OCCUPIED COUNTRIES OF EUROPE, FIGHTING IN
EXILE. OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, 131,553 AIRMEN WERE TRAINED,
AND GRADUATED, TO WINGS STANDARD.

IN 1941, MR. A.G. STORIE, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF FITTINGS
LTD., OSHAWA, AND EIGHT PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN, FORMED A SPECIAL
COMPANY, UNDER THE DOMINION COMPANIES ACT, KNOWN AS ONTARIO COUNTY
FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL LIMITED. IN THIS MANNER, NO. 20 ELEMENTARY
FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE "PLAN".

THE ADJACENT PARCEL OF FARMLAND, CONSISTING OF 492.12 ACRES,
SITUATED TO THE WEST OF THIS SITE WAS CONVERTED INTO AN AIRFIELD IN
EARLY 1941. FROM JUNE 1941, UNTIL OCTOBER 1944, APPROXIMATELY 2400
TO 2500 AB INITIO PILOTS GRADUATED FROM NO. 20 EFTS, TO PROCEED TO
ADVANCED SERVICE FLYING TRAINING SCHOOLS, AND OPERATIONAL TRAINING
UNITS, OVERSEAS.

THIS ARGUS AIRCRAFT PROPELLER BLADE IS ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THOSE
R.C.A.F. PERSONNEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE ALLIED COUNTRIES WHO TRAINED
AT THIS AIRPORT.

THEY FLEW IN HARMS WAY, IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY, AND THE
CAUSE OF GLOBAL FREEDOM.

ERECTED BY
THE CITY OF OSHAWA
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
AND
DEDICATED
BY THE MEMBERS
OF
420 (CITY OF OSHAWA) WING
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION
1992

C.T.H. CD