The Royal Canadian Air Force began operations using a grass field, 4 hangers and associated buildings.
Fire patrols were flown over the foothills and mountians between Eckville and Pincher Creek.
The Station was also involved with air photography, and the collection of air samples for botanical studies and even dropped mail bags to the Prince of Wales when he was visiting his E.P. Ranch West of High River.
Canada played a leading role in the opperation of the British Commonwealth air training plan during World War II
No. 5 Elementry Flying Training School was one of 94 Canadian schools operating at 231 sites that trained 131,553 pilots and other air crew for service over seas. The Calgary Air Club operated the school on behalf of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Facilities included 3 runways, 2 hangers, barracks, a recreation hall, offices and associated buildings. 106 classes graduated innitially using De Havilland Tiger Moth and later, Fairchild Cornel aircraft. An amazing total of 254,603.5 hours were flown.
"Through these gates passed some of the greatest airmen the world has ever known."
The building to the West of the marker is the surviving hanger, and has been used for a variety of purposes since the airfield was closed.
I spoke with the son of one of the training pilots a number of years ago, he said "Dad regularly started his day by getting drunk; it was the only way he knew to deal with number of near misses and down right stupid things new recruits did."