No. 5 Elementary Training School / High River
From 1921 until 1931 the Canadian Air Force operated De Havilland DH-4 aircraft from this airfield. Primarily performimg daily fire patrols over the foothills and southeastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. During its first summer High River was the most active air station in Canada operating ten aricraft. As well pioneering work in the development of radio was carried out here. During 1922 the most powerful radio transmitter in North America was operated at the station and when connections were made with Hawaii it was halled as a miraculous new advancement.
RCAF Station High River was also involved in air photography, the collection of air samples for botanical studies, and even dropped mailbags to the Prince of Wales when he was visiting his E,P, Ranch west of High River. Early experimentation in the field of parachuting was undertaken at the airbase as well.
The station operated as an aircraft storage facility from 1931 until the beginning of the Second World War.
RCAF Station High River was a major participant in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. This huge largely Canadian effort included hundreds of schools across Canada. 131,553 aircrew were trained during WW ll.
Initially located at Lethbridge No. 5 EFTS was moved to High River during June 1941 where hangar, barracks, drill hall and other facillities had been hastily erected. Initially the aircraft flew off the grass airfield but later runways were built. The school officially opened with a ceremony attended by 2500 people. It featured formation flying, aerobatics and parachute jumping. Tiger Moths were the first aircraft used at No. 5 EFTS. They were later replaced by Cornells in late 1942. During 1943 the size of the school was doubled, a second hangar constructed and the airbase became home to almost one hundred Cornell aircraft. No. 5 EFTS had a stable to house the horses used by the riding club, an ochestra band, and a recreation hall that was used regularly for concerts, dramatic productions and movies.
Over 4000 pilots had been trained prior to the school closing in December 1944. An amazing total of 254,603.5 hours had been flown at No. 5.
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