|
The Beginnings
Before the Second World War there was flat farmland
where Springbrook and the Red Deer Regional Airport are today.
In 1939 farmland was purchased for the new base. In 1940 the airfield,
Hangars 1-7, barracks, service and administrative buildings were built
and the base was opened as a Royal Canadian Air Force Manning Depot.
 In
1941 the base was turned over to the Royal Air Force to become No. 36
Service Flying Training School, part of the British Commonwealth Air
Training Plan.
 From
1941 to 1944, 1,555 students were trained to fly Airspeed Oxford
aircraft.
In 1944 the base was closed and turned back over to the Royal Canadian
Air Force. Most of the base was dismantled.
 A
Second Life for the Base
In 1951 work was begun to create a permanent Royal Canadian Air Force
Station at Penhold. The base was opened again in 1952 as 4 Flying
Training School to train pilots for NATO member countries in Harvard
aircraft.
 The role ended in 1965 when the last Harvard flew at CFB
Penhold. Harvard Mark IV trainer 20370, built in 1952/53 at Fort William
Ontario, was flown at Penhold from 1953 to 1965. It was the last Royal
Canadian Air Force Harvard to be flown in an operational mission.
 A
Third Life for CFB Penhold
Even before the Flying Training School was closed and the base
transferred to Air Defense Command, some new activities were
initiated.
These include 43 Radar Squadron (1964-1986) with
facilities 22 km east of Penhold; the Alberta Signal Squadron
(1964-1994) which became 743 Communication Squadron and the
Regional Emergency Government Headquarters (1964-1993) housed in
'The Bunker', an earth covered concrete building on the east side of the
base.
Several other activities including the Air Defense Command School (1973)
and several smaller Air Command units were also housed at the base.
 Since
1954, the livestock brand Q-F has been a focal point of the base
crest, and used as a general identifier of activities associated with
the base including sports jerseys, telephone books, etc.
The official livestock brand is registered to the base and has been an
important part of the visual identity of the base.
Civilian Life at the Base
Construction
of Permanent Married Quarters (PMQs) at CFB Penhold began in 1952. By
1954 the PMQ area was named Mynarski Park after the Victoria
Cross holder P/O Andrew Mynarski VC. By 1955 there were 243 PMQ housing
units in Mynarski Park. In 1995 when the base was decommissioned, the
civilian (PMQ) area of the base was renamed Springbrook.
 Air Cadets at CFB Penhold
In 1966 the Air Cadet Summer Camp for western Canada was moved to
CFB Penhold. It has served approximately 1,500 cadets each summer since.
More detailed summary
For much more detail, go to Archives for the
complete transcript of 'Era of Harvard Comes to an End at Penhold' from
'The Harvard Flyer' June 1994
Photos - Early NATO years
(1953-55)
Last of the Harvards to CFB Penhold
(1964-87)
|
