News
BCATP milestone noted at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
May 27, 2014, Hamilton, Ont. - To commemorate the 75th Anniversary since the inception of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is inviting owners of BCATP type aircraft to fly-in to their Museum on May 31.
May 27, 2014 By Carey Fredericks
Along with the Museum's large collection of BCATP aircraft, they are anticipating one of the largest gatherings of "Yellow Birds" since World War II. Weather permitting, visitors should expect to see several Fleet Finches, de Havilland Tiger Moths, North American Harvards, etc.
One of Canada's most distinctive contributions to World War II was the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The BCATP provided training facilities for all parts of the Commonwealth. Building and operating a nationwide flight training school was a complex task. In most cases, sights had to be chosen, land purchased and runways, hangars, barracks and other support buildings needed to be constructed.
During the frenzied building activities at the start of the BCATP, close to 120 airfields were constructed across the country. The operation expanded steadily ultimately employing more than 104,000 men and women including almost 13,000 civilians.
George Stewart, 90, from Hamilton will be participating in the event as a passenger in his son’s Tiger Moth that will be flown in for the event. George trained in the BCATP where learned to fly the Tiger Moth and Anson before going overseas to fly the de Havilland Mosquito.
