Usaf Aircraft Gunnery School Funny Speeches
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By: - 17th August 2004 at 14:18
Hi all,
I have a question about the BCATP No. 31 Bomber and Gunnery School in Picton, Ontario. Since this is in the backyard of Glen_RCAF_Fan, I suspect that he may have an answer, but others may find this of interst too.
Picton is a few kilometres south of CFB Trenton, which was also a wartime training base. The Picton school operated from 1941 to 1944.
My father was driving through the area last week, and after a wrong turn, came upon the base. Seems that much of the base is intact, buildings and all, even the barbed wire. The story he got was that the site was bought by some British film company.
Can Glen or anyone else provide some more info on this site, or some pictures. Seems incredible to me.
If the site really is in that good a condition, it must surely be the best preserved site left of any of the WWII training bases in Canada, of which there were many. If that is the case, it seems to me that this site would be an excellent candidate for designation as a national historic site.
Any info appreciated. Anyone else think it should be an historic site?
Charles
Original post
By: - 17th August 2004 at 15:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hello Dumaresqc
There is an excellent website here:
http://www.ghosttownpix.com/ontario/towns/cfbpicton.shtml
It has some great photos of the base! I was surprised that most if not all of the base survives! Nearly all other wartime bases in canada that are abandoned have lost most of their crew hits etc.
By: - 17th August 2004 at 15:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the link Peter. The site looks like a real time machine. Mow the lawn and paint the barracks and it would look like a wartime operation again.
Really seems like it would be a shame to let this rot away.
Charles
By: - 17th August 2004 at 15:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Historical site here in Canada does not always equal preservation.We are having a hard time even preserving the hangars at the birthplace of the RCAF,Camp Borden.Cheers! John.
By: - 18th August 2004 at 13:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yes, the old Airbase is about 1 minute from where I live and the Air Cadets with their gliders and tugs fly right over my townhouse all through the day , everyday, all summer. (Good thing I love planes!).
The base is about 50 kms from Trenton and about 35 kms from Mountainview. It is all about 240 KM east of Toronto.
The site is privately owned but numerous businesses are renting buildings on the site. The Air Cadets also have one of the buildings and this is where I spent 5 years of my youth.
There was some talk of a production company buying it, and some wild rumours going around, but to the best of knowledge it is still in the hands of the MacFarlands, a wealthy local family.
The problem with doing anything with the buildings is that they really were built to shoddy standards and were never meant to last this long. The military is famous for building a structure, planning on getting 10-20 years out of it, so build it accordingly, and then here were 50+ or so years later trying to do things with them. At the main base in CFB Trenton we have some buildings close to 75 years old and once they break this milestone one cannot simply do work on it anymore as it is a historical type of thing now. This poses a major problem and several buildings are slated to be destroyed prior to them hitting this 75 year mark. SOme of the buildings are over 75 years and now we are stuck with these anceint sub-standard H block stone buildings that are just not effective for what we need any longer.
The Picton base really is an oldy and the buildings are really getting run down. I don't think anyone could do much of anything with any if the buildings at this point and if the land ever does get sold again I am sure it will mark the demise of all the structures.
By: - 18th August 2004 at 14:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the replies.
Sounds like such "encouraging" news. But I think your point is well made, Glen, that the buildings were never meant to last this long. Reminds me of the so-called temporary buildings that were concstructed in Ottawa to accomodate the growing public service during the war. Most were still in use until the 1970s, and there is still one in use, tucked away near the Supreme Court Building. So much for temporary!!
Do you know if it is possible to wander the Picton site and take photos of the old buildings, or is such snooping rather frowned upon? Sounded from what my father said from his visit last week that the site isn't really accessible. Or was he just at the wrong entrance? The web site that Peter provided has some great pictures, but they are just a tease. Sounds like it would be a very interesting site to explore in person.
I did notice in researching this further that the BCATP Museum in Brandon Manitoba also has a number of original buildings on site, and it is a National Historic Site. At least some buildings from that important part of our history will be preserved. But it looks from the pictures like the Picton site better preserves the original feel of the site.
Thanks again for the info. I'll pass all this along to my father when he is back in town.
Charles
p.s. I still think they should have saved one of the hangers from RCAF Rockcliffe here in Ottawa. I really miss those, even if the museum (CAM) collection is safer in the new building(s). Really miss the smell of those old hangers too!!
By: - 18th August 2004 at 15:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There are several entrances to the location and you can access the site to scout around. As indicated, there are several businesses on site and the Air Cadets. They all need access. You can check it all out, but interesting as it may seem, it does get old quick. A bunch of old wood shingles H huts, some big old hangars and the flight line... Of course, living beside it all my life I have probably lost the sense of adventure and excitement of it. In another way, it is interesting to see and when driving by I often wonder of how many people and who progressed through the base.
By: - 18th August 2004 at 16:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hi Glen, do you know if there are any pics available of the hangars especially the interior.In my diorama type model building I have built 3 hangars so far and I would love to constuct one in scale for history sake before they are destroyed.Cheers! John.
By: - 18th August 2004 at 19:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hi John,
I am sure there are some available. If not I will grab a digital camera and take some for you. It is very nearly in my backyard.
By: - 11th November 2005 at 02:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Bomber boys on History channel
Sorry about resurectting this thread from the archives, but watching the series Bomber boys on History channel this week has made me curious about Picton.
What should be done with the place? Is it too late to restore soem or all of the base to a living memorial to all trainee aircrew?
Your thoughts?
By: - 11th November 2005 at 02:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I just finished watching the fourth and final episode of 'Bomber Boys' on the History Channel. What a wonderful, moving production !! Another chapter has been filled for me explaining what the young bomber crews went through from the start. Frantic Films must truly be congratulated on a job well done.
Most of the film was produced at Picton and it was wonderful to see the old original buildings still intact. I think it would be a shame to see at least some of Picton not turned into a historic site. BCATP must not be forgotten.
Chris
By: - 11th November 2005 at 03:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
cjames it would make a neat setting for a museum...
By: - 11th November 2005 at 03:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Peter,
I agree. Where do we start ? Local MP or MLA. There is a probable election in February !!
Chris
By: - 11th November 2005 at 04:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Local mp?
By: - 11th November 2005 at 04:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Peter,
Can you give me his or her name ? I live in B.C. I'll be glad to send him or her an e-mail !!
Chris
http://www.10697sqn.com/
By: - 11th November 2005 at 04:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Chris & Peter,
Daryl Kramp is the MP for the riding of Prince Edward-Hastings.
http://www.darylkramp.ca/
Regards,
By: - 11th November 2005 at 05:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Cheers Mike,
I'll get on it first thing in the morning. We have to make sure he sees 'Bomber Boys'. I think it replays starting tomorrow night, Nov 11.
Chris
By: - 11th November 2005 at 14:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
MIke.. want to join a letter writing campaign?
Lets see if we can get something done with picton
By: - 11th November 2005 at 15:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I've just been playing with Google Earth & looked up Picton which I assume is the airfield near the town, unfortunately the resolution is not very high for this part of Canada.
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By: - 11th November 2005 at 17:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
unfortnately it is not covered that well on google earth
By: - 11th November 2005 at 19:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
JohnReid, here if it helps is a picture I took last year inside one of the old hangars at Brandon . . .
Source: https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/30926-no31-bombing-and-gunnery-school-picton-ontario
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