RCAF POST WAR
SEA ISLAND MEMORIES

For some time time now I have been trying to formulate ideas as to how I could best outline my interests in Canada’s air force, particularly the Royal Canadian Air Force years from 1940 until the period of unification, and beyond to present day. This web site is an attempt at defining my childhood interests since the early 1950’s up to present day.

I am 67 years of age and have had a fascination with Canada’s military aviation since the early 1950’s. As such over that time I have accumulated a number of images (some taken by myself) and others courtesy the Canadian Armed Forces.

As a young boy I used to spend many weekends traveling out to Sea Island where the Vancouver Airport was situated. In those years it was located on the south side from where the present day terminal sits. A small little community named Burkeville existed housing armoured forces personnel.

Burkeville was laid out and built by the federal government during the Second World War to provide 328 houses for workers employed at the Boeing Aircraft plant. It was named for Stanley Burke, president of Boeing. The streets are named after airplane manufacturers. The plain, no-frills dwellings came in several standard sizes. Most have been altered to fit the needs of two generations of residents. After the War, Boeing sold the houses to returning veterans. The tightly-knit community, already encircled by airport uses, is currently threatened by the intended further expansion of roads and runways.” Ironically, the “plain, no-frills dwellings” were designed by McCarter and Nairne, who gave us the Marine Building. The name of the development was chosen in a competition among Boeing employees.

With my trusty Brownie Hawkeye camera in hand I would spend hours watching, and clicking the flying activities of both the 442 City of Vancouver Squadron, and 443 City of New Westminster Squadron.

442 SQUADRON

The RCAF established a presence at the Vancouver Airport on July 22, 1940 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as No.8 Elementary Flying Training School. The station remained open after World War II and was re-named RCAF Station Sea Island, but this was later changed to RCAF Station Vancouver. 442 Squadron was re-activated as a 442 "City of Vancouver" Auxiliary Fighter Squadron at Sea Island 15 April 1946, but was later re-designated an Auxiliary Transport Squadron. 123 Rescue Flight and 121 Composite Flight (KU) were also formed at Sea Island. By 1948, Sea Island's runways were linked up with those of the Vancouver Airport

443 SQUADRON

On December 1, 1951, 442 Squadron was split to form 443 City of New Westminster Squadron. RCAF Station Vancouver closed on March 31, 1964 and subsequently relocated to Comox B.C. as 442 Search and Rescue Squadron. 443 Squadron was also moved to Patricia Bay Airport, Victoria

Thus, my interest in the Canadian Military Aviation was kindled and remains as strong as ever to this day.

I have arranged this website chronologically from when I became interested in our Air Force through to present day with the Canadian Snowbirds. Enjoy