Memory Mondays – Beaumont Collection Military Flight Training School

From 1940 until 1944, over 1200 students from Canada, New Zealand and Britain graduated from the Service Flying Training School in Moose Jaw as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).

In 1946, with the war over, the airbase was deactivated and turned into a civilian airport for the City of Moose Jaw. In 1952 it was converted back into a military flight training school due to rising Cold War tensions. Today it houses 15 Wing Moose Jaw, one of the largest flying units in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and home of the Snowbirds.

For this month’s #MemoryMondays, we’ll share some photos from this base from the Second World War. These images are from a collection of photos taken by Warrant Officer Frank Beaumont, a member of the Royal Air Force, who was stationed in Moose Jaw from 1941 to 1945 as part of the BCATP.

To learn more about the BCATP, visit the Aircraft Gallery at the WDM Moose Jaw!

Photo of three men standing outside the Sergeant’s mess hall at the RCAF base in Moose Jaw, 1940s.
Interior photo of the sergeant’s mess hall at RCAF base in Moose Jaw, 1940s. The text on the photo reads “Sgts. Messroom – 32SFTS.” SFTS stands for Service Flying Training School, with 32 being the identification number for the Moose Jaw base.
This photo provides a view of some of the buildings at the 32 Service Flying Training School. The flag in the foreground may be a Standard (a flag representing a member of the British Royal Family), which would indicate that a member Royal Family was present. 1940s.
This photo appears to show a formal military parade. This may have been for the same royal visitor as the previous photo.