Reminiscing: Flying high at No. 5

The Second World War began on Sept. 3, 1939, when Commonwealth countries Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany.

Canada closely followed on Sept. 10. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King stated that through these troubled years no stone had been left unturned and no road unexplored in the patient search of peace…

After the declaration of war, recruiting stations were flooded with men volunteering to fight for freedom. In December 1939, a massive air-training plan was undertaken by the British Commonwealth countries to ensure that there was a ready supply of trained airmen. Canada became a major location because of its good weather and large areas of land.

One of the finest fields was established on the Burford Road where the present airport is. Farms were purchased from Mrs. N. Dyment, William Dynes, Mrs. Joseph Williams, William Green, Werner Brams and part of the Takacs farm.

The sod turning event on June 5, 1940, to establish the No. 5 Service Flying Training School featured a 20-ton Caterpillar tractor and scraper. Work began immediately to level and grade land. The runways, which were equivalent to 20 miles of highway, were completed to form a double triangle so that planes could always take off into the wind regardless of its direction.

Buildings sprang up like mushrooms, six buildings each housing 100 men, a drill hall, sports pavilion, a 60-bed hospital, guardhouse, watch tower with a glass dome near five double hangars, each able to hold 100 smaller planes or 40 bombers. A spur line from the Brantford-Tillsonburg branch of the CNR was built to serve the airport. A sub post office, fire hall, quarters for civilian employees and civilian and RCAF canteens were also included.

With the large number of people using the air school, it was necessary to find a reliable source of water. The City of Brantford promised to supply the water but wells that were drilled on the William Wallace farm on the south side of the highway, supplied ample pure water.

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