Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 14th Year - 2018
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RCAF Technical Training School
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2004
Photo from Google Street View ©2011 Google - Posted January, 2011
Photo by contributor Fred Tatler - Posted April 2016
Date of the photo is May/June, 1942 and belonged to
Fred Tatler's mother-in-law RCAF Sgt. F.L. O'Connor.
Plaque Location
The County of Elgin
The Municipality of Central Elgin
On the east side of Road 4
just north of Road 45 (John Wise Line)
Coordinates: N 42 44.346 W 81 11.525 |
Plaque Text
The only facility of its kind in Ontario during the Second World War, No. 1 Technical Training School, St. Thomas, was established by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939 to produce skilled ground crews for active wartime service. It was housed here in this hospital complex and was operated in compliance with Canada's commitment to establish air training facilities in sites removed from the theatre of war. Equipped to handle more than 2000 students at a time, the school offered six month courses for aircraft electricians and aero-engine, airframe and instrument mechanics in addition to specialized training for fabric and sheet metal workers. When the war ended in 1945 the school was closed and the complex was returned to the Ontario Department of Health.
Related Ontario plaques
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
Royal Canadian Air Force No. 6 Service Flying Training School
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Information
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Schools
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted November 2, 2017
My father, Walter Michael Duszynski, was one of three men sent to St.Thomas to open this school. He was attached to the 120 Bomber Group but there is little information on this group.
Bob Dushinski (English spelling)
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