#12 Service Flying Training School

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is located on what was part of #12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba. The main part of the museum is Hangar #1 of 5 hangars, the Brandon Flight Centre occupies Hangar #2, although it has been updated. The Aerial view of #12 SFTS on this page shows the size and scope of #12 SFTS and is similar to many other BCATP schools that populated Canada. The Canteen Building, restored to its original glory sits in the spot it occupied in WWII. Our other buildings are either original WWII buildings (H-Hut, sentry box, medical building) or built to resemble them (Motor Transport Building).

#12 SFTS rose quickly with construction taking in late 1940 into early 1941. Bird Construction Company of Winnipeg was the contractor. Building the school was a massive undertaking, in addition to the five enormous hangars, there were administration buildings, guard houses, barracks (H-Huts), medical facilities, buildings for emergency vehicles, as well as various infrastructure projects for power, water and more to be built. It is easy to imagine the economic benefits of such a large project for the city. In addition to the jobs created, the influx of mean and women to both train and so all the jobs necessary to run the school meant more benefits for the city’s economy. It should be noted that Brandon was also the home of #2 Manning Depot.

The official opening of #12 was on July 19, 1941 and the school closed on March 30, 1945. Twin engine Avro Anson and Cessna Crane aircraft (you can see examples of both of these types in our hangar) were the main types flown here. The school saw 1,975 pilots graduate from the program.

#12 SFTS had two relief fields in nearby Chater and Douglas, the hangar in Chater still stands today. Relief fields provided a place for emergency landings if required as well as a practice field for landings and take-off.