{"id":19919,"date":"2019-11-20T16:23:15","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T21:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/?p=19919"},"modified":"2019-11-20T16:23:15","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T21:23:15","slug":"picton-wwii-training-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/picton-wwii-training-base\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit Picton for insight into military ancestors from WWII"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine turning a corner and seeing rows upon rows of green painted wooden buildings as far as the eye can see. One minute, there was nothing. The next minute, an entire town appeared in front of me.<\/p>\n

For just a moment, I shared a bit of the awe my ancestors must have felt on day one of their military training during WWII.<\/p>\n

The experience took place while I was touring wineries near Picton Ontario last summer.<\/p>\n

A former airfield and military base on County Road 22 operates as the Picton Airport and Loch-Sloy Business Park<\/a>.\u00a0It includes 54 historic buildings and six airplane hangars on 701 acres of land.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Local businesses rent space<\/h2>\n

The Prince Edward Flying Club offers \u201cprior permission required\u201d landing services for pilots.<\/p>\n

Fifteen other business tenants rent space there too. I saw listings for carpenters, furniture makers, glass manufacturers, landscapers, mechanics, and stone distributors. There\u2019s even a yoga studio on site.<\/p>\n

Driving and walking through the park feels like taking a step back in time.<\/h2>\n

The Picton airfield originally opened on April 28, 1941 as a bombing and gunnery school for the war effort.<\/p>\n

Canada, with the support of Britain, built new or expanded existing fields into more than 100 such facilities in less than four years.<\/p>\n

The effort became known as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.<\/p>\n

Looking back it is difficult to grasp the BCATP in all its dimensions,\u201d wrote J.F. Hatch, in his 1983 book describing the project. \u201cIn themselves, the statistics are impressive: 131,553 [plus 5,296 RAF and Fleet Air Arm personnel trained prior to July 1, 1942] aircrew trained for battle, through a ground structure embracing 105 flying training schools of various kinds, 184 support units and a staff numbering 104,000. When war was declared the RCAF had less than two hundred aircraft suitable for training, many of them obsolete. In December 1943 there were 11,000 aircraft on strength of the BCATP.\u201d [1]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My ancestors Paul Emile Hurtubise, Jean Charles Mathieu and Richard Himphen all trained at Ontario-based military installations just like this one, although the ones they went to were in Camp Borden, Dunnville and St. Thomas rather than Picton.<\/p>\n

Camp Borden still operates as an active military training facility. The ones in Dunnville and St. Thomas are long gone.<\/p>\n

Picton is probably the last BCATP centre in existence\u2014with original buildings and triangle airfield layout intact\u2014anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n

Heritage Structures Intact<\/h2>\n

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) used the buildings and hangars for storage and equipment maintenance after WWII.<\/p>\n

After that, the Royal\u00a0Canadian School of Artillery (anti-aircraft) moved in to train anti-aircraft gunners, gunnery radar operators, technical\u00a0assistants and artillery instructors. The first battalion Canadian Guards infantry unit also used the site for a while.<\/p>\n

During part of that time, AVRO Arrow test\u00a0models could be found in some of the hangars.<\/p>\n

In 1969, the Department of Defense closed down CFB Picton and the H.J. McFarland Company purchased the land and buildings.<\/p>\n

Loch-Sloy bought the site from the McFarland family in 1999.<\/p>\n

Dreams for a Period Museum<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s when the company began a slow challenging effort of reconstructing the former buildings into a period museum that they hope will eventually open full-time. They produced a fun video describing their dreams<\/a> in April 2013.<\/p>\n

Until that happens, you can arrange private tours of the site or contact them for upcoming public events.<\/p>\n

I highly recommend the experience. It connects you to the past in a way that reading documents just can\u2019t achieve.<\/p>\n

– 30 –<\/p>\n

If you want to read more about my WWII military ancestors and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, refer to the following stories:<\/p>\n

Fairwell Sergeant Himphen<\/a><\/p>\n

Evening Serenade<\/a><\/p>\n

Shot Down Three Times<\/a><\/p>\n

Vincent Massey and the BCATP<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Hatch, F. J.\u00a0The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Dept. of National Defence, 1983, 222 pages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Imagine turning a corner and seeing rows upon rows of green painted wooden buildings as far as the eye can see. One minute, there was nothing. The next minute, an entire town appeared in front of me. For just a moment, I shared a bit of the awe my ancestors must have felt on day […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"0","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[100,863],"tags":[1108,1104,1105,691,1107,1106,601],"class_list":["post-19919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genealogy-ensemble-history-worth-remembering","category-wwii","tag-british-commonwealth-air-training-plan","tag-jean-charles-mathieu","tag-loch-sloy-business-park","tag-paul-emile-hurtubise","tag-picton-airport","tag-prince-edward-flying-club","tag-richard-himphen","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2buQs-5bh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20125,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/lancaster-days-in-gransden-lodge\/","url_meta":{"origin":19919,"position":0},"title":"Lancaster Days in Gransden Lodge","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"January 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, as I read the history of the WWII era on the webpage of the Cambridge Gliding Centre, which operates out of the Gransden Lodge Airfield, I was reminded of my great uncle\u2019s fun-loving spirit. The page read: \u201cDespite the grim business of the war being waged, there was also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genealogy Ensemble"","block_context":{"text":"Genealogy Ensemble","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/history-worth-remembering\/genealogy-ensemble-history-worth-remembering\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Uncle Charlie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1619653_10153863548855657_218411855_n.jpg?fit=729%2C729&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1619653_10153863548855657_218411855_n.jpg?fit=729%2C729&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1619653_10153863548855657_218411855_n.jpg?fit=729%2C729&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1619653_10153863548855657_218411855_n.jpg?fit=729%2C729&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19902,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/mary-catherine-kitty-freeman\/","url_meta":{"origin":19919,"position":1},"title":"Kitty Freeman: WWII Heroine and Food Research Pioneer","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"November 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Kitty Freeman: WWII Heroine and Food Research Pioneer This week, we commemorate the public service contributions of trained dietitian and Montreal philanthropist Mary Catherine \u201cKitty\u201d Freeman. Freeman was born in Prescott, Ontario 98 years ago Sunday. During the war years, Freeman helped feed wounded soldiers using limited rations at hospitals\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genealogy Ensemble"","block_context":{"text":"Genealogy Ensemble","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/history-worth-remembering\/genealogy-ensemble-history-worth-remembering\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LieutenantCatherineFreeman1944-e1636653953708.jpg?fit=343%2C288&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15516,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/responsible-for-ancestors-mistakes\/","url_meta":{"origin":19919,"position":2},"title":"Are we responsible for ancestors\u2019 mistakes?","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"January 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Learning about the Acadians, fur-traders, immigrants, soldiers, farmers and business people who are among my ancestors usually gives me strength and fills me with gratitude. I know that the decisions they made led to opportunities that have enabled me to thrive. My parents and ancestors gave me many gifts. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family History Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Family History Writing","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/history-worth-remembering\/family-history-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/happyonthefarm.jpg?fit=812%2C455&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/happyonthefarm.jpg?fit=812%2C455&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/happyonthefarm.jpg?fit=812%2C455&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/happyonthefarm.jpg?fit=812%2C455&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19925,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/pete-bradford\/","url_meta":{"origin":19919,"position":3},"title":"Pete Bradford and the Art of Making Vinegar","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"December 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"In our conversation, cooper Pete Bradford talks about his passion for crafting barrel-aged vinegar in the Prince Edward County, one of three wine regions in Ontario.","rel":"","context":"In "Canada"","block_context":{"text":"Canada","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/canada\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pete-Bradfordquote.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pete-Bradfordquote.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pete-Bradfordquote.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pete-Bradfordquote.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pete-Bradfordquote.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15486,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/family-members-lived-world-war-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":19919,"position":4},"title":"Which family members lived during World War II?","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"February 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"According to my genealogy software, there are 66 people in my current family tree who were alive when Canada declared war on Germany on September 9, 1939, including all four of my grandparents. Richard Charles Himphen's only will was a note about his wife at the back of his log\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family History Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Family History Writing","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/history-worth-remembering\/family-history-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC09387.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC09387.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC09387.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC09387.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC09387.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8923,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/family-history-writing-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":19919,"position":5},"title":"Family History Writing 2014 Begins!","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"February 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is the beginning of Family History Writing 2014. Lynne Palermo, from http:\/\/www.thearmchairgenealogist.com\/ challenges all of us to place a family history story on our blogs every day this month. She\u2019s also created an online forum so that those of us participating can ask questions and share our work with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family History Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Family History Writing","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/history-worth-remembering\/family-history-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"AnneMargueriteMarieHurtubiseArial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AnneMargueriteMarieHurtubiseArial.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/20180908_173444-scaled-e1574284436233.jpg?fit=600%2C291&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19919"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19923,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19919\/revisions\/19923"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}