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RCAF Station Guelph was a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) station located in Guelph, Ontario on the campus of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), and the Macdonald Institute.〔 〕 The station is usually known as No. 4 Wireless School〔The standard short form is ''No. 4 W.S'', but it is also shortened as ''No. 4 WS'' or ''4 WS''.〕 and was home to several schools as well as test facilities for air force kitchens. The relationship between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the OAC began in January 1940 when the air force began to send airmen to the OAC to be trained as chefs. This instruction was provided on a contract basis and the OAC remained under the control of the Province of Ontario. In May 1941 the RCAF〔''RCAF'' is the standard short form for ''Royal Canadian Air Force''. also shortened as ''R.C.A.F.''〕 took control of a large portion of the campus, and by July 1941 a standard RCAF station was operating there with headquarters in Johnston Hall. The largest school was the Wireless School, which trained airmen to be Wireless Operators. Many moved on to Bombing and Gunnery School to qualify as Wireless Air Gunners. These airmen served as aircrew on bombers. The second largest school was the School of Cookery, which trained airmen and airwomen to be chefs in air stations. The Commonwealth Air Training Plan was a temporary wartime measure and was scheduled to end on 29 March 1945. On 14 March 1944 Air Minister Power announced that No. 4 Wireless School would close on 29 December 1944. The school actually closed on 12 January 1945, when an air force transition team took over, and on 22 February 1945 the RCAF formally withdrew and returned the campus to the OAC. At least 8,000 airmen and airwomen were trained at RCAF Station Guelph. == A controversial beginning == The establishment of the station caused a political controversy that was widely reported on in the Toronto and Guelph daily newspapers, and farm publications in Ontario. On 1 March 1941 the Premier of Ontario, Mr. Mitchell Hepburn, announced the gift of OAC to the federal government for the war effort. The City of Guelph, many farm groups, and others opposed this gift. These people did not want the Ontario Agriculture College closed down, and Mr. George Drew, the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, took up their cause. A debate ensued and on 7 March 1941 the legislature voted for a compromise that would keep the OAC open for classes while permitting the RCAF to use the campus for No. 4 Wireless School. The RCAF would get the dormitories and instructors it wanted and the OAC and OVC could continue, although their students would have to live off-campus. Classes at the Macdonald Institute were completely cancelled.〔Lougheed, E. C. (2002).''No. 4 Wireless School At Guelph, 1941-1945''. Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph. RE1 UOG A1642.〕 It was left to the people of Guelph to make this compromise work. Construction began around 10 May 1941, and by 26 June 1941 100 Guelph men were working on the site. Building interiors were modified, a guardhouse was built on Macdonald St. near Gordon St., an Armaments building (25 yard shooting range) was erected on Macdonald St., and a barbed wire fence enclosed the RCAF portion of the campus. Eventually facilities for 1,500 RCAF personnel were made and included police and fire services, motor transport, hospital and post office. This is roughly the same size as most of the air stations built in Canada between 1940 and 1943. The advance party of RCAF officers arrived on 7 June 1941 under the command of Wing Commander (W/C) A. H. K. Russell. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「RCAF Station Guelph」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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