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No. 34 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) fonds
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10.5 cm of textual records. -- 84 photographs. -- O.S. framed document
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No. 34 Service Flying Training School, Royal Air Firce, was established in Medicine Hat in 1941. It was one of 83 such schools established across Canada under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which was a joint venture of Canada and Great Britian. The initial cost of the project was $600 million, of which Canada's share was $350 million. The final cost of the program eventually amounted to in the billion dollar range.
The allied war effort was greatly enhanced by the steady supply of pilots trained by British personnel at these Canadian bases. The first airmen trainees arrived at the station on March 14, 1941. The Commanding Officer was Group Captain A. ap Ellis, C.B.E. The men trained in various aircraft including the Avro Anson, the Airspeed Oxford and the Harvard. Medicine Hat citizens welcomed the British airmen warmly, and numerous friendships, marriages and new families were the result of the association of "Limeys" and "Hatters". There were many recreational activities at the base for the off-duty airmen to enjoy including dances, concerts, plays and variety shows. No. 34 SFTS closed in November 1944. Many of the airmen stationed at the base who trained the pilots, as well as some of the pilots themselves returned to the city to live after the war.
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Scope and content
The fonds consists of: framed O.S. crest (1944); correspondence to and from Mr. Walter King re: duties (1942-1944); correspondence to Mr. Walter King from Y.M.C.A. National War Services Committee (1942-1946); information about the Y.M.C.A. War Services Committee and Walter King's duties compiled by Dr. E. King-Shaw (1942-1945); programs (10) of various plays and revues performed on the base (1942-1944); dance invitations (5) (1943-1944); Christmas dinner menu (1942); New Year's Eve dinner menu (1943); programs (7) for record recitals held by the Medicine Hat Music Appreciation Group (1944); programs (21) of various plays presented at #34 SFTS by the Prairie Players, Mad Hatters and others including: "New School of Wives", "The Singapore Spider", "Distinguished Gathering", "The Mad Hatters Revue", " Spring Meeting", "Babes in the Wood", "Night Must Fall", "French Leave", "Lets Go!!", "A Murder Has Been Announced", "The Valiant", "Take it Easy" (2), "Hay Fever", "Dripstream", "B for Bertie", "Dickery Dickory Doc" (1943, 1944); logo entitled "Out West" (undated); history of No. 34 SFTS, by Ralph Palmer (undated); Minutes of the SFTS Association (1979); information and program of the first reunion of No. 34 SFTS (1979-1980); SFTS pass book ([ca. 1944]); research paper entitled "History Study of No. 34 Service Flying Training School" compiled by Mr. Gordon Elmer (1994); 3 aerial photographs over Medicine Hat taken by Rex Dawson (1943-1944). photos related to Frank Grier, and inspection by Prince George, Duke of Kent; photos related to everyday life at SFTS [1943?]; 15 copy negatives documenting everyday life (1941-1942); Black and HWite photograph of the No.34 Service Flying Training School, R.A.F. Medicine Hat, ALberta, Canada, Maintenance Wing (1941-1942).
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Gifts of Dr. Ethel King-Shaw, June 18, 1993, Alex Shand, 1987, Frank and Betty Butler, January 14, 1983, Alistair Alexander, November 1984, and Mr. Gordon Elmer, October 13, 1994, Dr. David Carter, Colin Read, Loui O'malley, March 5, 2006, Rex Dawson, August 2007. P 0903 -- Gift of Gordon Collinson, via David Carter (2001). P 0904 -- Gift of John Rhodes, via David Carter (2001). P 0946 -- Gift of Reg Nutter, via David Carter (2001). P 0976 -- Gift of Art Ratcliff (2001).
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Some restrictions on use apply to Gordon Elmer's paper (M94.29.1). Consult with archives staff for further particulars.
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M91.15.3-.4 M85.2.1 M84.1.10
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Record No. second copy M87.25.1;M84.56.1;M83.4.1-.5;M87.25.1-.2;M94.29.1;M84.59.6;M93.7.1-.8;P 768.1.-41;P 788.1-.3; P 0823; P 0903; P 0904; P 0946; P 0976<br><br>
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- No. 34 Service Flying Training School (Subject)