RCAF Station (West Camp), Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (From the Air to Destroy the Beast) (photo courtesy Yarmouth County Museum and Archives) West Camp was located nearest to the town on the west side of the airport. The base was known as RCAF Station Yarmouth during World War II. Land for the main runway, from Starr’s Road south west past Forest Street, through to Argyle Street had been purchased as early as 1939. Clearing of land began shortly after purchase and the construction of the airport continued up to 1942 when the last two hangars were completed. West Camp was home to: 119 BR Squadron (City of Hamilton Squadron) July 21st 1940 through January 10th 1942 On July 21, 1940, the squadron was assigned to RCAF Eastern Air Command for service at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and began a rotation of duty locations to Sydney NS, deploying two plane detachments to RCAF Station Dartmouth NS, and shorter RCAF Station Chatham NB, and Mont Joli, Quebec. Assigned to anti- submarine duty, the Squadon flew in support of RCN/RN and later United States Navy activities over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the waters adjacent to Cabot Strait. Flying Bolingbrokes, twin-engine aircraft, its first operational mission while at Yarmouth was to escort HMS Ramillies through the Bay of Fundy, a Revenge-class battleship assigned for North Atlantic convoy escort from Halifax on March 17, 1941, to Saint John, New Brunswick. After a tour of anti-sub reconnaissance at Yarmouth, this Squadron moved to Sydney, N.S. 113 BR Squadron This Squadron remained in Yarmouth until May 10, 1943. 113 Squadron flew Lockheed Hudson aircraft on anti-submarine patrols. After a year and a half at Yarmouth, 113 Squadron moved on to Sydney, Nova Scotia. The Hudson aircraft of 113 Squadron were later replaced with Ventura aircraft, a larger and heavier version of a Hudson but more difficult and dangerous to fly. Detachments of five aircraft were stationed at Mont Joli, Quebec and Moncton, New Brunswick where they flew anti-submarine reconnaissance patrols over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the shipping lanes off Halifax Nova Scotia. In July of 1942, S/L Small of 113 Squadron sank the first submarine in Eastern Air Command off Cape Sable The Canso Squadrons 162 BR Squadron 160 BR Squadron 161 BR Squadron These three Bomber Reconnaissance Squadrons flew Canso aircraft. The large high winged, slow, graceful aircraft were familiar sights in the skies around Yarmouth until mid-1945. - used for anti-submarine patrols, - escorting the Canadian Pacific Ferry Princess Helene across the Bay of Fundy - weekly weather runs over eastern coastal waters. Some aircraft of 162 Squadron flew reconnaissance missions with 113 Squadron in early 1942 and the Squadron stayed at Yarmouth until the fall of 1943. 161 Squadron had a detachment of two aircraft operating with 160 Squadron in May 1944. The complete squadron arrived in late fall and was based at West Camp, flying daily trips with the Princess Helene until the Squadron was disbanded in May of 1945. Army Cooperation Detachment A detachment of two Lysander aircraft was stationed at Yarmouth for two years. This flight was just one of six such Canadian Army Cooperation detachments in the Maritimes. #6 (RCAF) Group

RCAF Station Yarmouth