March 3, 1945 - Training at East Camp Ends March 3, 1945, was the turning point in the final months of No. 1 Naval Air Gunnery School, (No. 1 NAGS) RCAF Station, East Camp, when Telegraphist Air Gunner training ended at 3:30 p.m. and marked the conclusion of the school’s operational life and signalled the beginning of a profound shift for both the base and the Town of Yarmouth Course 64A, with its 44 graduates, became the last group to complete training, closing a chapter that had in part shaped the wartime identity of the region. For years, the aircraft overhead, the movement of personnel through town, and the constant activity at both East and West Camps had been part of daily life. When training ceased on that March afternoon, it was clear that the community was about to undergo a significant change. The weeks leading up to March 3 had already hinted at the transition ahead. On February 5, the Commanding Officer informed the assembled school that the Admiralty’s reduced commitments meant the school would be disbanded and its personnel returned to the United Kingdom. Training continued briefly, Course 63A graduated on February 20, and the airfield remained busy with a diverse fleet of Ansons, Swordfish, Walrus aircraft, Hurricanes, and Harvards. Personnel movements began as well, and beneath the routine, the sense of winding down was unmistakable. Once training ended, the departures accelerated. On March 10, the first draft of 340 men boarded trains at the siding near the Stores Building, followed by another 541 personnel on March 18. By Good Friday, March 30, East Camp closed, remaining staff were moved to West Camp, and No. 1 NAGS formally shut its doors. With that, its role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan came to an end. The school had brought together people from across the Commonwealth creating a unique wartime community within Yarmouth’s borders. For the town itself, the closure carried both economic and social implications. Throughout the war, No. 1 NAGS had been one of Yarmouth’s most significant sources of activity. Hundreds of service members lived, trained, and spent their leisure time in the community, supporting local shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. When the school closed, the departure of personnel meant a decline in business for many local establishments. The presence of the school also brought a sense of purpose and connection to the global conflict, making Yarmouth a hub of international interaction during a time of uncertainty. March 3 stands as the symbolic moment when Yarmouth’s wartime tempo began to shift. The end of TAG training marked the beginning of the town’s transition back to peacetime life. The legacy of the Telegraphist Air Gunners remains woven into the community’s history, a reminder of a time when Yarmouth played a vital role in a global effort and welcomed people from far beyond its shores.

Course 64A

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