Buttress, Saskatchewan

Buttress is located in Saskatchewan
Buttress
Buttress
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Location in Saskatchewan

50°14′10″N 105°32′51″W / 50.23611°N 105.54750°W / 50.23611; -105.54750 (Buttress)

Buttress was built in 1940 as the relief landing field for RCAF Station Moose Jaw and Royal Air Force's, No. 32 Service Flying Training School that was stationed there. These fields were used for practice circuits and also as an emergency alternate landing field.

The Buttress Post Office opened on July 1, 1909 and closed on July 31, 1961.[1]

Aerodrome

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Buttress, Saskatchewan at 50°15′N 105°33′W / 50.250°N 105.550°W / 50.250; -105.550 with a variation of 18 degrees east and elevation of 2,000 ft (610 m). The relief field was constructed in the typical triangular pattern and had three runways, listed as follows:[2]

Runway name Length Width Surface
6/24 2,700 ft (820 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
12/30 2,700 ft (820 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced
18/36 3,000 ft (910 m) 100 ft (30 m) Hard surfaced

Today the aerodrome is abandoned but the telltale British Commonwealth Air Training Plan triangle of runways is still visible from the air.

A review of Google Maps in June 2018 shows a clear outline of the former triangular airfield and the coordinates stated above appear to be correct.

It is located on private land, 6 mi (9.7 km) south of CFB Moose Jaw, on the west side of Highway 2.

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Archives - Postmaster Database". Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.
  2. ^ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 35.