Bcatp
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Michael Mindenhall
British Commonwealth Air Training Program
B.C.A.T.P
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was a program that trained aircrew of more than 130,000 men to supply the allies during conflicts in the Second World War. Even though most of the training for this program transpired on Canadian soil, the air force was controlling comand in Britain. The subject of the BCATP is very significant one because of the different aspects of aerial warfare. In order to attain superior air warfare, an effective training program is the key to success. This paper will generalize the different phases which Canada took to build, and perfect the program. Without sufficiently trained pilots, equipment, intelligence, or strategic advantage.
The perfect place to situate this base would have to be Manitoba, Canada, being very remote, under the radar, and difficult to intrude, no one would expect anything. Its population will provide many recruits. Canada’s industrial infrastructure can produce planes for training, with United Sates manufacturers, not too far away, supplying the engines, or even complete aircraft if the need arise. Towards the end of the 1930s, Canada met all the requirements to become the training ground for the air force that the defense of the British Empire demanded. Mackenzie King did not want Canada to get involved in the war by supplying pilots. In addition, he was concerned that the interference of imperial armed forces would not allow Canada to develop its own national air force. The agreement was signed December 17th, 1939 and the official announcement was made.
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was an ambitious program. The 1939 agreement stated that the training was to be similar to that of the RAF: three Initial training Schools, thirteen Elementary Flying