18 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (18 Service Flying Training School)

Graduates of the EFTS "learn-to-fly" program went on a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) for 16 weeks. For the first 8 weeks the trainee was part of an intermediate training squadron; for the next 6 weeks an advanced training squadron and for the final 2 weeks training was conducted at a Bombing & Gunnery School. The Service schools were military establishments run by the RCAF or the RAF.

There were two different types of Service Flying Training Schools. Trainees in the fighter pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 14 Aylmer, where they trained in the North American Harvard or North American Yale. Trainees in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 5 Brantford where they learned multi-engine technique in an Airspeed Oxford, Avro Anson or Cessna Crane.

CWHM Avro Anson

No 18 Service Flying Training School was formed in Gimli, Manitoba on 1943/09/06. The school had a relief landing field at Netley Lake, a few miles south of the school. The unit was disbanded at Gimli on 31 May 1945.

For More Information on RCAF Station Gimli see here

• RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Gimli MB

• RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Netley Lake MB

• Military Bruce -18 SFTS Gimli MB History

• Manitoba Historical Society - 18 SFTS Gimli MB

On 1 June 1945 the school was reformed at Souris, Manitoba. Replacing No 17 Service Flying Training School which had been disbanded shortly before. The school had relief landing fields at Hartney and Elgin. The school was again disbanded on 5 September 1945.

For more Information on RCAF Station Souris see here

• RCAF.info - RCAF Station Souris MB

• RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Hartney MB

• RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Elgin MB

• Manitoba Historical Society - 17 SFTS

1943-09-06 Primary Location Gimli MB Canada Current site of Gimli Industrial Park Airport CYGM
1943-09-06 Relief Field Netley Lake MB Canada Abandoned return to agriculture. Still visible on satellite imagery.
1945-06-01 Primary Location Souris, Manitoba Canada
1945-06-01 Relief Field Elgin, Manitoba Canada
1945-06-01 Relief Field Hartney, Manitoba Canada