{{Short description|Former military airfield}} {{For|the current civilian use of this facility|John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RCAF Station Hamilton | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = | nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox --> | country = Canada | image = | alt = | caption = | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = | coordinates = {{Coord|43|10|25|N|079|56|06|W|type:airport_region:CA-ON|display=title|name=RCAF Station Hamilton}} | gridref = | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = Canada Ontario | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership = Department of National Defence | operator = Royal Canadian Air Force | controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force --> | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities - radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US --> | built = {{circa|1940}} | used = {{End date|1964}} | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = | events = | current_commander = <!-- current commander --> | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School<br/> No. 33 Air Navigation School | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | website = <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r1-number = | r1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r1-surface = | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> }} '''RCAF Station Hamilton''' was an air force base of the Royal Canadian Air Force located in Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada, {{Convert|15|mi|abbr=on}} south of Hamilton.
==History== ===World War II=== During the Second World War, it was a base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, teaching pilots from allied commonwealth nations the basics of elementary flying. Schools located here were No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 10 EFTS), which flew De Havilland Tiger Moth and Fleet Finch aircraft, No. 33 Air Navigation School (No. 33 ANS), which flew the Avro Anson. No. 10 EFTS relocated to RCAF Station Pendleton in 1942; No. 33 ANS closed in October 1944,<ref name="hatch">{{cite book | last1 = Hatch | first1 = F. J. | title = The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945 | publisher = Directorate of History, Department of National Defence | year = 1983 | location = Ottawa | isbn = 0660114437}} </ref><ref name="forsyth">{{cite web |url = http://www.militarybruce.com/history |title = A Short History of Abandoned and Downsized Canadian Military Bases |last = Forsyth |first = Bruce |year = 1998 |website = Military Bruce Historical Writings by Bruce Forsyth |access-date = 24 August 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130904163512/http://www.militarybruce.com/history/ |archive-date = 4 September 2013 }}</ref> and No. 1 Wireless School (No. 1 WS) which moved from Montreal on 14 September 1944.
===Aerodrome information=== In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as '''RCAF Aerodrome - Hamilton (Mount Hope) Ontario''' at {{coord|43|10|N|79|56|W|region:CA-ON}} with a variation of 7 degrees west and elevation of {{Convert|771|ft|abbr=on}}. Three runways were listed as follows:<ref name=Handbook>{{cite book |author=Staff writer|title= Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1|publisher= Royal Canadian Air Force |page= 120|date= c. 1942}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Runway Name ! Length ! Width ! Surface |- | 11/29 | {{Convert|2789|ft|abbr=on}} | {{Convert|150|ft|abbr=on}} | *Not Specified |- | 16/34 | {{Convert|2789|ft|abbr=on}} | {{Convert|150|ft|abbr=on}} | *Not Specified |- | 10/28 | {{Convert|2965|ft|abbr=on}} | {{Convert|150|ft|abbr=on}} | *Not Specified |}
===Postwar=== After the war, it became a base for Hamilton 424 Reserve Squadron, supported by regular force personnel. During the postwar years, 424 Squadron, under Air Defence Command, flew the P-51 Mustang and Vampire jet fighter. Later, under Air Transport Command, 424 flew the Beechcraft Expeditor and the De Havilland Otter. Other units located here included No. 16 Wing (Auxiliary), No. 2424 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (Auxiliary), which trained Pinetree Line radar operators, and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve's No. 1 Training Air Group. The airport was known as Mount Hope Airport for many years and today is called the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. The airport is also the home of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.
==Closure== In the 1960s, the Canadian military was reorganized and eventually unified. The reorganization resulted in many military bases being closed, including Hamilton. The station was closed in 1964.
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton}} Category:Former Canadian Forces bases in Canada Hamilton Hamilton Category:Air bases in Ontario Category:Defunct airports in Ontario Category:Military history of Ontario Category:1940s establishments in Ontario Category:1964 disestablishments in Ontario Category:Military airbases established in 1940 Category:Military airbases closed in 1964