2 rows of soldiers of No.111(CAC) RCAF Squadron, standing during kit inspection on Sea Island

Kit inspection at the summer camp of No.111(CAC) Squadron, RCAF, on Sea Island in 1939
(Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada)

During World War II, the airports and its original terminal, now the South Terminal, were leased to the federal government and operated as RCAF Station Sea Island.

The airport was used for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Funds from the lease were used to purchase additional land for new hangars and a production plant for Boeing Aircraft of Canada.

Rosie Riveter woman with bandanna on head

(Library of Congress/Wikipedia)

Many of the women of Sea Island worked at the Boeing plant during WII and were known as Rosie Riveters.

Rosie Riveters

RCAF Station Sea Island>>

A number of squadrons were created or stationed at RCAF Station Sea Island during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Aleutians, and during WWII. As part of their projects, the Sea Island Heritage Society has been documenting the history of the squadrons and its members, often with the assistance of the Comox Air Force Museum.

No. 8 Squadron

No. 8 Squadron was a bomber reconnaissance squadron moved to RCAF Station Sea Island after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, then moved to Alaska after the Japanese attack on the Aleutians.

No. 8 Squadron

No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School

No. 8 Elementary Flying Traing School was established beside the Vancouver Airport to train more than 131,000 Canadian and Allied aircrew during WWII.

No. 8 Elementary Flying

No. 147 Squadron

No. 147 Squadron was a bomber reconnaissance unit tasked with anti-submarine duty. It moved to RCAF Station Tofino in March 1943 and with the reduced threat of Japanese action, was disbanded in 1944.

No. 147 Squadron

440 Transport Squadron

Formed as No. 11 (Army Cooperation) Squadron flying the DeHavilland DH-60 Moth, it was redesignated No. 111 (Coast Artillery Co-operation) Squadron while stationed on Sea Island. It was redesignated a number of times and now operates as 440 Transport Squadron.

440 Transport Squadron

442 Transport and Rescue Squadron

First activated as No. 14(Fighter) Squadron, it moved to Alaska. It was renamed 442 Fighter Squadron and flew bomber missions in Europe during WWII. After WWII it reformed on Sea Island, then became 442 Transport Rescue Squadron at CFB Comox.

442 Transport & Rescue Squadron

2442 AC&W Squadron (Auxiliary)

The 2442 Aircraft Control & Warning (AC&W) Squadron (Auxiliary) was formed in July 1950 to train personnel to man the new radar defence lines under construction in Vancouver. In 1951 it moved to RCAF Station Sea Island in a building converted for the squadron.

2442 AC&W Squadron