RCAF Station Sea Island began as a Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station. No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) began operation here on July 22, 1940. After the war the station was renamed RCAF Station Vancouver.
442 Squadron was re-activated as 442 "City of Vancouver" Auxiliary Fighter Squadron at Sea Island 15 April 1946, but was later re-designated an Auxiliary Transport Squadron. 123 Rescue Flight and 121 Composite Flight (KU) were also formed at Sea Island.
On 1 December 1951, 442 Squadron was split in half to form 443 "City of New Westminster" Squadron.
RCAF Station Vancouver closed on 31 March 1964.
Famous quotes containing the words station, sea and/or island:
“...I believe it is now the duty of the slaves of the South to rebuke their masters for their robbery, oppression and crime.... No station or character can destroy individual responsibility, in the matter of reproving sin.”
—Angelina Grimké (1805–1879)
“Wild roses, at your back porch, break their blood,
And bud to test surprises of sea air,”
—Howard Moss (b. 1922)
“When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the “big canoe” of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosoms the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the instinctive feeling of love within their breasts is soon converted into the bitterest hate.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)