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:
“It was evident that the same foolish respect was not here claimed for mere wealth and station that is in many parts of New England; yet some of them were the “first people,” as they are called, of the various towns through which we passed.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It was a soft medicine
that came from the sea into my mouth,
moist and plump.
I swallowed.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“He is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)