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)
“I have not much faith in women in fiction.... Women are so horribly subjective and they have such scorn for the healthy commonplace. When a woman writes a story of adventure, a stout sea tale, a manly battle yarn, anything without wine, women, and love, then I will begin to hope for something great from them, not before.”
—Willa Cather (1873–1947)
“I suggested to them also the great desirability of a general knowledge on the Island of the English language. They are under an English speaking government and are a part of the territory of an English speaking nation.... While I appreciated the desirability of maintaining their grasp on the Spanish language, the beauty of that language and the richness of its literature, that as a practical matter for them it was quite necessary to have a good comprehension of English.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)