37 SFTS (37 Service Flying Training School)

Graduates of the EFTS "learn-to-fly" program went on a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) for 16 weeks. For the first 8 weeks the trainee was part of an intermediate training squadron; for the next 6 weeks an advanced training squadron and for the final 2 weeks training was conducted at a Bombing & Gunnery School. The Service schools were military establishments run by the RCAF or the RAF.

There were two different types of Service Flying Training Schools. Trainees in the fighter pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 14 Aylmer, where they trained in the North American Harvard or North American Yale. Trainees in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 5 Brantford where they learned multi-engine technique in an Airspeed Oxford, Avro Anson or Cessna Crane.

Air Navigation Chart Calgary 1944

Noteable RAF Instructor pilots based at No. 37 SFTS during the war, was F/O Peter Middleton, the grandfather of Catherine Middleton who is now the Duchess of Cambridge and the wife of Prince William.

For More Information on RCAF Station Calgary see here

RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Calgary AB

RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Airdrie AB

RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Inverlake AB

Bomber Command Museum Of Canada - 37 SFTS

Calgary Wings SFTS37 History

Clarence Simonsen - Calgary Wings 37 SFTS History.pdf