17 SFTS (17 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

SFTS17 Patch

For More Information on RCAF Station Souris see here

RCAF.info - RCAF Station Souris MB

RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Hartney MB

RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Elgin MB

Manitoba Historical Society - 17 SFTS

Hillmanweb.com - 17 SFTS History