RCAF Station Hamilton opened at Mount Hope in 1940 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as No. 33 Air Navigation School. The school trained air navigators, air gunners and telegraphers. With the end of the war, activity was greatly reduced and most of the RCAF Squadrons relocated elsewhere. However, RCAF Station Hamilton was to play an important role in the post-war RCAF.
Even well after the war, Mount Hope Airport continued as an Air Force facility, although by then, part of it had been transferred to the Department of Transport for civilian usage. In April 1946, the RCAF formed another reserve unit there, the 424 (Light Bomber) Squadron (Auxiliary). One year later, it was re-designated an auxiliary fighter unit. 424 Squadron was initially equipped with Harvard MkIIs and later, Mustang MkIVs and a Silver Star. A typical year with the reserve fighter unit saw air-to-air firing practice at RCAF Station Trenton's Consecon Range, participation in local search and rescue operations, flying in Air Defence Command interception exercises and air-to-ground rocket and gunnery practice at RCAF Station Upland's Winchester Range. 424 personnel also took part in manaeuvres at Deseronto's Air Force summer camp and undertook survival training for a few years new Coboconk.
Another unit found at Mount Hope was the RCAF's 2424 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (Auxiliary). This unit was activated on 1 October 1950 to provide a pool of trained personnel to supplement those of the Pinetree sites in case of need.Facilities at both ther airport and at the armoury on James Street South were used. The Squadron trained in radar and fighter control operations on its AMES-11 mobile radars and at several Pinetree stations, such as the one at Edgar. When the Pinetree sites were automated in the early 1960s, 2424 was shut down as there was no longer a requirement for back-up personnel. The unit disbanded in February 1961.
The RCAF established No. 2424 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (Auxiliary) to train reserve personnel for duties at Pinetree Line radar stations, with a Detachment at the James Street Armoury in downtown Hamilton. A year later, control of No. 2424 AC&W Squadron fell under Air Defence Command. Slowly, however, RCAF Station Hamilton was being converted to civilian use.
By the mid 1950’s, two thirds of the air traffic at the airfield was civilian. In 1964, the RCAF formally withdrew and RCAF Station Hamilton closed.
For many years, the airport was known as the Mount Hope Airport. Today, as the John C Munro Hamilton International Airport, it is a premier centre for passenger and cargo air traffic. Some of the tenants at the airport are the Piper Flite Centre, the Hamilton Flying club, Glandford Aviation and WestJet.
Today, the airport is wholly operated by Transport Canada. Several wartime buildings still stand. Hangars 3 and 4 now contain the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum, which is an attractive collection of military aircraft that includes, among others, a B-25 Mitchell bomber and one of the few remaining Lancasters in Flying condition. Other buildings house the Hamilton Flying Club, the 779th Air Cadet Squadron, and 431 Tiger Squadron and 447 Wing Wing of the RCAF Association. The airport’s military heritage is kept alive by the Hamilton International Air Show in June of every year and by the presence of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (www.warplane.com).
Updated: April 27, 2005
