In January 1940, the city agreed to lease the airport to the federal government for the duration of the war. The RCAF took over and it became the home of No. 4 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) until November 1945. Early in 1940, work started on five large hangars, varracks, classrooms, workshops, a hospital and a control tower. No. 4 SFTS was a very busy school, and two relief stations - no. 1 at Vanscoy and no. 2 at Osler - were set up to reduce traffic at Saskatoon. BCATP operations Saskatoon came to an end on March 31, 1945.
The Department of Transport took over maintenance of the airport from the RCAF in November 1945, because the city reneged on an earlier agreement. By 1948, instrument landing systems were installed on Runways 08 and 32. The next year, a control tower was put into operation.
During the 1950’s, Saskatoon became one of the major military centres in Western Canada. In 1950, Trans-Canada Airlines introduced the four-engine Canadair North Star to its Saskatoon service. As a result of the RCAF’s post-war expansion, RCAF Station Saskatoon re-opened as an air training facility in October 1950. That same year, 23 Wing was formed to oversee 406 Squadron and several other Auxiliary (Reserve) Squadrons in Western Canada. In 1951, the installation of a non-directional beacon at the airport put Saskatoon with the best equipped airports in Canada. On January 1, 1952, thr RCAF's No. 1 Advanced Flying School opened at Saskatoon due to a decision made by the Department of National Defence to provide "more schools to train regular pilots in advanced flying on multi-engine aircraft. Pilots were brought to Saskatoon from all over Canada as well as many NATO countries. Students at the school trained on Mitchell Bombers and Expeditor aircraft trainers. With the placement of the No. 1 Advanced Flying School, the total number of personnel jumped to 650, not including civilian personnel.
In conjunction with the Defence Department's decision to open a training school in Saskatoon, the Federal Government decided to construct housing for the RCAF personnel. Smith Bros. and Wilson, a local contractor, was awarded the McNab Park contract to build 150 homes for $1,500,000.00. The homes were laid out in a semi-circular fashion at the southwest corner of the community, and were funded by the Federal Government through Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
By the end of 1952, permament married quarters had been completed and the station personnel moved in. The majority of the McNab Park housing area was dedicated as Permanent Married Quarters (PMQs) for the married officers and their families. The houses, single dwellings, duplexes, and the larger tri-plex-units which accommodated three families, were equipped with steam heat, electric range and a refrigerator. The dwellings were considered to have modern decor in that they had plaster interiors and hardwood flooring.
In 1954, the airport became a Customs port of entry. Saskatoon's primary runway, 09/27, was lengthened.
In March 1955, the name "McNab Park" was approved for the Permanent Married Quarters (PMQs) community at RCAF Station Saskatoon. Archibald P McNab was a former Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Saskatchewan, who was known and loved throughout the length and breadth of Saskatchewan for his contribution to the development of this province.The McNab Park subdivision was eventually incorporated into the city of Saskatoon on 6 August 1965, about a year after RCAF Station Saskatoon was closed by the government. The McNab Park PMQ community is now occupied by civilian families. The remainder of the property was turned over to the Federal Department of Transport and reverted to its original role as a civilian airport, now known as the Saskatoon Municipal Airport
Just west of the PMQ area was the site of the Air Marshal Curtis School. The school was built in 1953, and the construction costs were paid by the Department of National Defence. The school consisted of six rooms that handled pupils from kindergarten to grade eight. The Saskatoon School Board supplied the teachers including one from the Roman Catholic faith and the provincial educational department paid the salaries. The Air Marshal Curtis School was transferred to the Saskatoon Public School Board in 1965 and re-named McNab Park School. The school operated for a total of 32 years until its closure and demolition in 1985. The school was closed due to declining enrolment numbers and the increasing operating costs.
RCAF Station Saskatoon, in addition to No. 1 AFTS, supported other RCAF units in the Saskatoon area, including No. 23 Wing Headquarters, No. 406 Auxiliary Squadron, No. 3043 Technical Training Unit (Auxiliary), and No. 4002 Medical Unit (Auxiliary).
Due to the activities of the RCAF and an increase in the amount of commercial traffic, a major expansion of the airport was undertaken in 1955. The expansion included the construction of a new terminal building, several major service buildings, expanded and improved access roads, airfield taxiways, parking aprons, and lighting. Runway 09/27 was lengthened during this airfield expansion. The new air terminal building opened in September 1955, after a year of intensive and improvements. Trans-Canada Airlines began serving Saskatoon with the Vickers Viscount, a four-engine turboprop aircraft.
In January 1956, - 1 AFS took on the training role for instrument flying. Also in 1956, the Instrument Flying School moved to Saskatoon from RCAF Station Centralia.
In a route swap in 1957, Pacific Western Airlines takes over Canadian Pacific's Edmonton, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Regina route, using a DC-3. In 1958, - The Saskatoon Airport became the first airport in Canada to have an traffic control unit. Airways surveillance radar was installed, and later commissioned in 1959.
In the 1960s Potash and uranium mining undergo expansions. Significant traffic is generated by the mining industry and new electronic navigation aids help the airport handle the increasing air traffic. In 1962, Saskatoon's 1 AFS moves to RCAF Station Rivers, Manitoba. Oversight of RCAF Station Saskatoon is transferred from Training Command to Air Transport Command. In 1963, runway 15/33 was rebuilt and lengthened to 6,300 feet. In the early to mid 1960's, a reorganization and consolidation occurred within the Canadian Military. Several Army, Navy and RCAF bases were either downsized, merged or closed. RCAF Station Saskatoon closed in the summer of 1964 when four hangars were handed over to the Department of Transport and both 406 Squadron and 23 Wing were disbanded.
Parts of the former RCAF Station Saskatoon remain today, including the ground school, supply building, airmens mess and officer mess, the airmen and officers barracks (all built in the 1950's), four ammunition storage buildings, the post-war "Arch" hangars and the WWII-era drill hall. The five WWII era hangars were torn down, leaving just the cement pads.
Nothing remains at RCAF Detachment Olser as it was ploughed under for farming long ago. The abandoned airfield remains at the former RCAF Detachment Vanscoy.
Updated: April 17, 2005
