Page 13 - Derek Braithet Holland

No. 32 EFTS began training students in the fall of 1941 with the Royal Air Force
operating the school under the command of Wing Commander Bristow. It had three
flights and over one hundred students. In July 1942, the school was taken over by
Edmonton Flying Training Schools Ltd. a private company with D.M. Plunkett as
Manager and operated under the R.C.A.F. In the spring of 1943, Bowden was up-
graded to ‘Class D’ with over 240 students. Mr. George Frost, Chief Engineer,
recalled that they had four training fights. The school had 150 aircraft on strength.
Initially Tiger Moths were used and later the Fairchild Cornell.

When Bowden disbanded on 8 September, 1944, the base employed 330 civilians
th
to support 470 R.A.F officers, men, and students. It was said that, the system of the
school being operated by the civilian company in conjunction with the R.A.F officers
and personnel has been a very happy arrangement. After the war the base was used
as a reform school. Since then it has become a prison.