Wartime Heritage ASSOCIATION

Wartime History of Yarmouth NS

East Camp - RCAF Station Yarmouth - WWII

Telegraphist Air Gunners RCAF Station Yarmouth - East Camp - WWII During the Second World War, the coastal town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, played a vital role in the Allied war effort as the site of RCAF Station Yarmouth. Established in 1940 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the station was divided into West Camp and East Camp. While West Camp focused on bomber reconnaissance operations for submarine defense, East Camp developed into a critical hub for training Telegraphist Air Gunners (TAGs) of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. East Camp, situated near Chebogue Road in Arcadia, spanned approximately 20 acres and featured more than 40 buildings constructed with local labor and materials. Designed as a self-sufficient military outpost, it included hangars, barracks, classrooms, mess halls, and recreational areas, all tailored to meet the intense demands of specialized aircrew training. Telegraphist Air Gunners were a unique category of naval aircrew who combined two essential wartime skills, wireless communication, and aerial gunnery. Operating mainly from the decks of aircraft carriers, TAGs maintained radio contact with naval vessels and defended aircraft against enemy fighters. Their ability to perform these dual tasks made them indispensable in the complex and hazardous environment of maritime aviation. The training program at East Camp reflected a deep collaboration between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Navy. While British officers and instructors delivered technical training, the RCAF was responsible for camp operations, administration, logistics, and medical services. The 10-month training curriculum focused on Morse code proficiency, radio operations, weapons handling, naval protocol, and flight experience in aircraft such as the Fairey Swordfish and Avro Anson. Instructors and pilots hailed from across the Commonwealth, including Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, reinforcing the international character of the mission. From 1942 to 1945, East Camp successfully trained 570 Telegraphist Air Gunners, who later served in a wide array of theaters, from the Atlantic convoys to the Pacific campaigns. Their role was not without great sacrifice: 495 TAGs lost their lives, and 69 were captured as prisoners of war. Despite the intensity of their training, East Camp personnel enjoyed recreational outlets and social connections with the surrounding community. Local events, sports days, dances, and summer outings, such as those at Braemar Lodge, helped foster camaraderie and lasting friendships between the airmen and the residents of Yarmouth. When the war ended in 1945, East Camp was decommissioned, and RCAF Station Yarmouth gradually transitioned into a civilian airfield. Yet during its brief but impactful wartime tenure, it had served as a linchpin in Allied naval aviation training and stood as a symbol of international cooperation, community support, and shared sacrifice.