Commonwealth Air Training scheme 1940-1942.
On the outbreak of World War II, Oxfords were selected as one of the favoured trainer aircraft in Canada, Australia and New Zealand as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) or British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), and trained many Fleet Air Arm personnel. The BCATP evolved following a meeting of Government representatives from United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in Ottawa, and signed an agreement to set up the Plan in December 1939, converting Canada into what President Roosevelt later termed "the aerodrome of democracy." The first schools opened in Canada in April 1940, and by 24 November 1940 the first trainees from the Scheme arrived in the UK. A total of 8,751Oxfords served in Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Rhodesia, and the Middle East. In total 137,000 aircrew came to Canada from all corners of the globe to earn their wings in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. One of the main training schools was at the RCAF Station, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, where the Royal Navy had the eastern side of the airfield whilst the RCAF flew anti-submarine patrols in Cansos from the other side of the field.
The aircraft were finished in overall trainer yellow dope finish with natural metal cowls and the school number appeared on the side of the fuselage in large black figures,the serial number which consisted on a four digit was placed on the rear of the fuselage and on the undersides of the wings reading in opposite directions as the aircraft flew overhead.
Avro ( Canada ) Ansons,Tiger Moths ( with coupe cockpit & heaters as well ) Harvard Trainers,Bolingbrokes were all painted in this attractive training colourscheme.
Canada was chosen as host country because it had so much usable air space and because it was far from the battlefields of Europe. Yet it was close enough to ferry aircraft and crews across the Atlantic to the war-torn areas. Prime Minister Mackenzie King enthusiastically supported the plan hoping that in this way Canada could make a contribution to the war without having to send a huge army to Europe. The first school opened on April 29, 1940, and by July 1942 the entire plan was in operation. It continued until 1945.The all yellow aircraft will always be associated with Canada and their immense contribution to the war effort.