Vanastra to celebrate 100th anniversary of Royal Canadian Air Force (2024)

VANASTRA — Vanastra, formerly RCAF Station Clinton, is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force with a special early-June event.

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The anniversary celebrations, which began April 1 with blue lights on Canadian military installations across the country and around the world, continues in Huron County with Air Force Day events on June 8.

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For one day, the RCAF Clinton Mini-Museum will host visitors and displays in the former A.V.M. Hugh Campbell school — now Fellowship Hall, Vanastra Christian Church — at Front Road and 7^th Avenue.

The history of RCAF Station Clinton began in 1941, with the construction of a highly top secret Royal Air Force radar and communications school, which later became RCAF Station Clinton and then CFB Station Clinton. The wartime training included British, Canadian and American personnel, who were working to help save Britain and eventually Europe. This was considered the “university” of the latest training and equipment in flight electronics, and some of that equipment will be on display June 8.

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RCAF Clinton was the only base in Canada without a runway, and with a population of as many as 3,000 training personnel and students, became the largest.

The Secrets of Radar Museum began in the old sergeant’s mess at the site, but moved to London 21 years ago. Now, for one day, an RCAF veteran honorary curator and support staff will be bringing back to Vanastra pieces of radio and communications school history.

The Huron County Museum will show artifacts from its local military collections. Huron had four major military installations established throughout the 1900s.

The Huron County Historical Society will be releasing 2024 Historical Notes, featuring stories of RCAF Clinton gleaned from diaries and scrapbooks.

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The opening of the #1 School of Food Service — the first in Canada — will be on display, featuring the words and photos of the personnel on base in the 1950s.

Local historian David Yates will have the revised edition of his book, That Freedom May Survive, available. Bonnie Sitter of Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes will be on hand to discuss the play of the same titlem which is running at the Blyth Festival Theatre Aug. 14 – Sept.7.

A play, RCAF Streamliners Swing Dance Band 1941-1946, will run at the Goderich Livery Theatre from Oct. 16 to Oct. 27. The play is based on the story of two airmen from Clinton, Jake Perdue and Phil Sparling, and one from Goderich, Billy Carter, who became the founders of the best frontline entertainment band in Europe. It is based on Andy Sparling’s book, Dance Through the Darkness. There will be a sneak preview from cast and crew in Vanastra, with more details to come.

The Vanastra Heritage Trail, as presented by Huron East Tours and Trails, will be in guidebook format, with optional means to follow the streets of the old base, now a commercial and industrial park.

June 8 is also the annual Village of Vanastra yard sale, which will feature a food truck at the ball diamond at the recreation centre.

More participants and displays are being added each week. To share your family stories, contact Pamela Stanley at 519-482-9914 or stanley_pam@hotmail.com.

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