‘WHAT?’ can we say … a camouflaged ‘WHAT?’
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ‘WHAT?’ ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
HAPPY ‘WHAT?’….. (Geocaching)
HAVE FUN !!
Some History
In 1941 Ladner was established as an air training field under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. At war's end the RCAF had no further use for the facility so it was stood down in 1945. The land remained unused until it was transferred to The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in 1949 at which time it began operations as a signals intelligence station under the name Vancouver Wireless Station call. When the Armed Forces were unified in 1968, the station's name changed to CFS Ladner. The approach of urban growth and new technology forced the station to close its doors in 1971.
Vancouver Wireless Station (VWS) began Operations in 1949 after a move from rather cramped quarters at Wilkinson Road near Victoria, B.C. Their new home was located at the old Boundary Bay Airport in Delta, B.C., 3 kilometers east of Ladner on Highway 10. The airport had been built during WW II to accomodate Lancaster bombers flying from it in defense of coastal B.C. against a perceived Japanese attack.
VWS became a thriving community. At its height it employed approximately 200 military personnel, as well as numerous civilian personnel both Operational and Support Staff.
Facilities at VWS included:
- other ranks, senior NCO's and officers quarters
- approximately 150 permanent married quarters
- dining hall
- junior ranks and senior NCO's messes
- administration building and officers mess
- medical inspection room
- gymnasium
- chapel
- elementary school grades 1 - 6, including a kindergarten
- woodworking and automotive shops
- grocery store, later Maple Leaf Services, then CANEX
- sport field with 2 ball diamonds
- engineering section, including a central heating plant
- transport section: and
- firehall
This is a photo of how this area once looked
Gate House