Wing (Lynx) Building

Description of the Historic Place

The Wing (Lynx) Building is a small one-storey building located at 2407 Avenue C North in Saskatoon’s Airport Industrial neighbourhood. Built in 1941 for the purposes of a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) training school, the building is situated adjacent to R.C.A.F. Memorial Park.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Wing (Lynx) Building resides in its association with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the efforts and sacrifices made by RCAF members in World War II. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) agreement between Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia was signed in Ottawa on December 17, 1939. Canadian BCATP bases were spread out across Canada but with higher concentrations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. In 1940, the Federal Government took over the Saskatoon Municipal Airport for use as a RCAF training facility as part of the BCATP. The Wing (Lynx) Building was constructed in 1941, along with all other buildings and hangars that made up No. 4 Service Flying Training School (STFS) at the Airport in Saskatoon. The building served the RCAF until 1953 when a small RCAF contingent took over the building for their operational headquarters - the 406 (Lynx) Squadron - a tactical bomber squadron that had been adopted by the City of Saskatoon during WWII. 

A T. 33 "Red Knight" aircraft is mounted on the site of the Wing (Lynx) Building, and a former RCAF member donated a Cairn, dedicated May 31, 1987, that established a reminder to future generations that the RCAF and the city of Saskatoon played an important role in World War II.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Those features that relate to its historic value such as its original location, A.T. 33 “Red Knight” aircraft and Cairn.