CFB Patricia Bay
Victoria International Airport
CYYJ · YYJ
1939-
2nm SW of Sidney, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
48.647385, -123.435318 · 62 feet
Arundel Castle, 9755, Willingdon Road, North Saanich, Capital Regional District, British Columbia, V8L 5S9, Canada
Nearby Locations
| Km | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Victoria General Hospital |
CBW7 | 19.9 | 179° |
| Ganges Harbour | YGG | 23.0 | 348° |
 Yarrows Ltd |
24.1 | 179° | |
| Duncan Airport | DUQ | 24.1 | 301° |
 Esquimalt Naval Base |
24.1 | 180° | |
| Mayne Island Health Centre helipad |
CBF5 | 24.8 | 027° |
Located at the extreme south east of Vancouver Island, on the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula, work began to construct Patricia Bay Air Station for the Royal Canadian Air Force in Mar 1939 as tensions grew in Europe. It had opened as a training base for Canadian and Empire pilots and a Pacific seaplane base by Christmas that year.
After a significant contribution during World War II, civil aviation grew from 1948 and by 1952 the RCAF had moved out. With further growth it became Victoria International Airport in 1959.
Although helicopters had operated from time to time, the Canadian Armed Forces returned to a permanent presence at Pat Bay when 443 Squadron (MH443) moved into the West Camp in 1989 as part of 12 Wing (at CFB Shearwater), in support of the Pacific Fleet.
Units
| 1989- | 443 Squadron443MHS |
