Pennfield Ridge Airport

The primary reason for closure was military decommissioning. The airport was purpose-built for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATLP) during WWII. With the end of the war, the massive training program was terminated, and the base was no longer required by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Subsequent civilian use was not economically sustainable, leading to its complete abandonment as an active airfield.

The site is no longer an airport. The classic triangular runway layout of a WWII-era airfield is still clearly visible from satellite imagery, but the surfaces are heavily deteriorated. The property has been repurposed for non-aviation activities. A significant portion of one of the former runways is now used as the 'Pennfield Ridge Dragway', a popular motorsports venue for drag racing events. Other parts of the former base are used for light industrial purposes, storage, or are overgrown and abandoned. Some of the original wartime buildings and hangars are gone, while others remain in various states of disrepair.

Pennfield Ridge Airport holds significant historical importance as a major WWII airbase. Known as RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge, it was a critical component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATLP), a massive joint program that trained Allied aircrews in Canada.

Key operations included:
- **No. 2 Air Navigation School (ANS):** Opened in July 1941, this school trained thousands of navigators for bomber and coastal command crews.
- **No. 1 Bombing & Gunnery School (B&GS):** This school was briefly relocated here from Jarvis, Ontario, in 1942.
- **RAF No. 34 Operational Training Unit (OTU):** From 1942 to 1944, this unit trained complete bomber crews, primarily using Lockheed Ventura aircraft, before they were deployed to active combat theaters.

The primary aircraft used at the base was the Avro Anson, a twin-engine aircraft used extensively for navigation and crew training. The base was a self-contained community with barracks, hangars, and administrative buildings, contributing significantly to the Allied war effort by preparing essential aircrew for service.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Pennfield Ridge as a functional airport. The infrastructure is derelict and would require a complete reconstruction. Its original purpose is obsolete, and the region is adequately served by modern airports such as the Saint John Airport (YSJ) and Fredericton International Airport (YFC). The current use as a motorsports venue and industrial site makes any conversion back to aviation highly improbable.