With the start of the Air Cadet Program in 1941 squadrons were started at schools throughout the province in both the cities and small communities alike. No statistics exist to indicate the number of air cadets that participated in the training but suffice it to be told that most recruits into the RCAF had had some level of the program before they enlisted. The program was popular with teen boys and the number of squadrons grew until 1945 when 59 Air Cadet Squadrons operated in the province. Some twenty squadrons functioned within the present boundaries of Winnipeg alone.

At wars end, people wanted to forget the war years and the Air Cadet Program became less popular with the result that many of the squadrons disbanded. Some amalgamated with other squadrons, some held on for a few years before they closed; some were to reopen after a period of time. Seventy-one Air Cadet Squadrons have functioned in the Province of Manitoba, twenty-four remain active.

The following is the roll of squadrons that are active or have functioned in Manitoba:

On reviewing the list of squadrons above it was noted one in Winnipeg was No. 328 John Baskerville Squadron. Research revealed that No. 328 Squadron operated at the St. John's High School in Winnipeg. The history of the school notes that a cadet unit was formed in 1940 but that in 1943 it became the John Baskerville Air Squadron. No. 328 John Baskerville Squadron was started on September 28, 1943 and was disbanded in August 1948. But the question remained, "who was/is John Baskerville?"

Flight Lieutenant John Edward Baskerville, son of William Francis and Minnie Maude Baskerville, of Winnipeg, Manitoba and husband of Jane Beatty Baskerville, of Winnipeg was a former student of St. John's High School. The family resided at 254 Lansdowne Avenue in north Winnipeg. Flight Lieutenant Baskerville was killed on operations with No. 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the night of 19/20th March 1940 (Tuesday/Wednesday). No. 51 Squadron's History notes:

"(Whitley N1405) Took off at 20.35 hrs from Dishforth in the first attack of the war on the German mainland and the largest raid of the war so far. It was a reprisal raid ordered by the British Government for their raid on the Orkney Islands when German aircraft attacked British ships in Scapa Flow but some dropped bombs on land and killed 1 civilian and wounded 7 more civilians in a village.

30 Whitley's and 20 Hamden's took part and reports were made that the bombing was accurate. 20 tons of high explosive was dropped together with 1,200 incendiary bombs.

This Whitley N1405 was the only aircraft lost and was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea just off the northern tip of Sylt. All crew were killed."

Flight Lieutenant John Edward Baskerville 37537 R.A.F. Age 25, was pilot of the Whitley N1405 in which he and the other four of his crew were killed. It is also noted his co-pilot was another Canadian, Pilot Officer Emery Orville Fennell 40293 R.A.F. Age 23 of Canora, Saskatchewan, the remainder were from the United Kingdom. Both Baskerville and Fennel are listed as members of the Royal Air Force but other listings have them as members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. While Baskerville and Fennell may not have been the first Canadian casualties of World War Two they certainly were the earliest of Bomber Commands casualties over Germany with many more to follow. They are buried in the Kiel War Cemetery.

Baskerville Island in Sharpe Lake, Manitoba is named after Flight Lieutenant John Baskerville. It is located in North East Manitoba north of the Ontario border.

If you can add to the No. 328 John Baskerville Squadron's story or any other squadron's, please contact the Manitoba Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League of Canada.