Originally opened 1943 as a “Radio Detachment”, RCAF Tofino was part of a chain of radar stations conducting surveillance of the Pacific Coast, primarily due to threat of Japanese incendiary balloons.The RCAF, due to the threat of Japanese incendiary balloons established an airfield at Tofino. RCAF Tofino had its own airfield, with a squadron of aircraft ready to respond within 30 minutes.
The radar chain was disbanded in 1945 and RCAF Tofino was closed.
RCAF Tofino was re-opened in 1955 as the domestic site for the newly constructed Radar Hill Station, that was operated as part of the NORAD Pinetree Line network.
Construction of the Radar Hill site commenced in the early 1950s, with a proposed activation date of January 1954. Radar Hill Station became operational on 15 January 1955 and was closed in December 1957. The operations buildings at the Operations site were dismantled in 1962.
RCAF Tofino was closed on 10 January 1958. The airfield and buildings were transferred to the Department of Transportation, and eventually became the Tofino Airport. While some of the buildings from RCAF Tofino are still standing, nothing remains of the former radar station on Radar Hill.
My father was stationed in Tofino as a wireless operator in WW2. He recorded Japanese radio traffic in the Pacific.