In the 1930s, Watson Lake was a stopping place for United Air Transport, which later became Yukon Southern Air Transport Ltd., and was subsequently taken over by Canadian Pacific Airlines. It was one of a chain of airfields across the Canadian northwest between Edmonton and Whitehorse, which was to follow the route used by pilots of Yukon Southern.
In 1939, the federal government authorized the planning of airfields at Grande Prairie, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake and Whitehorse; and by January 1940 site surveys had been completed. Construction of the airfields began in 1941 as early as weather permitted. At Watson Lake, an area 15 kilometers northwest of the town was chosen. A site of 40 acres was hewn out of the heavily treed countryside, and much filling was needed in a deep depression and a creek that bisected the length of the 5,500 foot airstrip. The proximity of the lake itself made further lengthening of the strip impossible; and the water body was an onstacle to the main runway approaches.
The logistics for the construction were a formidable undertaking. Men and equipment went to Fort Nelson from Fort St. John over a 483 kilometer winter road. Steamers carried supplies to Wragnell for the base at Watson Lake. Then, smaller boats took them from Wragnell up the Stikine River to Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Lower Post - the same route used during the Klondike gold rush. A tote road was then pushed through to Watson Lake from Lower Post. By late 1941, the Northwest Staging Rouite fields were usable by daylight in good weather. Minimal landing fields, emergency lighting, radio aids, meteorological equipment and limited housing were in place. At this time during Wold War II, American warplanes such as the P-39 Aircobra, the P-40 Warhawk fighters and the Douglas C-47 transports were being ferried from Great Falls Montana, to Alaska. From there, Russian pilots took over and flew the aircraft into Russia by way of Siberia. Beacuse of the relative inexperience of the American ferry pilots and the rugged environmental conditions, the American authorities were forced to press for improved airport facilities and navigation aids, to match up to their own standards of operation.
Watson Lake benefitted from the upgrading program because it was a refuelling spot for American crews. An operations building and a control tower were built, and the ramp area as well as the main and cross-wind runways were paved. Permanent airfield lighting for the main runway was installed, and a large military hangar was erected. The old BC-Yukon Air Services Ltd. hangar is still in use. The airfield complex was almost completely an American-operated facility. It grew to accommodate a large complement of personnel with the associated barracks, staff housing, mess halls, apartments, and storage facilities.
Om June 23, 1944, Canada and the United States signed an agreement covering the disposal of airfields and buildings constructed by the US in Canada: Canada would buy them, but the US had rights to their use until the end of the war. The operation of the airport became the responsibility of the RCAF in 1945. The Canadian Army took over the maintenance of the Alaska Highway - which connected with the Northwest Staging Route bases, so that the bases would have an overland supply route - as well as the road which conmnected the airport to the town of Watson Lake.
With the departure of the Americans from the airport in 1946, Canadian Pacific Airlines became its prime user with Lodestar and DC-3 aircraft on the Watson Lake run that was part of its northwest route. Seven single dwellings, built by the RCAF and by Transport during the late 1940s, gave a more permanency to the airport's operation. The airport was a self-contained facility, utilizing many of the wartime installations - a curling rink, a theatre. a hobby workshop, messes, barracks, and a large sports field - which attracted airport personnel and townspeople alike.
The Department of Transport took over the airport from the RCAF on April 1, 1957; and, in 1961, barracks and storage buildings were demolished or removed - many to the town. The Lakeshore radio beacon was decommisioned in 1962; then, in 1964, the former RCAF playing field was subdivided for homes. The site began to take on more of the complexion of a civic airport.
Jet service to the Watson Lake area began in October 1968 with CP Air's Boeing 737s, and improvements to the airport continured. In 1969, a new maintenance garage/firehall/sand storage complex was built - a concrete block building which replaced the aging log garage located in the main ramp area of the airport. In 1973, the operations areas and the public waiting room in CP Air's building were enlarged, and a freight storage area for CP Air was also added to the air terminal building.
A VOR/DME (VHF Omni-directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment) air navigation facility was commissioned in 1975 on a site five kilometers dirctly south of the airport. An ILS (Instrument Landing System) for runway 26 was commissioned in 1981.
Updated: April 11, 2005