From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
Founded
| 1942
|
---|
Folded
| 1943
|
---|
Based in
| Winnipeg
,
Manitoba
|
---|
League
| Winnipeg City League
Western Canada Armed Services Rugby Football Union
|
---|
League titles
| 2 league championships
|
---|
The
Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
were a
Canadian football
team during
World War II
. They lost the
30th Grey Cup
and
31st Grey Cup
games.
In
1942
, the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
didn't have any competition for the regular season so they created their own competition. With an abundance of players available, the Blue Bombers split the players into two teams. The civilian men played for a team known simply as the
Bombers
and the servicemen played for the
RCAF Flyers
. A third team in the Winnipeg City League was the
University of Manitoba Bisons
who were a junior team.
Upon completion of the
1942
Winnipeg City League season, the teams were dissolved and a new combined team was formed for playoff competition. On November 4, 1942, the
Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
were created and 34 players were selected to the team.
[1]
[2]
Of the 34 players, 16 players came from the
Bombers
, 15 players represented the
RCAF Flyers
and the remaining 3 players were Manitoba Bisons. As the RCAF & Bombers teams made up the majority of the team, it was decided to call the combined team the
Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
.
In addition to creating a stronger team, the combined team served another purpose. The war efforts were the number one concern at the time and there was no guarantee that the servicemen would be available for the
Grey Cup
game. By forming a combined team, the Blue Bombers ensured that they would have a competitive team if some or all of the players got called into active military duty.
The
1942
Winnipeg RCAF Bombers played their first game on November 7, 1942 against the Regina Navy football team.
[3]
The RCAF Bombers won the game 13-6 and advanced to the
Grey Cup
. On December 5, 1942, the
Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
defeated the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 8-5.
[4]
The
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
kept the RCAF Bombers moniker for the
1943
season and they played in the Armed Services Rugby League with two other teams (Winnipeg United Services Combines & Regina All-Services Roughriders). The Winnipeg RCAF Bombers easily won the regular season as they went a perfect 6-0.
[5]
They defeated the All-Services Roughriders in the two-game total-points series 12-0 and they advanced to the
Grey Cup
.
[6]
On November 27, 1943, the
Hamilton Flying Wildcats
defeated the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 23-14.
[7]
The team suspended operations for the
1944
season and when reorganized in
1945
, they reverted to being the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
References
[
edit
]