Over several years beginning in 1939, a total of 447 Finches were built, nearly all (431) of them for use as elementary trainers in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) during the Second World War.
During World War II, Goderich Airport hosted No. 12 Elementary Flying School for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, providing initial pilot training for aircrews using the Fleet Finch.
Schools located here were No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 10 EFTS), which flew De Havilland Tiger Moth and Fleet Finch aircraft, and No. 33 Air Navigation School (No. 33 ANS), which flew the Avro Anson.
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