Membership

The Canadian Aviation Moments were submitted by Dennis Casper from the Roland Groome (Regina) Chapter of the CAHS. Spoiler alert - if you read any further than each question, you will find the answer to the questions directly below. Good luck and have fun!

The Canadian Aviation Moments questions and answers for November are:

Question: What aircraft was: 1) All Canadian designed and built? 2) Was selected by Belgium for its NATO forces? 3) The name given to this aircraft by the RCAF was never really accepted and a different name was given to it by the crews?

Answer: “The RCAF named the CF-100 “Canuck” after the much earlier Curtis JN-4 Canuck trainer of the First World War. However, the name Canuck was never really accepted for the jet aircraft and the crews more often referred to the type as the “Clunk.” The twin engine jet all weather interceptor was all Canadian designed and built. The CF-100s good climb, excellent fire control and radar systems, twin engine reliability and all-weather capability made the air-craft highly suitable for Canadian and NATO air defense roles of the Korean and Cold War eras. Belgium also selected the design for its NATO forces. After a successful career in the RCAF/CF as a fighter, the aircraft type was later modified as an electronic countermeasures (ECM) trainer and was fitted with electronic ECM and chaff dispensing equipment. A black paint scheme was chosen by Aero for the prototype aircraft and to commemorate the type’s retirement, a Mark V aircraft was repainted in this original colour scheme.” “ TOS: 1951 SOS: 1981 No: 692”

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft – T.F.J. Leversedge – Page 63

Question: The 406 Lynx Squadron, as the Battle of Britain was winding down, became the first RCAF night-fighter squadron. Which crew of the 406 Squadron had scored the first RCAF night-fighter victory? HINT: The navigator was from Regina and the Iron Cross insignia from the downed aircraft is now displayed in the Canadian War Museum.

Answer: “Two hours and 10 minutes after they had taken off from Fumerton (Robert Carl “Moose” Fumerton) and Bing (Sergeant L.P.S “Pat” Bing of Regina) landed at Acklington. They had scored their first victory, the first ever for an RCAF night fighter and 406 Squadron’s first success. The next morning, the men of 406 found the wreckage and cut out the black Iron Cross insignia of the Luftwaffe, taking it back to base (the insignia is now on display in the Canadian War Museum). None of the German crew survived, so the officers of 406 Squadron provided a full military funeral.”

Source: Canada’s World War II Aces – Larry Gray – Page 41

Question: What report, created in 1917-1918, is viewed as the Magna Carta of airpower - and not only in Britain?

Answer: “In summer 1917, London was rocked by German bomber attacks. The World War I British Cabinet appointed a committee – Prime Minister David Lloyd George and General Jan C. Smuts – to find solutions. Smut’s report came in two parts. The first focused on homeland defense. The second (excerpted here) called for an independent air force, saying air actions “may become the principal operations of war, to which older forms of military and naval operations may become secondary and subordinate.” Smuts said maintaining both a Royal Navy Air Service and a Royal Flying corps caused dysfunction, and that the nation should create “one unified air service” out of the two existing services. The Cabinet accepted his report and passed the Air Force (Constitution) Act, leading to the creation, in April 1918, of the Royal Air Force. The Smuts report today is viewed as the magna carta of airpower - and not only in Britain.”

Source: Warning Order – Official Publication of The Royal United Services Institute/Regina Officers’ Mess – May-2009-June 1-Page 1