From the home office of the president.

This has been a tragic couple of weeks for our Canadian military. The crash of our CH-148 Cyclone helicopter from HMCS Fredericton off the coast of Greece with the loss of six members of our Air Force and Navy was followed by the tragic loss of the Snowbirds’ Public Affairs Officer, Captain Jenn Casey and injuries to Captain Rich MacDougall, Snowbird 11, on May 17 in Kamloops. On behalf of all the members of the CAHS, I have sent sympathy cards to Colonel Ron Walker, CD, Commander of 15 Wing, CFB Moose Jaw and Lieutenant-Colonel Mike French, Commanding Officer, 431 (AD) Squadron, 15 Wing, CFB Moose Jaw. Although we celebrate the rich history of Canadian aviation, we also stand with our military in times of tragic loss of those who defend our Canadian way of life and freedoms.

Gary Williams
National President
CAHS

CAHS National Annual General Meeting

The CAHS National Annual General Meeting will take place by Zoom video conference, on Saturday 20 June at 5 pm CDT. All CAHS national members are eligible to attend. A notice of AGM will be sent to the membership soon.

CAHS Membership Renewal and Donations

Good Day CAHS Members,

We here at the CAHS hope that this message finds you well and able to stay safe during this very uncertain time. Hopefully, the slowdown in daily activities has meant you can take more time for yourself, reconnect with friends and family, and perhaps even read more!

Our work at the CAHS has not slowed down. Our editor and editorial committee are using their extra time during the COVID-19 pandemic to try to make some significant progress on catching up on our Journal production delay. Our editorial team, printers, and mailing house were able to get two Journals out just as the national quarantine began to happen. We trust that these Journals have arrived safely by now.

If you needed to renew your membership, we included a renewal form and noted your expiry date at the top of the President’s letter. We have also been able to send out renewal reminders by email to many of you (email reminders for a 2019 expiry date still to come). We have found that renewals since the last two Journals went out in March have been coming in slower than usual. Perhaps this is because people have been shut in due to the quarantine and have not been able to get stamps or travel to the Post Office? You can renew online (paying with your credit card or Paypal) at the following link: www.cahs.com/membership

As a charity, we are not-for-profit, so our membership and donation income is very important for our being able to have enough money in the bank to keep up with our monthly and quarterly bills. We need our members who still need to renew for 2018, 2019, and 2020 to do so in a timely fashion. Even when people are behind in renewing for a year or more, the CAHS still has had 100% of its operating costs for 2018, and 2019, and even now in 2020. Perpetual costs include maintaining and expanding our website; producing, printing, and mailing out the CAHS Journal; mandatory insurance policies; website domain and maintenance; and fees for the preparation of our annual audit and CRA submissions. This year, we will not have extra income from the convention or our convention merchandise fundraiser. Not having your renewal money means we have been dipping into the cash float we try to keep as a cushion in our bank account.

Donations are also an important part of our funding streams, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could consider donating to the CAHS to help us maintain our bills, website, and Journal production. You can donate online (paying with your credit card or Paypal) at the following link: www.cahs.com/donations

If you would prefer to mail a cheque or credit card number for your renewal or donation, you could can download the PDF version of the membership form here or the donation form here. If you choose to mail your renewal, we ask that you email our treasurer (Rachel Heide) for her home address. Due to the stay-at-home / no non-essential travel policies/recommendations, our treasurer is not checking the CAHS Post Office Box as often as before, so mailing to her home address will ensure quicker processing of your renewal.

If you would like to check on your membership expiry date or record of past payments, please feel free to email our treasurer, and she would be happy to update you on you.

Cordially Yours,
The CAHS Executive

CAHS Journal Material Available to Order Online

Life has slowed down for many of us due to the quarantine measures to slow the pandemic. Perhaps you have more time to read now? Were you aware that you can not only purchase hard copy past issues of the CAHS Journal, but you can also purchase a variety of reading material from the CAHS that will be delivered to your email instantaneously as a link to a PDF copy you can download?

For example,

PDF copy Journals from 2010 to 2018 can be ordered here

PDF copy of CAHS Journal Article Series Compendia can be ordered here (browse to see the 13 options)

PDF copy of individual CAHS Journal articles can be ordered here (browse to see the 147 options)

Hard copy Journals from 2010 to 2018 can be ordered here

Hard copy Journals from 1963 to 2009 can be ordered here

Researching a particular topic? You can use the CAHS.com website's search function to quickly find any article for which you might already know the article title or author's name. Just click on the little magnifying glass icon at the top of any page on the site, type in your search terms, and hit enter to see the results.

We hope that you find something interesting in our inventory to order and enjoy!

Manitoba Chapter Zoom Meeting

Last month the Manitoba Chapter held their first successful Zoom meeting. If you missed the meeting, you can view the 1 hour 15 minute video here. (This is the trial run but it's the same material.)

This month they will hold their meeting by Zoom once again on May 28, and all CAHS members are invited. Their speaker this month is their chapter secretary, Bill Zuk. Bill will speak about the liberation of the Netherlands and Operation Manna. It's the 75^th anniversary of these significant events. More information about Bill's presentation is below. You must register to attend the meeting using the form at www.bit.ly/CAHS-MB.

Liberation Holland 75

by Bill Zuk

In April 1945, the Canadian Army was given a daunting order: liberate Holland. After advancing through the northern salient, the Canadians faced 120,000 well-armed enemy soldiers cut off in the western part of the country.

Allied forces would not conquer the remaining Nazi-held area without terrible losses, yet the problem remained of how to help the 3.5 million starving Dutch citizens suffering in the "Hunger Winter".

Read more

Four Degrees Celsius: A Story of Arctic Peril

Kerry Karram has kindly arranged with her publisher (Dundurn) for the CAHS to be able to sell her book Four Degrees Celsius: A Story of Arctic Peril as a fund-raiser for the CAHS at a discounted rate for the buyer. Retail price online and at your local bookstore is $22.99 plus GST. The CAHS is offering this book for sale at $18.00 (GST included) plus $6.00 shipping per copy in Canada.

Kerry was inspired by her grandfather Andy Cruickshank’s diary to tell the story of the 1929 Arctic search and rescue efforts to save eight prospectors of the Dominion Explorers lead by C.D.H. MacAlpine. Grossly under-equipped, the expedition ran out of fuel and was stranded above the Arctic Circle. Within days, Western Canada Airways sent a rescue team headed by Captain Andy Cruickshank, in what was to become the most extensive aviation search in Canadian history. The searchers encountered trouble: turbulent weather, forced landings, and plane crashes. The prospectors were also struggling, as they waited edgily for freeze-up and the anticipated crossing to Cambridge Bay. While Cruickshank and his team were trying to reconstruct a damaged aircraft, MacAlpine and his men were forced to run more than 112 kilometres on barely frozen ice to arrive at Cambridge Bay, where they still awaited rescue.

Limited time offer –
Please place your orders by 1 June 2020

C-54 Skymaster “Spirit of Freedom”
damage estimated near $225,000 US

Story and photos by Gord McNulty
CAHS Vice President

 

Ready to roll. The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54 at EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI, in 2007.

Aviation enthusiasts were dismayed when the prized Douglas C-54 Skymaster “Spirit of Freedom” of the Berlin Airlift Historical Association was heavily damaged by a tornado that struck South Carolina on April 13. The cost of repairs to this famous aircraft, previously flown by the Toronto-based Millardair cargo service as a DC-4, is estimated at $175,000 to $225,000 US and possibly more.

The C-54 was parked at a regional airport in Walterboro, SC, where it has been since Dec. 18 for the installation of a new transponder to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration mandate. The tornado hit about 6:50 a.m., picking up the aircraft and moving it 160 yards, where it landed on top of a hangar.

The “Spirit of Freedom,” invariably a leading attraction at aviation events in North America, has a rich history. It has been flown to air shows in Canada. A genuine veteran of the Berlin Airlift, C-54E S/N 27370 was originally delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945. It was then among 25 C-54Es transferred to the U.S. Navy Air Transport Service and redesignated as R5D-4s.

Serving with Squadron VR-3, it was assigned to the Berlin Airlift, making transatlantic flights from the U.S. to Germany in support of two Navy squadrons. Then it flew with the U.S. Marines, as 90414, in cargo and personnel transport and finally VIP service. In fact, 90414 is pictured in 1957 to illustrate the R5D in a graphic history, U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959, by William T. Larkins.

After the C-54 was retired from military service, Carl Millard (CAHS #2792) of Millardair acquired it in April 1978. Registered C-GQIB, it was named “The Skytrader,” and was used to ferry auto parts between Toronto and Detroit for the next 12 years. Carl purchased a total of eight Skymasters, designated DC-4s in the attractive predominately white Millardair paint scheme. The impressive fleet included DC-3s, Beech 18s, and more. (Air Transport in Canada, Vol. 2, by Larry Milberry, covers the fascinating Millardair story).

Tim Chopp, founder and president of the BAHF, located S/N 27370 in Canada in 1992 after a four-year search. Purchased for $125,000, it was ferried to the BAHF base in New Jersey in mid-1993 and painted in a scheme similar to that of the 48^th Troop Carrier Squadron, one of the groups in the airlift.

The BAHF then displayed the aircraft as “a living, breathing flying exhibit,” commemorating the great Berlin Airlift of 1948-49. A total of 101 fatalities were recorded, including 40 Britons and 31 Americans. Twenty-five crashes occurred, including 17 American and eight British aircraft. Some 330 C-54s were part of the operation.

The “Spirit” houses a full-fledged museum exhibit filled with artifacts, photos, a computer animated tour guide and other Airlift related items. It has told the story for more than 25 years and completed a 70-day European Tour in May 1998 to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Airlift.

The Foundation has an excellent website (www.spiritoffreedom.org/c54.html). A fundraising campaign to help repair the C-54 is now under way. Donations can be made by consulting the website.

Up and away. The C-54 Skymaster “Spirit of Freedom” made an impression at EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, in 2007.

Canadian International Air Show
Online event in 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately led to cancellation of the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS.org) on Labour Day weekend at the Toronto waterfront this year. Organizers plan to substitute an online event, Sept. 5-7, providing a different way to see favourite performers and watch behind-the-scenes activities.

The CIAS program this year would have been highlighted by the Snowbirds, the CF-18 Demo Team, and the striking P-51D Mustang “Quick Silver” (quicksilvermustang.com) among others. Quick Silver, the dream of father and son team Bill and Scott “Scooter” Yoak, was built with parts salvaged from Mustangs all over the world. It contains parts from at least 200 Mustangs and is a tribute to veterans.

Bill Yoak, of Lewisburg, West Virginia, was a master craftsman who did all of the metal work. He died in 2013, at 67, after battling cancer for several years but his legacy lives on. Excellent YouTube videos of Scott demonstrating Quick Silver in aerobatic displays across North America are worth checking out.

“Last of the Maple Leaf Lancs”

featured in May 2020 Air Classics

A well-illustrated four-page cover article, plus centrespead, on the Canadian-built Lancaster Xs that served in multiple roles in the RCAF after the Second World War was published in the May issue of Air Classics. The article features vintage colour photographs and a brief description of the variants. FM207, a photo reconnaissance Lancaster 10P, appears on the cover and in the centrespread.

WALKING for 101 blocks for the Columbia Valley Food Bank

Royal Canadian Air Force veteran Jim Ashworth of Invermere, British Columbia, now 101 years old, is WALKING for 101 blocks to raise money for the local Columbia Valley Food Bank!

Please share this far and wide, especially if you have any media contacts! This high-resolution photo was distributed by the food bank.

Donate to Jim's project herehere.

Read about his wartime exploits flying a Hurricane over Burma here.

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 May are:

Question: Which bomber replaced the Blenheim IVs in 1941 and significantly augmented the Bomber Command’s day bomber fleet?

Answer: “Because of their limited bomb capacity, the Blenheims were frequently unable to do significant damage. In the spring of 1941, however, the Douglas Boston III, which at 2000 pounds capacity could carry double the internal bomb load of the Blenheim, began to significantly augment bomber command’s day bomber fleet. It provided an improvement to the admittedly small RAF daylight bombing thrust.”

Source: NO PROUDER PLACE – Page 44

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Question: What threat did 8 squadron try to minimize by sending two still-unarmed Northup Delta float planes on a week-long circumnavigation of Newfoundland on 4 September 1939? Please note that this same threat had so worried the Canadian government during the First world War and again since the mid-1930s.

Answer: “Even with these meager facilities, Sydney was the only principal naval base other than Halifax on Canada’s Atlantic coast. The Cape Breton port was the bastion for the defence of not only the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but also Newfoundland. Feeble as the Canadian resources were, they were more substantial than the British or bankrupt Newfoundland (still a colony separate from Canada) could provide. One of the first missions of the newly arrived 8 squadron was, on 4 September 1939, to dispatch two of its still-unarmed Northrup Delta float planes on a week-long circumnavigation of the vast island. Admiral Meyrick in Bermuda requested the reconnaissance to ensure that the Germans had not, in anticipation of the outbreak of war with Britain, pre-positioned submarines or surface warships, or vessels to refuel and supply them, in any of Newfoundland’s numerous isolated bays. This, of course, was the threat that had so worried the Canadian government during the First World War and again since the mid-1930s.”

Source: War In The St. Lawrence – Page 24, 25

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Question: What was the average life expectancy of a pilot in 1916? What was the name of one of the 20,000 Canadians who served in the RFC or the Royal Naval Air Service and went on to be a prominent Canadian politician?

Answer: “The average life expectancy of a pilot in 1916 was three weeks. In all 20,000 Canadians served in the RFC or the Royal Naval air Service, including former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.”

Source: The Nova Scotia International Tattoo 1999– Page 14

Aircraft collector Al Rubin
was a CAHS Life Member

Canada’s aviation community lost a colourful and unique personality when Allan Aubrey Rubin, better known as Al by all those who knew him, passed away at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre on May 18. He was 81.

Al was the President of International Vintage Aircraft Inc. at Markham Airport, north-east of Toronto. He accumulated a collection of RCAF aircraft exemplified by the CF-104 Starfighter, CF-5 Freedom Fighter, Canadair Sabre, CT-133 Silver Star and de Havilland Vampire, along with parts and memorabilia. Other than family, aviation and photography were Al’s passions.

Al was operator/partner of the Markham Airport for decades and had hoped to expand it, as well as establishing a permanent museum to house all of the military artifacts. Markham was his second home.

Al’s affection for aviation began when a school friend’s father took him for a ride in a Tiger Moth. He enlisted in the RCAF at age 18 and was posted overseas as a photographer. His service mainly involved work with camera systems on RCAF jets like the Sabre, CT-133 and CF-100 with NATO in Europe. He also flew in operations with the USAF photo reconnaissance units while stationed in Europe.

Al left the RCAF in 1962 and returned to Canada. He quickly found work at the photo engineering department of Ontario Research Foundation and later went into advertising, real estate marketing and eventually land development. He became involved in groups like the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum before setting up on his own.

Al joined CAHS as No. 3431 in 1987 and became a Life Member at that time. In 2009, Al acquired a CF-100, RCAF 18506, that had been on display at 447 Wing RCAFA in Hamilton since 1982. In return for the aircraft, originally built as a Mk 4 and then converted as a Mk 5 for electronic warfare training, Al was instrumental in covering the Wing’s rent for a year as it moved to a new home.

As his obituary stated: “He was always on the go and ready to lend a helping hand. His constant smile and joyous laugh will be greatly missed by all.”

Al was a visionary who aimed for the stars as it were. While the feasibility of some of his aspirations could be questioned, there wasn’t any question about his appreciation for, and knowledge of, the heritage and history of the RCAF. In his own way, he left his mark on the aviation world.

Al was a proud veteran of General Wingate Branch No. 256 of the Royal Canadian Legion, founded by Jewish Canadian military veterans, and president of the Jewish Canadian War Veterans Memorial Park Cemetery at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Memorial Park.

Al was the beloved husband of Lorraine (nee Swadron) for 60 years and a devoted father to his children. A private family service was held on May 19.

(files from Ken Swartz, Sheldon Benner and Gord McNulty)

Avro Canada CF-100 RCAF 18506 at Hamilton International Airport after its purchase by Al Rubin in 2009. (Gord McNulty)

Harry Hardy

May 30, 1922 - May 21, 2020

The CAHS is sad to learn of the death of Harry Hardy, DFC. Hardy was formerly of 440 Squadron RCAF and pilot ot the famous Pulveriser, a Typhoon in the Second World War.

To read more about the life of Harry Hardy, please click here.

 

Sadly three members of the Turnbull Chapter have passed since our last newsletter. We extend to their families our condolences. The members were Everett McQuinn (Member #20), Frank Gale (Member #180) and Bernard Hargrove (Member #271).

Frank Gilbert Gale 1925-2019: Frank, age 94, born April 3, 1925, passed away on October 5, 2019 in Fredericton. He is survived by his sons David (Maria) of Coquitlam, BC, and Stephen (Debra) of Kelowna, BC, and grandchildren Olivia and Simon; also survived by brother Royce of Sherbrooke, QC, and Philip of Hudson, QC, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his wife Ann (Turner) and by his parents Royce and Doris Gale of Waterville, QC.

Frank served in the RCAF in the Second World War (Flight Engineer - Halifax Bomber). He then became a helicopter pilot and flew with Universal Helicopters and the Canadian Coast Guard in Newfoundland. Frank was a radio "Ham" operator for over 65 years, an aircraft modeller and a long-time member of COPA.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no service or visitation by request. A private interment will follow at a later date in the Gale family plot in the Greenwood Cemetery in Waterville, QC. Donations in Frank's memory may be made to the Ottawa General Hospital in Ottawa, ON, St. Paul’s United Church in Fredericton or to a charity of your choice.

Everett Clifford McQuinn 1931-2019: Ev McQuinn, a local aviation and locomotive historian, went Home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve. Ev was born in Moncton to Rowena Alfreda (Duffy) and Ira Clifford “Ted” McQuinn. He was a dedicated, Godly man who was devoted to his Maker and to his family. He is in Heaven now with his beloved grandson, his parents, and sister.

A long-time resident of Riverview, he grew up in Bridgedale and was always proud of his Albert County heritage. He spent his idyllic boyhood summers working on the Duffy farm in Lower Coverdale with his Uncle Bill, on the property that has been in the Duffy family since 1827. He is a descendant of several early families in the area including the lines of Duffy, Jonah, Lutz, Proctor, Peck, Stieff, and Somers. He was extremely proud of his Irish roots. Ev was instrumental in the dedication and placement of a marble tombstone on the grave of his great-grandfather, William McQuinn, a Civil War veteran, who is buried in Sackville. A military re-enactment ceremony was held there in 2004. Everett was a well-known, well-loved salesman in the area. His career began with Swift Canadian Company in Newcastle before he was transferred back to Moncton, and it continued with Hub Meat Packers until his retirement. He won several top salesman achievement awards and was well-known for his honesty and outgoing personality. It was impossible to go somewhere with Dad without him running into a former customer and friend.

Ev leaves behind his loving, dedicated wife, Noreen (nee Cripps), daughter Judy Seeley (Tom) of Moncton, and son, David (Heather) of Fredericton. He was always so proud of his children, and they are devastated by his loss.

Ev belonged to the Moncton Gospel Hall and previously was a member and deacon of Emmanuel Baptist Church. He was an executive member of the New Brunswick Chapter of the Canadian Warplanes Heritage Association, a member of the Turnbull (NB) Chapter, Canadian Aviation Historical Society, the Monarchist League of Canada, and a past member of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association. He was the Director who managed the Chapter’s Don McClure Aviation Gallery. He and his longtime friend, Don McClure, worked countless hours to create and assemble an aviation exhibit at the Greater Moncton International Airport so that a legacy of Moncton’s Passing of Members aviation history would be left for future generations to share.

Bernard John Hargrove1924-2019: Bernard, age 95, of Bath passed away at the River View Manor on December 22. Bernard was born on January 13, 1924 in Mineral, NB, a rural and close-knit farming community outside of Bath. He was the loving son of John and Fronie (MacDougall) and the last surviving sibling to brothers Russell, Basil, Burt, Vernon and sisters Flora, Mary, Avis and Mabel. His brothers Burt and Basil were killed overseas during the Second War. Burt was with New Brunswick’s Carleton & York Regiment. He died during the Sicily invasion in 1943 when his transport ship was sunk. Burt is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial in Italy. His brother Basil joined the RCAF and was lost on December 31, 1942. Basil served as a bomb aimer on a Lancaster with 83 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

Bernard was a graduate of Bath High School in 1941, Teachers College in Fredericton in 1942 and the University of New Brunswick in 1946,where he completed his degree in Electrical Engineering. Bernard married the love of his life, Polly, in 1946 and they enjoyed 68 wonderful years of marriage until her death in 2015. Together, they lovingly brought 12 children into their family. Bernard enjoyed a long and successful career as an Electrical Engineer. He worked in Montreal for two years for the Bell Telephone Co. and then returned to Bath to start an electrical sales, service and contracting business. Over the years, while Bernard was helping bring power to residents and businesses throughout the rural community, Polly was busy raising children and selling the first GE household appliances and snowmobiles to the area. In 1960 Bernard and Polly began developing a private hydro-electric dam and generating station on the Monquart stream in Bath. They interconnected the generating station with NB Power in 1979 and Bernard continued to work on his labour of love until a short time before his passing. They were pioneers in the renewable energy business in NB. Bernard was a gifted engineer and, with Polly’s help, he was Page 8 CONTACT able to bring his vision to life. Bernard very much enjoyed the outdoors – hunting and fishing and being surrounded by nature. He loved music and had a knack for playing many instruments by ear, including the fiddle, harmonica and guitar. He and Polly enjoyed hosting “sings” at their home with large crowds of family, friends and neighbours. Bernard was also somewhat famous among his family and friends for his long and detailed stories about his many interesting adventures, experiences and near-escapes. He was known by some as “Sparky” for his remarkable ability to solve any electrical problem.

Bernard is survived by daughter Jennifer (Bill) Oakes of Fredericton; son Basil of Melbourne, Australia; son Garfield (Sandra) of Bath; son Hilery of Plaster Rock; daughter Jaye of Bath; son Larry (Anna) of Toronto; son Jeff (Rose Lee) of Bath; son Darren (Tamara) of Saint John; daughter Heidi (Dave) of Bath; and daughter Jill (Richard) Niedermayer of Halifax. Bernard was predeceased by his infant daughter Cheryl Lynne in 1961and eldest son Gregor in 2008. Bernard will also be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his 21 grandchildren. Bernard also leaves behind 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Bernard’s funeral service was held at L.R. Giberson Funeral Home in Florenceville-Bristol on December 29. Burial was in the Pine Tree Cemetery, Bath.

These obituaries had minor editing to allow for space considerations.