T H E

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VOL. 14, NO. 9 NOVEMBER 1962

f:: '. - .
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 T H E

Published on the authority of the Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Canadian Air Force

VOL. 14, NO. 9 NOVEMBER 1962

page THE ROUNDEL is published ten times each year. Annual

subscription rate is $2.00 in Canada, U.S.A. cnrl Mexico,
ARTICLES $3.25 elsewhere. Orders should be sent direct to the
Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ont. RCAF Associal» rrespond-
Alouette in Orbit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ence should be mailed to Ass'n Hdqts., 42' '\atcalfe St,
Ottawa, Ont.
Canada's First Air Training Plan Part One. . . . . . . . . 7 Contributions and all other correspond;,:• . ould be a cf.
Operation Charlie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 dressed lo:
Editor, THE ROUNDEL,
Operation John Cabot........................... 22
RCAF Victoria Island,
Ottawa, Ont.

PICTURE STORY

Canada On Parade at the World's Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . 2

FEATURETTES

Linguistic Legend.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
What, No Runway?............................. 19
Central Band in Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Air Force College Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Starfighters Now In Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
One of a Kind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Totem Poles Unlimited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 THIS MONTH'S COVER
An RCAF bugler, silhouetted against the sky in
a military cemetery near Ottawa, embodies the
DEPARTMENTS spirit of remembrance with which Canadians in
every town and village of Canada will mark
On the Break. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l 11 November. Local ceremonies across the land
will commemorate those who made the supreme
RCAF Association (12th Annual Convention)......
Letters to the Editor..···········-·-··········-.
On the Tui,ne .
26
32 L
Views e:
acrifice for their country in the two great wars
for freedom.

are those of the writers

9'Yreflect the official
Aircraft Album...··············%...Inside back

Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa.

! J-epoUTEDLY many of our United States neighbours the least-known of all places in Canada where RCAF
·ave become much more conscious of Canada's armed personnel are serving, and, finally, it's the one location
vices and defence research capabilities this fall than where you can be sure of a bumper crop of snow every
• y ever were before. A few weeks before the 1962 winter.
ecrld's Fair closed its six-month run last month a All this is one way of saying that things haven't
lti-service presentation highlighted Canada Week changed very much at Torbay. "Operation John Cabot,
i. Seattle (page 2). As a result, the fair's attendance by A/C M. P. Martyn (page 22) gives an eye-witness
{igures increased tremendously and the reputation of account of how Torbay became an RCAF station in
our navy, army, air force and RCMP did likewise. November I 941. Air Commodore Martyn now serves
Meantime, also on the west coast, preparations were as chief of personnel at AFHQ.
being completed for the launching of Canada's first Nowadays No. 107 Rescue
satellite, the Alouette. Its successful firing into orbit Unit at Torbay is involved in
on 29 September (page 4) brought high praise for DRB the same type of work as
scientists from US authorities and opened a new phase described in "Operation Char-
in man's investigations of outer space. lie" (page 15) by Sgt. P. N.
Ellis of RCAF Station Winni-
peg. To Sgt. Ellis, an air traffic
() page 7 we present the first part of a new serial control assistant, being in-
giving long-overdue publicity to an important but volved with searchers for miss-
virtually unknown chapter in Canada's aviation history. ing aircraft or lost hunters, is
"Canada's First Air Training Plan" is a story THE part of his job. In this hypo-
ROUNDEL has been eager to thetical story he gives a new
publish for years, and comes insight into this humanitarian
now only after long research role, and incidentally, pays deserved credit to the volun-
by Mr. R. V. Dodds of the air teers who make up the RCAF's land search parties
historian's staff. across Canada.
A World War II Mosquito
observer, Mr. Dodds became
the RCAF's director of public j'ALLY, we must comment on the 12th annual con-
relations in 1945, then did a vention of the RCAF Association (page 26) whose
tour as staff officer public re- meeting in Halifax more than lived up to expectations,
lations at No. 1 Air Div. HQ., even though it rained for the four days. Cheer up,
Metz, before joining the his- delegates, next year we'll see you in Vancouver where
torical section. the sun shines all the time.

3er Station Torbay, which comes of age" this

month, is probably unique in several ways among
RCAF establishments. For one thing, it's the most
easterly Canadian station in the RCAF; it's probably Editor.

NOVEMBER 1962
 On Parade
orld's Fair

Above: The RCAF Golden Hawks, camouflaged by the Below: The 100-piece "Band of the RCAF", conducted by
buildings at the Seattle World's Fair, take a close look S/L C. 0. Hunt, packed the 3000-seat Opera House at the
at the space needle. The Hawks gave seven shows over World's Fair for five afternoon concerts. They also provided
Lake Washington during Canada Week, witnessed by a marching and static unit for the evening tattoos. RCAF
hundreds of thousands. Sand Point Naval Air Station was Stn. Rockcliffe pipe band won the hearts of fair visitors in
their home for the week. these events as well.
s@: Space needle-view of the illuminated RCN de- Below: 650 men of the Navy, Army, Air Force and RCMP
siroyer-escorts from the 2nd Canadian Escort Sqn. of assembled for the finale to the Canadian Tattoo, which
Pacific Command, Esquimalt. The ships were anchored in drew capacity audiences each night. The combined services'
Seattle Harbour and held "open house" during Canada tattoo, described as "the biggest thing to hit the World's
Week. The Navy also participated in the evening tattoos Fair," was performed against a background replica of the
at the fairgrounds. Citadel of old Quebec.
 ALOUETT
Photos by Mr. C • R » y O

']' Alouette, Canada's first satel-

lite and the first satellite completely
designed and built by a nation other
than the US or the USSR, is living
up to expectations.
Launched from Vandenburg Air
Force Base in California, on 29
September, Alouette is t l·metering
back scientific inform:'on as it
orbits the earth approxi>ly every
J 05 minutes at an altitn· · :,· roughly
600 miles.
The Defence Resew. Board-
designed and built z.% ette is
primarily concerned wifo five ex-
periments:
■ probing the ionosphere below the
satellite to measure the changing
number of electrons in the iono-
sphere;
■ measuring galactic or radio noise
that appears to originate in outer
space;
■ measuring radio noise produced
within the ionosphere itself;
■ observing cosmic rays;
investigating artificial radiation
field created in space by recent
nuclear tests.
In addition to Alouette being a
"first" for Canada, it is also record-
ing a few firsts for the US's National
Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion. This was the first occasion that
NASA successfully accomplished an
orbit from a west coast launch site
and its first use of the Thor-Agena B
vehicle.
The Canadian scientists respon-
sible for the Alouette project, which
is part of the international Top Side
Sounder Program, are concerned
primarily with the upper regions of
the ionosphere above Canada's high
latitudes. Some of the radiation
directed from the sun towards the

THE ROUNDEL
 N ORBIT
±fence Research Board

earth is absorbed in the ionosphere

which exists approximately 50 to
250 miles above the earth. During
this absorption process, heat is
produced and neutral air particles
split into electrically-charged ions
and electrons. They create, in effect,
an electrical conductor with the
ability to reflect waves from radio
t1alters to receivers.
".81 the ionosphere becomes Two members of DRB's Telecommunications Establishment, near Ottawa, discuss
c;'r following solar storms or the Alouette (I. to r.): Dr. C. franklin and Dr. J. Barry.
cc¢ phenomena associated with
i.2 ct, its reflecting properties les- which produce abrupt and simul- stations. The world-wide locations
sen or disappear temporarily. Con- taneous radio fadeout throughout of the telemetry stations which are
scqaenatly, radio communications the hemisphere, and which may last collecting data further emphasizes
are disrupted, sometimes for lengthy from 10 minutes to an hour. Polar the international flavour of the
periods. Hence, the deep interest of blackouts, however, are more gradu- project. Three stations were con-
Canadian scientists in studying the al in their beginning and recovery structed in Canada by DRB and are
upper atmosphere in order to find and last for substantially longer manned by Canadian personnel.
methods of overcoming the effects of periods sometimes continuously Two stations, one at Singapore and
ionospheric disturbances. An un- during the daylight hours for several the other in the South Atlantic, are
usual feature of the polar and sub- consecutive days. operated by Great Britain. Eight of
polar ionosphere stems from season- In addition to its scientific value, NASA's Minitrack stations are also
al variations of the polar atmos- the increased knowledge of the tracking and recording data.
phere's solar illumination - con- ionosphere is directly applicable to While Alouette's long antennae
tinuous daylight in summer and communications and tracking ap- are sounding the top levels of the
continuous night during the winter. plications. Information from Alou- ionosphere from above, the lower
A second feature of the ionosphere ette should enable scientists to pre- layers are being sounded at various
at high latitudes involves effects on dict the radio frequencies to be used locations by ground-based equip-
ionization created by charged solar so that long distance communica- ment. Comparisons of the topside
particles which apparently cause the tions will not be interrupted. and bottomside results will help to
auroral zones. Design and construction of the establish the relationship sought by
Perhaps the worst ionospheric spacecraft was carried out by Cana- scientists.
condition, from the standpoint of da's DRB with assistance from Data collected by the telemetry
communications, is the so-called Canadian industry and NASA's stations are being forwarded to
"polar blackout". During such oc- Goddard Space Flight Center. A DRB's Telecommunication Estab-
currences, reflections cannot be ob- fabrication technique, originated in lishment, at Shirley Bay near Ot-
tained from the ionosphere within Canada, gives the spacecraft a tawa, for reduction and analysis at
the frequency range of ground-based unique feature a 150-foot radio a recently-established analysis centre.
ionosphere recorders. The effect on antenna which is believed to be the The scientific information obtained
communications is a complete cessa- longest to date in a space vehicle. will apply directly to radio com-
tion of radio sky-wave transmis- Scientific data from the Alouette munications and will be forwarded
sions at high frequencies. are being obtained at 13 ground to world data centres, where it will
This phenomenon is similar to the be freely available to scientists of all
THE ROUNDEL, Vol. 12, NO. 6
"sudden ionosphere disturbances" Jul.-Aug. 60. nations.

NOVEMBER 1962 5
 For its part in this Canadian
acheI . vement » the RCAF::
contributed f ·&
an airlift and communications tacil-
·t· s Test models of. the Alouette
1ues. f
were flown to Washington or test-
ing and later to Vandenburg for the
actual firing. Equipment was flown
' ~. to Resolute Bay where a tracking
station was being set up and DRB
personnel and equipment were air-
?& lifted to Vandenburg in preparation
for launching of the satellite. In the
443 telecommunications field, the RCAF
extended its network from the Com-
munications Control Headquarters
at RCAF Station Rockclie to the
DRB facilities at Shirleyy. This
hookup permitted DRB :: ientists
to communicate direct]~• · . ·. · , their
research laboratory at Pri:-- ·· . .i:.!bert,
their tracking station a'. · :solute
In a Defence Research Board laboratory, cameras which will be used for repro- Bay and with their Arr,r: .. -:.,n col-
ducing Alouette's scientific data on films, are tested (I. to r.): engineer E. A. leagues throughout the U:~ via the
Walker and technician R. Sigston. RCAF's relay network to Washing-
ton.
Mr. J. E. Jackson, speaking for
the American scientists of NASA,
says that Canada's satellite knowl-
edge now matches that of the US.
He said, Alouette is not a 'me-too'
experiment but quite a daring ven-
ture in a new field. With the success-
ful launching of Alouette, Canada
has achieved world leadership in
this area."
The name Alouette comes from a
high-flying songbird of the lark
family which inhabits most of
Canada. The Alouette produced by
DRB is flying high, indeed, and its
song is doubly sweet as it heralds
Canada's entry into the space age.
O

In this diagram (left) DRB's ground

based equipment examines the iono-
sphere's "F" layer; (centre) Alouette
telemeters scientific data to a receiving
station;(right) a DRS instrumented rocket
nose cone telemeters information from
the "E" layer to a ground station.

THE ROUNDEL
 The Royal Flying Corps held its first Canadian church parade in Toronto in April 1917,

ANADA'S FIRST AIR TRAINING PLAN

By MR. R. V. DODDS,
Air Historical Section

FIRST OF FOUR PARTS

To most Canadians World War II, $40,000,000 and on Armistice Day

with its famed British Common- personnel strength, including staff
wealth Air Training Plan, probably members, instructors and trainees,
represents Canada's first experience was just under 12,000.
with the mass training of pilots and The young warbirds their aver-
other aircrew. Yet before many of age age was 22 were produced at
the trainees of the BCA TP were a time when they were badly needed
even born, Canadian pilots and ob- overseas. The plan's graduates in-
servers were winning their wings in a cluded such illustrious names as
large-scale flying training scheme Maclaren, Claxton, and McLeod,
operated in the Dominion. the last-named being one of the
The training scheme was set up three Canadian aerial VC winners
and operated by the British Royal of the war.
Flying Corps (after 1 April 1918, An aircraft factory, Canadian
the Royal Air Force) at schools Aeroplanes Limited, was closely
and fields built in southern Ontario, associated with the training plan.
and produced 3,272 pilots and ob- Established in Toronto, the plant
servers, most of them Canadian. produced more than 2,900 machines
By the end of World War I 9,200 during the last two years of the war,
cadets had been enlisted for training including most of the JN-4 trainers
and the schools were turning out Brigadier-General C. G. Hoare, CMG, used by the RFC Canada flying
more than 280 pilots and observers General Officer Commanding, Royal schools.
a month. The plan cost almost Air Force, Canada. Although a project of the British

NOVEMBER 1962 7
 well-represented in the Royal Naval
Air Service and the Royal Flying
C orpS, blit for the first two years of
the war it was not an easy and
t ightforward· matter
sira · · h
for a Cana-
f ti
dian youth to join either ot he two
British flying services as a pilot.
Some of the Canadian flyers had
gone overseas as members of the
Canadian Expeditionary Force and
had then been able to transfer to the
RFC or RNAS, winning their wings
at service flying schools abroad.
Others had joined one of the two
flying services through recruiting
carried out in Canada d:» ig 1915-
16, although a prerequis as that
a Canadian recruit mi' ave al-
ready obtained his pilo .ificate,
at his own expense, © private
A group of fledgling pilots ot the civilian flying school in Toronto, 1916. Second flying school. Assuming : he was
from right is Wilfred Curtis (later, A/M Curtis, CB, CBE, DSC, and Chief of the acceptable on other gro... ' such a
Air Staff RCAF 1947-1953). recruit was then sent ov.:cas for
military flying training. '3ic RNAS
government, the training plan de- The decision to establish training relaxed this rule at an eariier date,
pended to a large degree on official facilities in Canada followed two but it was not until August 1916 that
Canadian assistance, as did the as- overseas developments. The RFC the RFC changed its policy. Postwar
sociated aircraft plant. The Cana- was heavily engaged in the bitter figures indicate that up to the be-
dian government provided land and and prolonged Battle of the Somme ginning of 1917 fewer than 900
many facilities in connection with during the latter part of 1916 and cadets and officers were sent to
flying fields and schools, and a great suffered its heaviest casualties since Britain for pilot training with the
deal of continuing help was given the beginning of the war. Late in RFC or RNAS as the result of the
by the Canadian Militia. Canada the year the British government limited British recruiting in Canada.
gave financial aid in creation of the authorized a large expansion in the The majority were recruited by the
aircraft plant, and its staff was size of the RFC, adding to the RNAS, and the total includes trans-
Canadian. requirement for more pilots. fers from the Canadian forces in
The staff of the training schools Canada was selected because of a Canada as well as civilian recruits.
became preponderantly Canadian, variety of factors and conditions.
through feeding back pilot gradu- Compared with the other Dominions THE PRIVATE FL YING SCHOOLS
ates, secondments of Canadian Mili- Canada was relatively close to Some privately - operated flying
tia officers, attachment of Canadians Britain, and material, supplies and schools were opened in Canada to
having flown with the RFC in transport facilities were all available, provide instruction for those wish-
France, and enlistments of ground as was skilled and unskilled man- ing to join one of the British flying
personnel. power, at least to a larger degree services. Only one of these, the
One facet of the training antici- than in Britain. A large reservoir of Curtiss school in Toronto, was a real
pated by more than 30 years the pilot material existed in Canada in flying school on a firm basis.
RCAF's NATO Training of the the form of thousands of young The Curtiss school was opened in
1950s. Under an agreement with the Canadians who wanted to fly. An- May 1915 by the Curtiss Aero-
United States Signal Corps, the other factor, and probably an im- planes and Motors Limited of
RFC trained American flying and portant one, was the remarkable Toronto, whose managing director
ground personnel and in return was flair that Canadians had shown for was J. A. D. McCurdv of Silver Dart
provided with facilities in Texas to the newly-developed art of aerial fame. Associated with the Curtiss
enable continuance of flying train- warfare. Aeroplane Company in the United
ing through the winter of 1917-18. By the end of 1916 Canada was States, the firm represented Canada's
8 THE ROUNDEL
first aircraft factory and first proper
flying school. The aircraft plant
produced planes for the British
Admiralty and built most of the
machines that its associated flying
school used, in addition to doing
sub-contracting work for the Curtiss
company in the United States.
The school's first flying was done
on a pair of Curtiss flying boats
brought in from the United States,
and which operated from Hanlan's
Point, on one of the islands in
Toronto harbour. Land operations
were later started at Long Branch,
on the Toronto outskirts, on JN-3
trainers built by the company's
Toronto plant. With a break during
the winter of 1915-16, the school
operated through the summer of
1016 and produced 129 graduates. The Curtiss Flying School in Toronto (a civilian organization) began operations
Earial training was given to more in the spring of 1915 with two flying boats. One of these is shown with a group
lar 300 others, who were also ac- of early students.
ced by the RNAS or RFC.
The school's pupils included many The club was re-organized and flying instruction, the standard fee
who went on to distinguished service as the British Columbia Aviation at the Toronto Curtiss school being
careers. Two of them, Robert Leckie School Ltd. got under way again in $400. Charges at the American
and Wilfred Curtis, became air 1916 on a Curtiss two-seater which schools ranged from $250 to $650,
marshals and served as RCAF chiefs was built in Vancouver. The plane depending on the length of the
of the air staff. Amongst the instruc- flew from a field near Coquitlam, school's standard course, before the
tors were Bert Acosta, who after some 25 miles east of Vancouver, student was permitted to take one of
the war became one of America's and when it cracked up the school's the machines up on a solo flight, for
best-known flyers, and Guy Gil- operations came to an end. As far his pilot certificate tests. Added to
patric, who achieved international as is known, the school graduated these charges were the cost of trans-
literary fame as the creator of the only two certificated pilots, although portation and living expenses dur-
fictional character, Mr. Glencannon. a dozen or more received partial ing the several months of training.
The Aero Club of British Colum- training. Both the graduates joined Successful pupils received part of
bia operated a flying school in the the RFC, and some of the others their money back if accepted by
Vancouver area during roughly the were successful in joining either the either the RFC or RNAS but this
same period, although on a much RFC or RNAS. financial help came after they had
smaller scale. The club was formed Other Canadians attended flying completed the training and joined
during the summer of 1915 and schools in the United States, includ- one of the flying services. Raising
purchased a 1912-model Curtiss ing the Curtiss schools at San the money in the first place was
single-seater biplane belonging to Diego, California and Norfolk, Vir- their own responsibility and there
the pioneer British Columbia air- ginia; the Wright school at Dayton, was, of course, no guarantee that
man, William Stark, who had learn- Ohio; the Thomas school at Ithaca, they would qualify to receive a re-
ed to fly before the war at the Curtiss NY.; and the Stinson school at fund of any sort.
School in San Diego, California. San Antonio, Texas. The Wright The problem of flying training
Stark gave instruction and flying school at Dayton was amongst the was further complicated by the
was done at first on the Minoru most popular with the Canadians existence of "flying schools" which
Park race course on Lulu Island. and it contributed 42 Canadian pupils found, after having paid their
Training started in September and recruits to the RFC and RNAS. money, to be shaky fly-by-night
continued untillate November, when Most of the schools set their fees affairs. Such short-lived schools
it packed up for the winter. at one dollar for each minute of blossomed in both Toronto and

NOVEMBER 1962 9
 Montreal. One of the Toronto plan called for recruiting pupil
the Battle of the Somme and had
schools was operated by a man who, suffered its heaviest casualties thus pilots in Canada.
in the words of an RFC recruiting far, resulting in a need for replace- On 21 December details of the
officer then in Canada, "accepted ments. The British were becoming plan were worked out at Adastral
$400 from a certain number of can- increasingly aware of the importance House in London, the home of the
didates, gave them a few days' train- of the airplane in modern warfare recently-created Air Board. The
ing and then closed his school and and during the latter part of 1916 meeting was attended by representa-
disappeared". several increases in RFC squadron tives of the various branches of the
strength were authorized. The last service, and it was decided that, with
THE GOVERNMENT PLAN of these came on 12 December when the agreed-upon co-operation and
The idea of establishing a gov- 20 new operational squadrons and assistance of the Canadian govern-
ernment-backed or operated flying 35 additional training squadrons ment, the formation of Canadian
school in Canada to provide pilots were approved. training squadrons would be pushed
for the RNAS and RFC overseas The requirement for additional with all possible speed, and that per-
was not new, and neither was the sonnel to get the scherv: going
idea of a similarly-operated aircraft would be sent to Can.' imme-
plant. The Canadian government diately.
had received proposals for establish- Authorization was gi or es-
ment of an aviation school, with of- tablishing recruiting offi ana-
ficial support, from the very first da, and it was decided ti. ical
days of the war, but little consider- equipment, including air:.would
ation had been given to them. be provided by the Imp.'. :1uni-
Early in 1916 the Imperial Muni- tions Board. The Board > . :7so to
tions Board became interested in be responsible for prep&vii± aero-
the matter, and suggested to the dromes for the RFC in Canada. The
British authorities that an aircraft agreement of the Canadian govern-
plant and a flying school be set up ment was obtained to provide, on a
in Canada. The proposal was dis- repayment basis, food, clothing,
cussed at length by the British and gasoline and oil, medical services,
Canadian agencies concerned, and and other facilities.
these discussions continued through- At the same time, matters were
out the year. Eventually the Muni- taking shape in Canada with regard
tions Board prepared a plan which to production of aircraft. Authority
was approved by the Canadian gov- had been given the Imperial Muni-
ernment on 13 October. Canada Before the RFC set up training schools
tions Board to place an order with
agreed to provide up to one million in Canada, Canadians who wished to
join the RFC or RNAS had to obtain a Canadian company for 200 Curtiss
dollars for the aircraft plant, which
their own pilot's licences. Here, Hugh aircraft, and on 15 December the
would belong to the Canadians but
Peck, of Montreal, learns to fly at the Board incorporated and organized
would be under Munitions Board
Thomas School, Ithaca, N.Y. a new company. Known as Cana-
management during the war. The
dian Aeroplanes Limited, the com-
British government was to agree to
pany was nominally a private enter-
keep the factory supplied with air-
pilots and training facilities now was prise but actually all its capital was
craft orders until the war's end, and
a matter of urgency, and things owned by the Board. The Canadian
if a flying school were to be set up,
moved swiftly. The British War government advanced the necessary
it would be a British responsibility.
Office produced a plan for estab- capital on loan and the factory was
By this time, though, develop-
lishing 20 of the 35 new training held as an asset against Imperial
ments in France had presented an
entirely new set of conditions. The
squadrons in Canada, to be raised funds.
by a nucleus of officers and men sent The new company went ahead
RFC had been heavily engaged in
from the UK. An advantage it was quickly with its plans. It bought out
Set up in late 1915, to facilitate the
production in Canada of munitions and pointed out, assuming that the most of the assets of the Curtiss
other war supplies for the British govern- proposal to set up an aircraft Aeroplanes and Motors Limited,
ment. Headed and staffed mostly by Cana- factory was sanctioned, would be a including the rights to make the
dians, it was in effect a Canadian agency
but reported directly to the British Ministry ready supply of aircraft for the Curtiss JN-4 trainer in Canada. It
of Munitions. training schools or squadrons. The also took over most of the staff of

IO THE ROUNDEL
 The hangars at Comp Borden were constructed during the early port of 1917,
These hangars are still in use today.

the Canadian Curtiss company, and of the war and during 1916 had been small to serve as a major field. Per-
part of the quarters that it had been given command of a wing. sonnel had to be recruited and air-
occupying. Hoare landed in Saint John, N.B. craft obtained.
The JN-4 had been selected as the on 19 January and proceeded direct- The RFC Canada commander's
trainer for the RFC in Canada, and ly to Ottawa, where he met senior first job was to select sites for his
initially it was considered that the officials of the Militia Department, fields. Plans called for four stations,
production of the factory would be the Imperial Munitions Board, and each with five training squadrons.
limited largely to RFC Canada re- other agencies. On 25 January he Each station would consist of one or
quirements. It developed that the went to Toronto, which had been more aerodromes which must be
company was to go far beyond this chosen as the headquarters site for built, complete with facilities for
in total number of aircraft produced, the RFC Canada. Even with due the men and machines.
and was to make in addition, other regard for the limitations of the air- On 26 January, the day after ar-
types. craft and equipment of 1917 it is in- riving in Toronto, Hoare set out to
The advance party, totalling 14 teresting to note that the belief was look at Camp Borden, which had
officers and 76 other ranks, and with held that "generally speaking Onta- been suggested as the site for his first
15 motor vehicles, sailed from rio is the only Province in Canada station. The 70-mile journey was
Britain on four ships between 9 and suitable for military aerodromes". made in below-zero temperatures
18 January, 1917. It was headed by Temporary headquarters space was and over snow-covered terrain.
Lt.-Col. C. G. Hoare, 39th Central obtained in the Imperial Oil Build- Hoare was accompanied by Maj.-
India Horse and RFC, who had ings in downtown Toronto, and the Gen. W. A. Logie, general officer
been appointed to command the RFC Canada was in business. commanding Military District No. 2,
RFC in Canada. He was to remain and by several other officers, and
PLANS INTO ACTIONS when they reached Angus they found
in command throughout the whole
of its active period, and before re- It was hoped that flying training the branch railway line to Borden
turning to Britain was to rise to the might begin by 1 April, but there closed for the winter. The party had
rank of brigadier-general, command- was much to do. There was only one to break trail by sleigh and it took
ing a force of nearly 12,000. Hoare real aerodrome in the whole country, nearly two hours to cover the five
was no armchair flyer. He had flown that at nearby Long Branch on the miles in from the rail line. As they
in France during the very early days Toronto outskirts, but it was too made their slow passage through

NOVEMBER 1962 11
 A Canadian army medical officer
checks the reactions of a fledgling
pilot after spinning him in a revolving
chair.

the snow, muffled against the cold,

Hoare must have thought back to
his service in warmer and sunnier
climes, possibly with inward queries
about the whole business.
In the circumstances he was not
too impressed by what he saw when
he arrived. It was hard to tell,
through the snow, how flat much of
the area really was although a good
deal of it was covered with stumps.
Furthermore, he bad heard that the
whole district had a "very bad repu- !

tation for sandstorms". However, pg»Al#

on the advice of Maj.-Gen. Logie,

who gave Hoare much assistance, he
decided to accept the site for his first
aerodrome. Britain, and Gwatkin himself was to way line into the camp had been
It had, undoubtedly, many ad- become Canada's first air vice mar- re-opened and a force of 400 was at
vantages. The land belonged to the shal and Inspector-General of the work in sub-zero weather, clearing
Canadian government, which offered Canadian Air Force of the early 20's. stumps from the ground and prepar-
it rent-free to the RFC. In addition, Hoare explained that he wished to ing the area for construction. A
several important and costly facil- begin recruiting immediately and week later 1,700 men were on the
ities were already available. A sani- asked if accommodation in the job, working through the nights
tation system, power plant, water Toronto area for 1,000 men could under the light of arc lamps. Six
supply and railway siding had been be placed at his disposal. He also weeks after Hoare had inspected
installed for the 32,000 troops of the wanted personal clothing and "re- the area, most of the 15 hangars
Canadian Expeditionary Force who gimental necessaries" for his re- called for had been finished and
had been camped there in 1916. cruits, and asked whether the Cana- enough other accommodation was
In a sense that cold, wintry day of dian Militia could provide medical ready to permit the first training
26 January 1917 can be regarded as and dental facilities for his force, squadron to form there and start
the birthday - or possibly the date and medical examinations for re- putting together its aircraft. The
of conception - of what was in time cruits at points across Canada. initial project for the camp was
to become the ranking air station of Gwatkin was able to meet all of the finished on 2 June. Despite the
the RCAF, where so many of today's requests. hectic pace of the work, they must
very senior air force officers earned The Imperial Munitions Board, have built well, for most of the 15
their wings. Today, Borden has had the construction and purchasing hangars put up for the RFC Canada
its wings clipped, but it stands as agency for the RFC Canada, ob- are still standing and in use by
one of the RCAF's major ground tained permission from the Militia today's RCAF at Camp Borden,
training establishments, and the Department to proceed with con- 45 years later!
tradition carries on. struction and other work at Borden During that four-month period 57
Having made his decision, Hoare and contracts were let. buildings were erected, 850 acres
returned to Toronto and wrote were cleared of stumps, levelled and
several letters to Maj.-Gen. Wil- BUILDING STARTS AT BORDEN
sown with grass seed, nearly five
loughby Gwatkin, chief of the gen- From here on things moved miles of asphalt road was built, and
eral staff in Ottawa. A great deal of rapidly. The contracts for the work additional sewage pipes and rail-
correspondence was to pass between at Borden were signed on 27 way lines were put down. Also, an
the two before Hoare returned to January and eight days later the rail- electrical system was installed and
12 THE ROUNDEL
telephone communication with To- cadets for flying training would be talks and meetings were arranged
ronto and neighboring towns was readily available. The recruiting of and skilled workers were circularized
established. ground tradesmen was another mat- with printed material. The RFC
Even before construction had ter, however, as the RFC had to Canada was disappointed in the
started at Borden, a great deal had contend with the lure of high wages results of paid advertising and found
been accomplished in connection being paid to skilled workers in the that news and feature stories dealing
with other sites and procurement of munitions factories, the fact that with aviation and containing some
supplies and equipment. On 27 there was no organized recruiting recruiting information "always
January arrangements were made system throughout Canada, and the brought results". The purchase of
for the RFC Canada to use the Long problem of transporting potential display advertising space was con-
Branch field. Within a few days still recruits for long distances before tinued, though, because it "served
additional sites had been inspected they could be interviewed and med- to stimulate the interest of the news-
and procured, at Leaside and Arm- ically examined. paper, and thereby helped in the
our Heights, on the then Toronto Recruiting offices, with facilities placing of news items".
northern outskirts, and at Rathbun for giving trade tests, were opened The RFC Canada received much
and Mohawk, 130 miles to the east, in Toronto and Hamilton (the aid from civilian recruiting com-
near Descronto. Also, a contract Hamilton office was later closed), mittees which were formed through-
was sig! for the building of a mil- and branch offices were opened in out the country, and from the
lion ' «ircraft plant to house Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Department of Militia. Despite the
the vwo» of Canadian Aeroplanes Medical boards, placed at RFC dis- many problems, more than 7,400
LimiJ, cud actual construction posal by the Militia Department, Canadians were enlisted for ground
bega. 'c{0re the month's end. examined prospective recruits. duties with the RFC in this country
Meanie, construction of JN-4s The RFC Canada turned its hand during the period of the training
was undcrway at temporary quarters. to publicity in its drive for recruits, scheme.
both ground tradesmen and cadets Recruiting of cadets for pilot
RECRUITING BEGINS for flying training. Display advertis- training was easier, although there
In late January Gwatkin had ad- ing space in the large daily news- were some problems. The RFC re-
vised Hoare that the Canadian papers was bought, and the clas- ceived 1,000 applications during the
Director-General of National Service sified columns were also used. Bill- first few weeks of recruiting, al-
was ready to help the RFC to re- board advertising was also used at though not all, of course, were ac-
cruit personnel, and asked for de- first but its cost was found to be too ceptable. Before the RFC established
tails. Hoare replied that apart from high and it was dropped. Public itself in Canada the public generally
the cadets who would be recruited
for flying training, the Corps would
need some 3,000 skilled ground per-
sonnel to form the full complement
of the 20 training squadrons and
other supporting units. Twenty-five
trades would be needed, and engine
{·rer
-
± ;"T,
ls,-
fitters and riggers were required in «,±y l
ez e
the largest numbers. Enlistments
would be for the war's duration, and
while the men's services would most
likely be needed only in Canada,
recruits for ground positions must
agree to go overseas if necessary.
A Recruits' Depot was formed 5
February and was accommodated
in the Toronto Givens Street School,
and recruiting began. It appeared
that, initially at any rate, enough

Four members of the RFC clean vege-

tables under make-shift circumstances.

NOVEMBER 1962 13
 civilian clothes which were packed
and sent to his home address.
The RFC equivalent of "private"
or. in modern RCAF terminology,
aircraft man', was "mechanic". AII
ground tradesmen initially held this
rank and, until promoted to corporal
rank, were known as mechanics,
regardless of whether they were
cooks, carpenters, clerks, or actual
engine mechanics in the modern
sense.
As regards the cadets, the job of
the RFC was to teach them more
than how to fly. A Ca:let Wing,
where the fledgling pi?ts would
receive ground instruct· before
going on to a training :·Cron to
learn to fly, was beings As the
scope and thoroughness = {rain-
ing later increased, still :round
schools were to be for:.·. Cadets
A group of cadets lounge outside Burwash Hall Toronto, April 1 917. Note the were later to pass th::.' the
aircrew "white flash" on the cadet third from left. Recruits' Depot, as did mcchanics.
At first, though, cadets went directly
to the Cadet Wing or, before the
wing was formed, to accommoda-
understood, not without some rea- rived at the newly-formed Recruits'
Depot and as the flow increased ad- tion made available by the Univer-
son, that it was difficult to join up as
a pilot and that it was also a costly ditional quarters were obtained. The sity of Toronto.
business. The RFC had to work hard recruits received their final medical The main job of the RFC, though,
to put the point across that training examination at the depot and were was flying, and it wasted little time
was free, and that there was no ex- tben given regimental numbers as in putting its first group of cadets
pense involved for the young man members of the RFC. Service dress into the air, capitalizing on the speed
who wanted to learn to fly. and other items of kit were issued with which events had moved.
The first groundcrew recruits ar- and the recruit said goodbye to his (to be continued)

LINGUISTIC LEGEND
Thirty six percent of those now serving in the RCAF speak two or more Chinese Swahili
languages. A recent AFHQ survey reveals that the "extra languages", Norwegian N.A. Indian
Afrikaans Flemish
besides English, total more than 50 ranging (in alphabetical order) from Icelandic Gaelic
Afrikaans to Zulu. Czechoslovakian Turkish
Slavacroat Rumanian
The survey shows the numbers, by rank, who claim another language Serbian Hebrew
Yugoslavian Yiddish
and a "degree of fluency" code indicates the person's ability as fluent, Ukrainian Lithuanian
working or limited. Of the 18,299 total, 12,560 (or approximately one in Russian Maltese
four RCAF members) speak French - half of them fluently. Polish Portuguese
Pakistani Burmese
Other languages spoken by RCAF members include: Hindu Eskimo
Hindi Latvian
Undur Armenian
German Dutch Greek Danish Chawar Arabic
Spanish Latin Hungarian Malayan Pushtu Estonian
Italian Swedish Finnish Japanese Punjabi Zulu

14 THE ROUNDEL
 -pp, &:i,

. . ct

A, 3
c
X

By SERGEANT P. N. ELLIS
Reprinted from VOXAIR

(In ever-increasing numbers dedi- flight; aerobatics, then an ADF with ate. A quick glance in the rear view
cated RCAF airmen are voluntarily a GCA full stop, which should bring mirror revealed smoke pouring out
training in land search units so they him back in time for lunch. of the engine section. It was time to
can render assistance to downed Minutes later the T-33 was climb- go.
fliers, either military or civilian, ing away to altitude. "Boy, this is Everything worked with precision,
whenever required. At present there living," Charlie mused. "Nice blue the canopy blew off, the seat ejected,
are 27 RCAF stations, units or de- sky, smooth, warm, back to cruise, the lap belt came apart allowing
tachments with volunteer ground just sit back and relax. I had better Charlie to drop clear of the seat
search parties. The following fictional check my parrot with Stargazer to and at the proper time, the 'chute
article is an account of a typical see if the boys are painting me on automatically opened. There was
ground search carried out by these their radar scopes. Parrot is squawk- only one thing wrong, Charlie had
ing sweet and a paint of 60 miles neglected to strap on his seat pack.
volunteers ...Editor).
northeast of base." This oversight greatly complicated
The T-33 is a proven aircraft. It his problem since the seat pack con-
tained all his survival gear with its
[AccoRDING to the "metman" the has been flown thousands of hours nice warm sleeping bag and
ceiling was 700 feet, visibility three and has trained many hundreds of SARAH* transmitter.
miles in light snow, temperature 28 air force pilots. But, any man-made Stargazer had picked up the emer-
degrees with visibility expected to machine is subject to failure at one gency squawk initiated by the ejec-
drop around 1030 hrs. to one mile time or another. For Charlie's ma- tion and also an indication of chaff
in blowing snow. As Charlie headed chine that time was at hand. The returns from a chute opening. Sector
out to his faithful "T-bird" he first warning came with a strong Control was notifying home plate
hadn't a care in the world. He vibration followed by a muffled roar. and Rescue Co-ordination Centre,
happily ran through his mind the The fire warning light came on and Search And Rescue And Homing.
procedure he would follow on the the RPM indicator began to fluctu-
15
NOVEMBER 1962
after a communication check, had snow. The visual aircraft was in- saw, pyros, radios, medical supplies,
established that an aircraft was terested in finding the crash scene toboggan, stretcher, skis, ropes, etc.
down and alerted pararescue and so that it could start a search in the ... were all checked as being aboard
stand-by personnel. Co-ordinates most probable area. The smoldering the two Otters. The ground search
were re-checked with Stargazer and wreckage of the T-bird was found leader re-checked his pack again to
45 minutes after bail-out a SARAH 15 minutes after arrival, so the confirm that he had the one mile to
Dakota was on its way to the area. SARA H-equipped Dak was one inch maps, and also the en-
Operation Charlie was under way. requested to do a cloud breaking larged grid map of one quarter mile
With the low ceiling, radar vec- procedure and help in the visual to one inch. Photos were not avail-
tored the Dak to the area at 4000 search. The two Daks had been able of the terrain but the topo maps
feet. The rescue aircraft would do unable to make radio contact with showed it as being fairly level with
its sweeps at this altitude for better the downed pilot, nor had they bush coverage. The radios were with
radio reception. A second aircraft sighted any fires or a chute. Ground the equipment and a list of all per-
would creep into the area under the search was dispatched immediately. sonnel had been made. Radio con-
low ceiling and attempt a visual During the standby period ground tact between the Daks and Otters
search for the crash scene or pilot. searchers had checked their equip- was established and still nond was
Charlie had really hit hard. He ment to confirm a state of readiness, effected. Two pararesc+ had
couldn't move his right leg or arm and while the two Otters were flying jumped into the crash s. and
and his back felt like someone was them in they did a re-check. Each confirmed the absence seat
working on it with a hammer and searcher's pack contained a ground while the other two drop; ..o a
cold-chisel. After much effort he sheet, sleeping bag, complete change frozen lake three miles . to
managed to get the chute wrapped of clothing, personal gear, extra ensure that the ice was : a
around himself. boots, insoles, mits, socks, axe, com- landing. Prior to landing iwo
Radar and RCC had agreed that pass, knife, matches, whistle, mirror, Otters flew over the crash s: c and
from IFF chaff return, and con- mess kit, pyros, signal panel, flash- the area to be searched to faiarize
sidering the wind, the pilot should light, and a small first aid kit. The the ground search people wiii the
have landed not far south of his ground search leader and his deputy terrain.
bailout area. went through a check list of base Hot Shot Charlie was far from be-
camp requirements. Five in One ing hot, in fact, he was mighty cold.
SEARCHERS SENT rations until fresh ones could be He thought to himself, "What's
The ceiling in the search area was flown in, tents, extra sleeping bags, the use of yelling, they can't hear me
1200 feet above ground level but cooking equipment, stoves for heat- up there. Save your strength, you
forward vis. was restricted in light ing, coleman lanterns, fuel, chain might need it the way things are

AU
THE ROUNDEL
shaping up. Why can't the clots see
me? I can see them, and they have
flown right over me twice.°
The pararescue jumpers at the
crash scene had set a compass course
to the frozen lake, blazing a trail as
they went. This blaze could be used
for the ground search personnel
when proceeding to the crash. The
jumpers reported a search vis. of 50
feet.
While search personnel unloaded
the Otters the other parajumpers
helped the ground search leader and
his deputy check the grid layout for
the search. The search area was to
be a bl > .ree miles long by one
mile wi ·ts length would lie in
a dire outh from the crash,
one h:: i: either side of a desig-
nated .• line, which was the last
radar ' .ck of the aircraft. The You might wonder, "What is these paces is a tally, and 16 tallies
winds ere from the north five to meant by search vis of 50 feet, also equal one mile. The tallies are kept
ten miles per hour. Therefore, if what are tallies, and how do you track of by tying knots in a piece of
the aircraft had gone straight in control a group search in the bush ?° string or by transferring stones or
after ejection, a chute descending When travelling in the bush you twigs from one pocket to another.
from 13,000 feet should have landed might be able to see 300 feet in any For control of personnel a basic
somewhere in an area one and a half direction from a standing position, sweep line is used. Personnel are
miles to two miles south of the but if there are a lot of dead falls, lined up with the dressing depending
crash. stumps, etc., the effective searching upon the direction of travel and
RCC, who were being kept in the vis for an object could range from the spacing determined by the search
picture by radio messages relayed 20 to 300 feet. The size of the object vis. In this case the vis was 50 feet
by one of the Daks, requested that being looked for, and the terrain so the spacing would be 100 feet.
the two Otters return immediately govern the effectiveness of the The end men are known as flankers,
for more searchers. The lack of search visibility. For example, when blazers, or pivot men. If the dressing
SARAH transmissions, a fire, or searching for a small child in dense is from the right then the men are
some visual indication meant, that underbrush the vis could be as low numbered from the right to give
although the chute had opened, the as 10 feet. Children have a tendency them their position for the search.
pilot was probably injured. As the to crawl under a fallen tree or into Normally a sweep line does not con-
temperature was dropping it was a crevice to obtain a feeling of sist of more than 10 men. This in-
doubtful that he could stand an protectiveness. If the object is large, sures complete control of personnel
such as an aircraft, then the search and thorough coverage of area
over-night outing.
vis might be as far as a person can searched.
The Otters were preparing for During the first leg of the search
take-off when the jumpers cutting see. The 50-foot visibility reported
by the jumpers was based on thei.r the party moves on the number one
cross-country radioed that they had flanker, advancing in line abreast.
found the ejected seat. This was a bush lore and a comparison of the
seat size to that of a person. The number two flanker blazes a
million to one find, and it meant trail so that when the party comes
that the aircraft had gone straight It is not feasible to carry a tape
measure to determine distance tra- to the end of the leg they can pivot
in after ejection. This indicated that about the number two flanker and
the search area had been laid out velled in the bush, so a very simple
and accurate means of measurement proceed in the opposite direction.
properly. The seat find was marked On this second leg the number one
on the grid map and it was found to is used. When two steps have been
taken it is known as a pace (ap- flanker blazes a trail to guide them
be 16 tallies north-northeast of base on the third leg. This procedure is
proximately five feet). Sixty-six. of
camp.
17
NOVEMBER 1962
 repeated until the search area has
been completely covered.
With the finding of the seat, which
was a mile from base camp, a more
accurate and smaller area could be
covered. The block area to be cov-
ered could now start from the seat
find position. One of the Daks re-
turned for fuel so that complete air
coverage could be maintained and
directions given to the ground party
during the re-fueling of the other
Dak.
REINFORCEMENT ARRIVES
The search personnel were just
lining up for the start of the search
when the Dak advised that the
Otters were on their way to base
camp with 10 more searchers and
fresh rations. Two sweeps had been
covered and the time was now 1500
hours local. The Otters had landed No ground search party was necessary for these two RCAF fliers whe··. , cJ
and party number two was on its forced to bail-out of their crippled CF-TO l B over the rugged B.,::' ,.,
way to base line to commence recently, Only four and one-half hours elapsed between abani. • ice
searching the west half of the area. CF-101B and a happy re-union with their wives (l. to r.): F/L D. Broad@r, A4rs.
Just as they were about ready to Broadbent, Mrs. Bartlett and F/L V. Bartlett. The two fliers were flown to Cumox
by a US Coast Guard helicopter.
start their sweep, party number one
called and informed them that the
seat pack had been found. In one
sense this was good news as it in-
dicated that the search layout fol- Pararescue, the ground leader, and able to move enough to attract at-
lowed the correct direction, from the ground leader's deputy were tention. Why not just close his
crash to seat and then to seat pack. placed in every fifth position for eyes and drop into a quiet sleep?
The straps on the seat pack were better control of the searchers. This Something kept nagging at his mind
not broken so how did it get separ- was the final sweep and accuracy though and he thought, "Don't give
ated from Charlie? This question had to be maintained. The sky had up yet Charlie. Hey! Did I hear
and the fact that the temperature started to clear which would give a someone yell 'tally 15."
had dropped created greater ur- few more minutes of daylight. "Hold the line, 26 has a find."
gency. Not long after commencing the This was yelled up the line, followed
The seat pack explained the reason sweep the line started to take the by "We've found him." Six searchers
for no SARAH transmissions and it form of a snake. A halt was called and the aircrew were to blaze a
also meant that Charlie had no and the line straightened. With this trail to camp, while the remaining
survival equipment. In one more amount of men it was going to be searchers looked after Charlie. Four
hour it would be dark. The grid slow. Ten tallies had been covered of the searchers were to return from
map with the finds marked indicated and the line halted four times. There base camp with the stretcher tobog-
that the pilot should be a little more were six more tallies to go and it was gan.
to the east of centreline. Number getting dark. Charlie was barely able to walk.
two party was already on its way to Charlie was trying desperately to He was able to explain his injuries
join forces with party number one. stay awake. He was tired and the though, whicfu was of great help. A
The aircrew personnel were happy cold had seeped into his body. He check of his leg and right arm in-
to join in to increase the chances of a was sure he would freeze to death dicated no severe breaks. His back
find before dark. if something didn't happen. The injury could be a disc or a break
All 28 personnel were lined up aircraft had been droning overhead pressing on nerves. This could be
abreast with vis reduced to 40 feet. for hours but Charlie hadn't been the cause of his immobility. A

18 THE ROUNDEL
stretcher had been made from two minute flare which might burn out
oles and the outer shells of four flames, looks of contentment lay
at a critical point. Charlie, still across their faces. The ground search
p kas Charlie was braced as well strapped on the toboggan, was
par . d . l . leader was proud of the effort and
as possible, wrappe in a s eeprng placed aboard an Otter and was
bag and then lashed to the stretcher. accompanied by two pararescuers co-operation the men bad put into
jRCC had been notified of the find and three searchers. Five searchers the search. The monthly week-end
d had requested the pilot be im- and equipment were loaded aboard practice trips over the last two years
,,caatety evacuated if possible. Base the other Otter, while the covering had paid off. Practice searches in
camp advised that the searchers with Dak waited to escort the Otters heavy rain, river crossings which re-
sulted in a soaking, fighting to get
the toboggan had left and that the home,
through willow bottoms on cross
Otters were ready for evacuation. The noise of the Otters taking off country nav trips, treks through
Bush vis was 25 feet but with the was drowned out by the roaring
deep snow which required rest peri-
aid of flashlights and tracks in the growl of the chain saw. The re- ods every few minutes, living on five
snow the blaze to camp was easily maining men would have to wait in one rations, sleeping out in the
followed. <Charlie was transferred until morning for pick-up and logs open in 30 degrees below zero; all
to the to!oan and securely strap- were being cut for the camp fire. these and other hardships were now
ped in. i: ·ess was rapidly closing "Come and get it", was the yell. forgotten.
in but t ather had improved to No second call was needed. Thick As the men relaxed, a peaceful
a bro ·dition. It had stopped juicy steaks satisfied the ravenous silence settled over the camp. The
snowi: ·:+! the temperature had appetites. air was filled with the aromatic smell
leveller': ': i0 degrees above zero. The sky had cleared and night had of the camp fire, brewing coffee,
The C ', r:r pilots had decided to settled in. As the searchers sat and pipe tobacco. What a night! It
use ticir [anding light for take-off around the camp fire, enjoying its sure is great to be alive. I bet Charlie
rather than have a Dak drop a two warmth and gazing into its rippling was thinking the same. O

One of the latest British military

WHAT, NO RUNWAY? aircraft, the Hawker P-1127 which
was demonstrated at this year's
Farnborough air show, has amazed
observers, buyers and designers from
all over the world. This revolution-
ary jet fighter opens up entirely new
possibilities for military aircraft.
The P-1127 is a strike-reconnais-
sance aircraft with vertical takeoff
and landing (VTOL) capabilities. At
Farnborough it performed the tradi-
tional skills of the fighter aircraft,
then came to a halt above the run-
way, hovered momentarily, then
started to move backwards. It hung
with its tail, then nose down. It
moved smoothly up and down.
The distinctive marking on the
tail represents the colours of Britain,
Germany and the US, the three
countries which are supporting the
project. ©
19
NOVEMBER 1962
 The RCAF Central Band with the parliament buildings and parliamentary library in the background.

CENTRAL BAND IN EUROPE

'Ir tittle park in the heart of RCAF will always be coupled. was to provide music for a garden
London was packed with an at- Following their performance at party at the Allied Air Forces
tentive and appreciative audience. The Fields the RCAF Central Band, Central Europe Inter-Allied Officers'
Music filled the air and provided a under the direction of F/O W. V. Club at Fontainbleau. Later the
moment to remember. Members of Boyce, gave a performance at Vic- same day the dance component of
the RCAF bad returned to Lincoln's toria Embankment Gardens, then the band played for an all-ranks
Inn Fields. journeyed to Nottingham Castle. At dance at Camp Guynemer and the
Lincoln's Inn Fields provided one Nottingham an estimated 3,000 following day 2,500 French citizens
of the highlights of the RCAF people gathered to hear the RCAF filled the Fontainbleau market
Central Band's recent European musicians, in spite of the inclement square for a concert by the RCAF
tour. It was The Fields", one of the weather. The gate attendant at the musicians. The next day the bands-
world's oldest and most famous castle stated that it was the first men travelled by bus to No. 2 Wing
centres of the legal profession, where time that he had ever seen a queue at Grostenquin.
the RCAF Overseas Headquarters there for a band concert. Keeping up their fast-moving
stood for most of the war. During The next evening the band enter- pace, the band put on an afternoon
those dark days the morale of the tained personnel of No. 30 AMB concert at the Metz Military Hos-
local people was often boosted by with a concert and dance. Two days pital, then travelled to the tiny
the music of RCAF bands. Because later they boarded an aircraft for Grand Duchy of Luxembourg where
of that wartime association, Lin- Orly airport in Paris. The band's they presented an evening concert at
coln's Inn Fields and the name first performance on the continent the Place d'Armes. On that occasion

20 THE ROUNDEL
p) band played to one of its largest
the 5le
audiences: 4,000 people, :ludi
including a AIR FORCE COLLEGE LIBRARY
pretty girl who presented a bouquet
f flowers to a slightly-flustered
andmaster, much to the delight of
the friendly crowd.
The following day the band pro-
vided a concert at No. 1 Air Division
Headquarters in Metz. During their
stay at Metz they also provided
music for dances at various messes.
At the Fcte de la Mirabelle, an an-
nual wine festival held in Metz,
the Centra! Band headed the huge
festival pa±c@e. Moving their activ-
THE 8000-volume Hodson Memo-
ities to ». Wing, the band played rial Library at the Air Force College,
for the :/ow RCAF members, Armour Heights, Toronto, was of-
then br·1out to the local towns ficially opened on 9 Sept. by the
of St. Forbach and Sarre- widow of the late A/V/M K. L. B.
guemi. Hodson.
Witi «¢ week of engagements The library is dedicated to the
still to {i#, the band crossed the memory of the Staff College's former
international border between France chief instructor (1946-49) and com-
and Germany, travelling by bus to mandant (1954-56), who died as the
No. 4 Wing where they played for result of a jet trainer crash in the
an airmen's dance on the evening USA in July I 960. At the time of his
of their arrival. The next day they death A/Y/M Hodson was chief of
provided a concert at the renowned operations, NORAD.
Kurhaus at Baden-Baden before the Air Commodore W. F. Newsom,
largest crowd (5,000 paid admis- present commandant of the college,
sions) of the tour. Two concerts here watches Mrs. Hodson unveil
were next in line; the first, for the dedication plaque.
RCAF personnel and dependants in
the PMQ area and the second at
Rastatt Schloss where 2,500 people
listened as the band played before STARFIGHTERS NOW IN EUROPE
the beautiful old castle. The band
then travelled to the ancient city of RCAF Super Starfighters are now being air-transported to Europe on a
Buhl where they were the featured regular schedule by Air Transport Command.
concert band at the famous plum The first of 200 Canadair-built CF-104s left Cartierville airport, outside
festival. Having completed their Montreal, on 11 October. Final destination of the flight was No. 3 Fighter
playing engagements in Germany, Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany, where the first of eight strike-reconnaissance
they returned to France. Their squadrons will form.
itinerary included three concerts in The first CF-I 04 was rolled off the assembly line at Canadair Limited in
as many French towns. One of these March 1961. Since then the aircraft has been thoroughly test flown by the
concerts was on the steps of the RCAF and a number are now in service at No. 6 Strike-Reconnaissance
beautiful Verdun War Memorial. Operational Training Unit, Cold Lake, Alta.
For a finale, the bandsmen gave a The Super Star fighter will replace the F-86 Sabre in eight of the 12 squad-
concert in the PMQ area of Mar- ron's of Canadas NATO Air Division. The four CF-100 squadrons will be
ville, followed by a station dance in
disbanded on I Jan. 1963.
the recreation centre. Then they
For the flight to Europe in an RCAF C-130B Hercules the CF-104
boarded a Yukon for Canada after
aircraft is partially dismantled. After a refuelling stop at Gander, Nfld.,
a busy and most successful musical
the flight is normally non-stop to Germany.
tour. ©
21
NOVEMBER 1962
 OPERATION JOHN CABOT
By AIR COMMODORE M. P. MARTYN

UNTIL the advent of World War II en the eye of John Cabot, master on
few Canadians were concerned about the bridge of the Mathiew".
the affairs of "Britain's Oldest. This provided the background for
Colony", the island of Newfound- a telephone call which I received
land and its adjacent Labrador one evening late in November 1941.
Coast. However, with the onslaught I was advised I had been selected
of U-boat attacks in the autumn of as the squadron leader to open a new
1941, the attention of those respon- anti-submarine air base on the
sible for Western Atlantic area Avalon Peninsula of Newfoun' ·,
defence focused suddenly on this A hurried visit to Eastern Air
strategically desirable operational mand Headquarters in Ha!it
base. vealed no known location •
In conjunction with increased l
le- maps of any airport in thi p
naval activity, the air force was or- » @,=y 4> fQ
ans,2 s'gt the island. However, one ,
dered to prosecute the aerial anti- s sass ported to be under cons·:::-:•,.
submarine campaign with all pos- "somewhere" north of the c·.,,
sible despatch. Obviously, the rocky St. John's near Conception Bay.
coast of eastern Newfoundland once The general area certainly bore
more had loomed on the horizon as an appropriate name but additional
an important North American mili- The detachment commander, S/L Mar- information of a technical nature
tary feature, just as it had appeared tyn, takes a stroll along the tarmac would have been much more useful.
long ago from a foggy sea to bright- in 1942. The only available item was a con-

A solid cloud layer was typical Newfoundland weather.

22 THE ROUNDEL
 Ill0Olga lNIJ]MM»MINO.
,

Blowing snow, which clogged runways and covered aircraft, was a constant
hazard in Newfoundland.

tractor's report to the effect that one cleared area in the native scrub. This informed us that aerodrome facil-
runway of this mythical station was area, upon closer examination, turn- ities, in addition to the wind sock
satisfactory, providing caution was ed out to be a partially finished run- aforementioned, consisted of spare
exercised. way. boxcar wheels from the Newfound-
The flight of four Hudsons under The flight landed straight into a land Railway, strategically placed
my command, loaded to the cabin 40-knot wind laced with light, driv- for tie-down purposes, accommoda-
ceiling lights with all the gear deem- ing sleet. We then cautiously taxied tion and lumberjack-style messing
ed necessary for detachments the aircraft back along the runway for personnel in very temporary huts
starting of", was airborne from to rendezvous with a group of as- belonging to the runway contractor.
Dartmouth, N.S., at dawn the next sorted service officials who com- The first of many doubts now had
morning, flying on a course that led prised the welcoming party. They been removed from our minds. We
into a somewhat weepy and "pink- had found an aerodrome which of-
The author today ficially didn't exist. It was called
eyed" sunrise.
Torbay, after a nearby fishing vil-
After careful negotiation of a cold lage. All that was left for us to do
front, the accumulation of a moder- was to put it into operational condi-
ate coating of light, clear ice and the tion from scratch. Armed with
passage of three hours of flying time, authority to proceed as we saw fit,
the rugged terrain of the Avalon and assisted by a civilian foreman
Peninsula appeared below through and several carpenters, we got to
fleeting gaps in the clouds. Thanks work.
to the calculations of a conscientious In the four succeeding days the
navigator, the flight had no difficulty strength of the wind increased daily
in picking up the small and weather until it ultimately reached 70 knots.
beaten city of St. Joh n's, crouched To impress us even more thoroughly
around its cliff-guarded harbour. An with its capabilities, it blew harder
intensive low level search of the at night than during the day. With
peninsula to the north was rewarded every gust it brought blowing, pene-
finally by the sighting of an orange- trating snow which drifted over the
coloured wind sock, fastened to the wings and tail planes of our air-
top of a naked tree, at the edge of a
23
NOVEMBER 1962
 craft until the fuselages squatted disgorged a number of large, black "wrong side" of the road. In those
like giant cigars on the icy mounds. cooking ranges. Complete snow re- days the traffic still followed the
Meanwhile, detachment person- moval equipment was thoroughly British system! Furthermore, the
nel and the local carpenters, despite hidden in a narrow track adjoining stubborn farmer refused to break
the barriers of vernacular and cus- the dubious road which led to town. the law by moving over and the
tom, worked with a will. Within 72 The last find resulted in an im- plowman had no alternative but to
hours four small shacks formed a mediate roll call of all personnel in move around him. This situation
line of habitation behind the almost order to discover those who had was repeated several times and the
buried aircraft. Inside these wooden driven tractors on their fathers' plowed road reflected the meetings
walls we carefully disposed our farms, or those who had experience with a series of jogs that had to be
meagre equipment. Next came a with motor trucks. From these men later explained to incredulous Cana-
combined workshop and armament were selected the snow removal dians. All the snow removal equip-
building, a signals centre, an admin- crews. Their instructions were to ment, of course, was fitted for a
istration section and an operations spend one day examining, starting right-hand throw and a series of in-
room. Borrowed desks, workbenches and practice driving their vehicles, cidents and traffic complications
and chairs filled the empty corners. then open up the camp and keep it consequently progressed throughout
Construction of temporary nose open. They tackled the job with the winter. On their part the Now-
hangars followed. Then, with sur- initiative and enthusiasm. Thence- foundlanders probably felt w: re
prisingly little difficulty, the routine forward, on the slightest threat of unreasonable and incompeter
of an air force detachment was in- snow, the air was filled with the always clearing the wrong side c r,

augurated - a small, snow-bound roaring of motors and showers of road first.

counterpart of hundreds of others ice and snow, interspersed with Despite such distractions, th:
scattered throughout the world in rocks and broken sheer pins. tion was soon functioning in a +
every clime. tical fashion on cleared roads. »
Investigation of the station area To ensure communications with an open runway. The shovelling<
brought to light three items of the city of St. John's we next under- of aircraft, by hand, met our 5:%
interest. In a small copse of frost- took to clear the main road of drifts. requirements.
encrusted trees we found a shed The first sortie went off in grand We had to consider stocking fuel
carefully sheltering three large re- style, complete with a Sicard plume, against our small heating require-
frigerators, each labelled for a pro- until the lead plow driver met a ment. An initial order for one-half
spective mess. A chance snow bank farmer's sleigh travelling on the ton of coal was placed with a local

The unit's first casualty occurred because there was no alternate airport.

4 \
24 THE ROUNDEL
 hn's dealer, and in the twilight weeks. By that
a titme we were the
St. J oall open space was c I eare dm Station Torbay develop swiftly into
proud possessors of a small moun- a thriving and operationally com-
"thes:
"",,wain behind the detachment
· tam of coal some 4000 tons of it. petent unit, and its facilities were
headquarters hut. Later that night Fortunately fate had guided the ad- given wide recognition throughout
lights of the coal truck appeared jutant's finger that earlier night and
1
the :h dr : Eastern Air Command. Even the
at the site, and the lriver enquired pointed out a spot which was just meteorological section gained far
here he was to dump his load. We clear of the flightway of a runway renown as the only one in the world
,nted out our small clearing with to be! The original half-ton order that could forecast and confirm
rae but it was abruptly turned never <ltd arrive. dense fog in a SO-knot wind. From
down with "Not enough room". To the awed citizens who lived its runways eventually operated a
After fruitless discussion, the ad- close at hand, the new mountain substantial percentage of the air-
jutant in desperation pointed off to proved to be a constant source of craft which helped to guard the vital
the north in the darkness and said, amazement and undoubtedly con- North Atlantic convoy route.
Dump it thee.° tnbuted indirectly to the success of
The next :rning it was obvious Today it serves not only as a key
the post-war negotiation for con-
that more : one truck-load of federation with Canada. They must RCAF maritime base but also as the
coal had t dumped. In fact a have felt that any nation that could eastern continental terminal of
steady str of somewhat anti- spare all that coal at one time cer- Trans-Canada Airlines, and the air-
quated h : was still busy dump- tainly was worth a partnership port for the capital city of Canada's
ing and ti' eam continued night agreement. newest and tenth province St.
and day f:e better part of two The passage of a year saw RCAF John's, Newfoundland. ©

ONE OF A KIND

As he goes about his duties Cor- a whole hearted interest in St. John
poral L. Humphrey, an air force Ambulance first aid training for 24
policeman at No. 5 Supply Depot years. This interest began in 1938
Moncton, appears no different than and continued throughout his careers
any other of the thousands of air- as civilian, soldier, policeman and
men who are doing a conscientious airman.
job for the RCAF. On glancing at After his discharge from the army
his tunic, however, it can be seen in England at the end of World
that Cpl. Humphrey is "one of a War II, Cpl. Humphrey became a
kind". member of the Eastbourne Sussex
On 19 October 1962, at an in- police force and engaged in a num-
vestiture at Government House in ber of St. John first aid competitions.
Ottawa, His Excellency Governor He became the holder of certificate,
General Vanier presented Cpl. Hum- medallion and an instructor's cer-
phrey with a medal designating him tificate. Since joining the RCAF in
a Serving Brother in the Most Vener- 1958 he gave unselfishly of his time
able Order of the Hospital of St. and talent in instructing in first aid.
John of Jerusalem. Corporal Hum- At his present unit he has been CPL. L. HUMPHREY
phrey is the first RCAF corporal to instrumental in bringing to the at-
be so honoured. tention of depot personnel the im-
The citation covering Cpl. Hum- portance of care of the injured Awarded the Most Venerable Order of
phrey's admission to the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
through the medium of first aid
St. John made mention of the fact medal.
that Corporal Humphrey had shown courses. 0
25
NOVEMBER 1962
 RCAF ASSOCIATION
12th Annual Convention Report

By FLIGHT LIEUTENANT E. E. BOYD

RCAF Directorate of Public Relations

'['rs hundred delegates, repre- Ottawa, with duplicates being pro- iary of the RCAF, with over i/,'.0
senting 75 Royal Canadian Air vided for each of the 75 wings. members across Canada.
Force Association wings from across In delivering the keynote address Reviewing past accomplishm ·
Canada, converged at the Lord on Thursday morning Mr. L. N. Mr. Baldock said that in additic.: .2
Nelson Hotel in Halifax on Wednes- Baldock, the national president, carrying out its primary role, the /c-
day, 27 September, to attend the stated that the RCAFA is in fact a sociation was sponsoring 57 air
Association's 12th Annual (Blue- buffer between the service and the cadet squadrons, maintaining an
nose") Convention. civilian population and stressed that active 'bon voyage' program, carry-
To get things underway, delegates the most important objective of the ing out a foster-parent plan in which
were guests of A/V/M A. L. Morfee, Association is, and must remain, 'to they have adopted and now sponsor
CB, CBE, CD, and members of the support the RCAF and all its com- 43 children from less fortunate
host wings, Nos. 100 and 101, at a ponents in every way possible'. He countries, and have representatives
reception in the Officers' Mess at said that although Association mem- on all provincial committees of the
RCAF Anderson Square. bers no longer wear the uniform, RCAF Benevolent Fund. He stress-
Highlight of the three-day con- they are in effect the civilian auxil- ed the need for educating the citizens
vention, in which Mr. P. F. Connell,
DFM, of Saint John, N.B., was
elected national president for the The newly elected notional president of the association Mr. P. F. Connell shakes
1962/63 term, was the presentation hands with Mr. L. N. Baldock, retiring national president.
to the Association of its new banner.
The presentation was made by the
Hon. E. C. Plow, CBE, DSO, CD,
lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia,
on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen,
to A/V/M F. G. Wait, CBE, CD,
grand president of the Association.
Approved by the College of Arms
and authorized by Her Majesty, the
banner consists of the official RCA-
FA badge on a background of tas-
seled sky-blue silk bordered with
gold maple leaves (see above). The
banner will be maintained at the
RCAFA national headquarters in

26 THE ROUNDEL
Led by the r · "Central Band and a guard of honour from RCAF Str Greenwood, A/C G. G. Diamond, AFC, chief of
Association ,:.is!egates paraded to and held a memorial service at Halifax personnel services at AFHQ and senior
cenotaph. RCAFA liaison officer, lays a wreath.

The Hon. E. C. Plow, lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia {centre) presented

the RCAFA banner, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to A/V /M F. G. Wait,
grand president {third from right).
3lgNI Awe

I
t

27
NOVEMBER 1962
 of the country in matters of aviation in honour of those who gave their the capabilities of the Argus and
and submitted that the immediate lives in the service of Canada. Neptune aircraft.
task of the Association should be Following the ceremony at the The Hon. R. L. Stanfield, premier
the implementation of a national cenotaph the delegates were guests of Nova Scotia, hosting a luncheon
project in aviation and aerospace of His Worship Mayor J. E. Lloyd on behalf of the province on Friday,
education. One of the most success- and the City of Halifax at a luncheon hoped that delegates would find time
ful projects ever carried out by the in the hotel. Mayor Lloyd expressed to see something of the province and
Association in this regard, he said, his welcome to the convention mem- also have the opportunity to renew
had been the sponsoring of the book, bers and his fond wish that they old friendships.
'There Shall Be Wings', but this enjoy their visit in his city. On Friday afternoon the conven-
was in the past and no improvement On Thursday evening the dele- tion elected their national executive
can, he stated, be made by resting gates were treated to a lobster party council for the coming term. The
on our laurels. New means of carry- at Hubbards, approximately 30 miles new council includes:
ing out the aims of the Association from Halifax. Grand President
must be effected if the public is to be On Friday morning A/C W. I. A/M W. A. Curtis, CB, CBE,
kept aware of the continuing ad- Clements, OBE, CD, air officer DSC, ED, Toronto
vances in aviation and space tech- commanding Maritime Air Com- National President
nology. mand, gave a comprehensive brief- P. F. Connell, Sain» ·n
The banner presentation cere- ing on the roles and capabilities of First Vice President
mony, organized by F/L W. H. his command. A/C Clements out- G. E. Penfold, T 0
Morley of RCAF Air Transport lined aviation and its progress in Second Vice President
Command, preceded a parade to the the Maritimes from the flight of the J. A. Cooper, iv3:
cenotaph and an impressive memo- Silver Dart in 1909 to the present. Third Vice President
rial service there. Wreaths were laid He explained the role of MAC and H. M. Bell, Wi..:., S

A/C W. I. Clements, OBE, briefs the convention on the role of Maritime Air Command.
s tr p
;
a

{
i

) .

28 THE ROUNDEL
 urth Vice President
Fo L. E. Fulton, Montreal
Chairman
A/V/M
:
F. G. Wait, Ottawa
Vice Chairman
G/CS. M. Sznuk, Ottawa
Legal Adviser
G. A. Ault, QC, Ottawa
Immediate Past President
L. N. Baldock, Windsor
WD Representative (National)
Miss O. McBride, Montreal
WD Representative (Eastern)
Miss K. Fortune, Saint John
WD Represc»' ive (Central)
s. E. Trail, Toronto
WD Repre·· . 1ive (Western)-
Miss ! Jrickson, Winnipeg
Air Mar ·.R. Dunlap, CBE, L. to r.: A. L. Neiley, host wings' committee chairman; A/V/M F. G. Wait, grand
president; A/V /MA. L. Morfee, honorary convention chairman; A/M W. A. Curtis,
CD, chief c air staff, in addres-
grand president-elect.
sing the c ention during their
annual bar;-t on Friday evening,
said it was most appropriate that The new national executive council (back row, I. tor.): Mr. J. A. Bardsley, G/C G.
his first public appearance since be- M. Sznuk, A/V /M F. G. Wait, Mr. L. E. Fulton, Mr. F. A. Connolly, Mr. L. J. Schedlin,
Mr. W. H. Clegg, Mr. R. A. Turner, Mr. W. H. Caverly, and Mr. G. Cattiny. (Centre
row I. tor.): Mr. G.E.Penfold, A/MW.A. Curtis, Mr.P. F. Connell, Mr. L.N. Baldock and
Mr. J. A. Cooper. (Front row I. to r.): Mr. G. A. Ault, Miss E. L. Frederickson, Mrs.
E. Trail, Miss C. L. Fortune, Miss 0. McBride, Mr. H. M. Bell, and Mr. R. D. White.

29
NOVEMBER 1962
 Air Marshal C. R. Dunlop, CBE, chief of the air staff, presents RCAFA annual
awards. (left) Mr. A. Craig accepts the "Wing of the Year" award on behalf
of No. 700 Wing Edmonton and (right) Mr. H. Bell receives the "Member of
the Year" award.

coming CAS should be at the bring the 12th annual convention to olutions were passed and are being
RCAF A convention for two reasons: a rousing conclusion. circulated to wings in minute form
firstly, his strong regard for the As- During the convention many res- from national headquarters. ®
sociation and its aims, and secondly,
the fact that Nova Scotia was his Golden Hawks receive gold-plated mugs from the RCAFA. (L. to r.): S/L L.
home. During his address A/M Dun- Hubbard holds both his own mug and that of W/C J. F. Allon, who was absent;
lap outlined the status of the RCAF F/L B. R. Campbell; F/L N. J. Carriock; F/L J. L. Frazer; F/L B. Lebans; F/L A.
today and its commitments in the McDonald; F/L E. J. McKeogh; F/L G. Miller and F/L J. Giles.
defence of the free world.
On Friday evening the RCAF
Central Band, as they had done at
the more formal ceremonies, pro-
vided music for the social event of
the convention, the 'Bluenose Ball'.
At the awards dinner on Satur-
day No. 700 Edmonton Wing was
presented the trophy for 'Wing of
the Year', and Mr. H. M. Bell of
Winnipeg was presented the trophy
for Man of the Year'. Many other
presentations were made, most hu-
morous and interesting of which
was a mounted section of a horse
presented by Edmonton Wing to
Mr. A. L. Neily, chairman of the
host wings' committee. Saturday
evening Groups at Home 'Country
Style' were held in the ballroom to

30 THE ROUNDEL
 TOTEM POLES UNLIMITED

'[carving of totem poles, for and museum is actually built it will sible. When this building is com-
a symbol . of Indian culture in be well equipped as the National
Years b d . pleted Mr. Mungo Martin, inter-
sh Columbia, has veen a lying Museum in Ottawa has offered to
Brus! hi:f A nationally-famous Indian totem car-
art. Now, thanks to -~ 1e • lend, on permanent loan, 17 cases ver, intends to teach his art to the
Fr ink of the Comox tn e an L C of artifacts. These items, such as younger Indians. It is intended to
''""{ cake of ue RCAFE, native masks, robes and rattles will be construct the proposed museum in
ftsmanship and displays of Indian
crat supplemented by others owned by Centennial Park in Courtenay and
culture are about to experience a Chief Frank. the carving school in Comox on the
renaissance. Since the National Museum has Dyke Road Reserve.
While statio:d at Comox LAC stipulated that a warm, dry and fire- LAC Clarke was posted to RCAF
Clarke, a tel. ununications statis- proof building must be provided for Station Chibougamau before the
tics clerk, de·d to do something the artifacts, the Indian museum projects, for which he had worked so
about the c:cine in culture and will have to be built to adhere to hard, were completed. But he has
handicraft of:> west coast Indians. these requirements. The carving the satisfaction of knowing that
He developed a friendship with school, which will be constructed by there is a good possibility they
Chief Frank and together they made the volunteer labour of Chief Frank, will be carried out. Thus the Indians
plans for forming both a totem will have rough cedar boards for will acquire a new interest in their
carving school and an Indian mu- the walls and shakes for the roof in heritage, and at the same time create
seum. in order to resemble the old style a new source of income from the
For more than a year the pair Indian log house as much as pos- revitalized art of totem pole carving.
carried out an extensive campaign
for funds for both these projects.
They gave numerous talks to service
clubs, church groups, youth move-
Chief Andy Frank presented an eagle-design Indian sweater to LAC Bob Clarke
ments, schools, women's organiza-
as a farewell gift before the airman left Comox for his new station. Together
tions and historical societies. They they had worked for the revival of West Coast Indian arts and culture.
organized meetings where they ex-
plained the significance of various
Indian regalia and accoutrement and
the reasons for lagging interest in
Indian art. They put on a modified
"potlatch" for local Boy Scouts dur-
ing which a wiener roast was held
and Indian dances were performed
by Chief Frank and his grand-
daughter, Miss Florence Prince.
Frank and Clarke also contacted
various provincial and federal gov-
ernment agencies to appeal for
assistance.
Chief Frank's and LAC Clarke's
dedicated efforts were successful.
One organization, the Fair Board,
agreed to take on responsibility for
the museum and negotiations are
being undertaken for another in-
terested group to do likewise for the
totem carving school. If all goes well
31
NOVEMBER 1962
 RCAMC School Museum, and extend a
cordial invitation to visit our new museum
at any time.
G/C I H. Barclay,
TRI-SERVICE MEDICAL MUSEUM ments worn by medical officers, historical Commandant, CFMS Training Centre,
records, photographs, medical instruments, Camp Borden, Ont.
Dear Sir: and other paraphernalia of war, particularly
those which pertain to medical operations
We are pleased to announce that a Tri- in the RCAF. RE THE ANSON
Service Medical Museum has been opened All items will be gratefully acknowledged
at Canadian Forces Medical Service Train- Dear Sir:
and the name of the donor wil.l appear on
ing Centre, Camp Borden, Ontario. Most each item in the museum; articles on Joan I am sure everyone enjoys the "Aircraft
of the Museum pieces were inherited from will also be appreciated. They should be Album" series on the inside back cover of
the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps THE ROUNDEL At the risk of adding con-
School Museum, and consequently pertain sent to: structive criticism, may I point out that
to the Canadian Army Medical Corps and The Curator, not only did the Air Observation Schools
the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Canadian Forces Medical Service operate the Anson (Vol. 14, No. 6, Jul-Aug
Because of the large number of candidates Museum, 62) but No. 18 SFTS at Gimli, Manitoba,
from the three services who pass through Canadian Forces Medical Service trained pilots on this aircraft in the years
our training centre (Vol. 14, No. 8, Oct. 62), Training Centre 1943 to 1945 inclusive.
we are extremely anxious to develop a Camp Borden Ont. The Anson flapped and it was cold in
truly tri-service museum. winter but it was rugged. What more can
With this thought in mind, I appeal to I would like to take this opportunity to be asked of a pilot trainer? The writer
your readers for items of historical interest. once again thank the many readers of your survived a mid-air collision in an Anson
Suggested items are uniforms and accoutre- magazine who donated articles to the MK2. The aircraft involved were a ±ess of
tattered fabric, dangling control '· · ·.3 and
flapping controls but both fli·«% to
Gimli and achieved safe landing:.
F/L J. G. Sloan,
Resident Staff Officer,
102 McGill University ' :ron,
Montreal, Que.

M.R.E.S. RE-UNIONS
•6
Dear Sir:
.P The Missing Research and Enquiry Ser-
vice of the Commonwealth Air Forces was
y' {@» established in 1945 to collect information
on World War II casualties. By November
i} +i 1948 more than half of the 42,000 missing
had been located and MRES teams were
) working in widely scattered areas of the
globe.
You may be interested to know that an-
nual re-unions are held by former officers
·~ of this service, simultaneously in London,
Ottawa, Sydney and Wellington. The ob-
jective is to maintain and cement the friend-
ships formed between RAF members and
their Commonwealth colleagues.
I would very much like to hear from any
of your readers who were associated with
MRES and would be grateful if you would
publish my address.
P. E. Laughton-Bramley,
Haldon," Nightingale Ave.,
West Horsley, Nr. Leatherhead,
Surrey, England .

MARKED MATES
•
That's a mighty accomplished girl
Ben plans to marry. She can swim,
ride, dance, drive a car and pilot a
plane. A real all-round girl. They
"I GOT IT FILLED UP AT THE HANGAR ... WHY?"
should get along fine. Ben is a good
cook.

32 THE ROUNDEL
'ST1LL. flying with the RCAF (No. 408 Squadron), the gave the Canadian-built Lancaster Mk. 1 Os their opera-
Lancaster became the most famous of Britain's heavy tional initiation when they flew the first Mk. 10, "Ruhr
bombers during World War II. Easy to fly, it was still Express" to mark Berlin in November 1943. The same
capable of lifting increasing bomb loads, which were month this aircraft was sent to No. 419 Squadron, which
climaxed with the 22,000 pound "Grand Slams", the became the first squadron in No. 6 Group to fly Lancaster
biggest bombs of the war. Ten Victoria Crosses were won 1 Os (but not the first in the group to fly Lancasters.
by Lancaster crewmen, two of whom were Canadians No. 426 Squadron used Lancaster 2s on 17/18 August
(Mynarski and Bazelgette). Twelve RCAF squadrons flew
1943). A total of 7,378 Lancasters were built, including
the type on operations, beginning on the night of 2/3
August 1943 with No. 405 Squadron. Number 405 also 430 in Canada.
 The Queen's Printer - L'fmprimeur de la Reine

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]
RCAFA. u
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The Queen's Printrr, Ottawa, Canada
En cos de r1011-lfrraiso11, retou,·ner a:
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