Flypast V. 44 No. 11

Officer’s Mess at Canadian Forces Staff College

Volume 44Number 1

September 2009

http://www.cahs.ca/chapters/toronto.

Canadian Aviation Historical SocietyFirst Annual CAHS Toronto Dinner Meeting

Sunday September 27, 2009

Dinner at 6:30 PMArmour Heights Officers Mess

Canadian Forces College215 Yonge Blvd. at Wilson Avenue

Toronto

Special Speakers: Gerald Haddon - Grandson of J.A.D. McCurdyBjarni Tryggvason – Cdn. Astronaut & SilverDart Replica Pilot

$30.00 per Person – Spouses & Guests are mostwelcomeRSVP Chapter Secretary – Treasurer Tel: (416) 745 – 1462Email: rwinson@sympatico.caNext Month’s Meeting Oct 17, 2009

Last Month’s Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chapter News – September 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Folded Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Dinner Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Chapter Dues Increase for 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Electronic Observer Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Last Month’s MeetingMay MeetingTopic: Canada’s Centennial of Flight in theprinted word Speaker: Larry MilberryReporter: Gord McNulty

CAHS Toronto Chapter President HowardMalone introduced a man who truly needs nointroduction, Larry Milberry. A life member ofthe CAHS, Larry is “Mr. Aviation History” inCanada. Born in Haileybury, Ontario, in 1943,Larry has been following aviation since a boy.His writing days began in 1960 with articles insuch magazines as Air Pictorial. He co-authoredCanadian Communities (1975) and Canada:Immigrants and Settlers (1979), two widely-usedsocial studies textbooks. McGraw-Hill Ryersonpublished his first aeronautical title --- Aviationin Canada --- in 1979. It enjoyed five printingsand became the model for the subsequentCANAV Books series. Beginning with a historyof the CF-100, CANAV has published 29internationally acclaimed titles.

In covering the achievements of Canada’saviators and aviation innovators, Larry’s researchhas taken him to all parts of Canada andoverseas. Although never a pilot, he has flown inmore than 100 types from the Ford Trimotor tothe Norseman, North Star, C-130 Hercules andAntonov 124, F-106 and CF-18, B-52, PittsSpecial and Sikorsky Skycrane. He is also anHonourary Fellow of the Canadian Aeronauticsand Space Institute and Honourary Member ofthe Retired Airline Pilots of Canada. Larry hasbeen honoured by the Air Force Association ofCanada and the Canadian Owners and PilotsAssociation. In 2004, he was inducted intoCanada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Larry made an outstandingcontribution to the celebration of Canada’sCentennial of Flight this year by publishingAviation in Canada: The Pioneer Decades. This

is the first general interest book dedicated solelyto Canada’s beginnings in flight. His book coversthe development of Canada’s incredible flyingheritage, starting with an introductory balloonascent in New Brunswick in 1840, and traces theactivities that led to the Silver Dart, flown byJ.A.D. McCurdy, making Canada’s first poweredairplane flight at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, onFebruary 23, 1909. The book outlines howCanadians coast-to-coast were introduced toaircraft, mainly at fairs and exhibitions. Thenthousands went on to fight and die in World WarI --- the first great aerial conflict. ThreeCanadian airmen received the Victoria Cross. In1918, Canada’s airmen came home, manylooking for new frontiers.

Larry opened in his typically straightforwardstyle, telling the audience, “If you came herewearing your political correctness cap, you cantake it off now.” In his presentation, he took abroad look at Canada’s aviation heritage andwhat’s been done, mainly in the printed word, topreserve it. As Larry said, 2009 began withdecent efforts to generate interest in Canada’sCentennial of Flight, varying from one provinceto another. He noted the Toronto Aero Buffmodellers put on an ace of a model display in thelobby of the Canadian Air and Space Museum.There is a showing of aviation nose art at theWestern Canada Aviation Museum. One of thespeakers at the CAHS Calgary chapter meetingsfeatured the sad tale of Mosquito “F for Freddie.”So each chapter appears to be doing something.The agenda for the successful 46th annual CAHSconvention & AGM at Belleville and Trenton,July 2-4, included several Centennial-themedpresentations including such significantrestoration projects as the AEA 2005 Silver Dartreplica, completed in Niagara and subsequentlyflown at Baddeck in February.

Larry, who attended the Centennial of Flightcelebrations at Baddeck, was pleased to learn thatthe fine Silver Dart replica would be housed

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Centennial of Flight Demo Team at CFB TrentonAirshow. Photo - Gord McNulty

permanently in a wing to be added to the with events such as its Flyfest in June, includingmagnificent Bell Museum in Baddeck. All of the the first official flight of its Lysander. Severalmoving parts that had to be used to make the major air shows celebrated the Centennial ofaircraft airworthy will be replaced with Flight throughout the summer across Canada.near-original, obviously non-flight status, One of the most impressive took place July 4-5components. So it will be as close to an at 8 Wing Trenton, where an estimated 60,000 orauthentic Silver Dart as we’re ever going to see. more spectators enjoyed a commemorativeLarry recommended the Bell museum as a weekend aviation spectacle. The Trentonmust-see, along with the outstanding Curtiss ceremonies celebrated not only the 100thmuseum at Hammondsport, N.Y. In Montreal, in Anniversary of Powered Flight in Canada, butMay, the Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre at also the 85th anniversary of the RCAF, the 60thSte. Anne de Bellevue rolled out a near-perfect anniversary of the BCATP Memorial Gates, andreplica of a Bleriot, very similar to the pair that the 25th Anniversary of the National Airforceflew during the Montreal and Toronto aviation Museum of Canada. A magnificent air displaymeets of 1910. The museum, located at the featured the Snowbirds and the VWoC HawkMacdonald Campus of McGill University, is also One Sabre, the CF-18 Demo Team, and a widerestoring a Fairchild bushplane and a range of current and vintage aircraft. Bolingbroke. Much of its excellent work hasbeen supported by the son of Hubert Pasmore,who was manager of Fairchild of Canada atLongueil. The Alberta Aviation Museumconducted some commemorative re-enactmentsof historical flights, despite the rigours of winter.As many as 400 people attended a Centennial ofFlight dinner in April at Comox, B.C., themedaround a Golden Hawks reunion. About 15Golden Hawk pilots attended. Adding even moreto the occasion, the Snowbirds and the HawkOne Sabre restored to flying condition byVintage Wings of Canada in the colours of thelegendary RCAF Golden Hawks, practised theirroutine for the 2009 air show season. Larry also Larry discussed the enduring efforts made inlauded the Air Force Museum at 19 Wing, previous years to lay a foundation for Canada’sComox, for its exceptional quality. It has what is aviation heritage. The original material fromconsidered to be the second-finest aviation which our knowledge today emanates includeslibrary in Canada. such resources as the records of the AEA itself.

The Canadian Air and Space Museum held a Alexander Graham Bell insisted on recordingsuccessful Wings & Wheels event, the fourth and preserving in print everything that the AEAannual, in May, together with other special accomplished --- its goals, successes, failures.events during the summer highlighting Canadian There wasn’t any secrecy with Bell, in contrast toachievements exemplified by the Silver Dart, the the Wright brothers and also Glenn Curtiss andArrow and the Jetliner. In addition, the Canadian associates. Meanwhile, the contemporary pressWarplane Heritage Museum has been on a roll back then usually provided decent coverage of

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 4

anything to do with flight, starting with Canada’s were reading from a host of UK and US aviationfirst manned balloon ascent at Saint John, New monthlies, getting all the immediate ‘gen’ ---Brunswick, in 1840. Although copies of most in-depth articles covering technology, flying19th century local newspapers have not survived, clubs, air regulations, military developments,there are enough in our archives coast to coast, so biographical information and so on. All of this iswe know about pretty well all the pioneer balloon exceedingly valuable material for us to tap today.events and other flight developments that Canadian Air Review, the voice of the Aerialculminated at Baddeck. Larry contended that League of Canada, and Canadian Aviationcontrary to what some of our “PhD aviation magazine, the voice of the Canadian Flyingresearchers” would say, such contemporary Clubs Association, both were circulating bynewspapers by now should be viewed as a 1928. Also, by this time, people began to delveprimary source for any serious researcher. More in our aviation history seriously, led by Frank H.and more archival newspapers are coming on line Ellis. He was one of the few Canadian membersevery day. Through the Toronto Public Library, of the “Early Birds,” someone who had piloted afor example, The Globe and Mail and The Star plane before Dec. 17, 1913 (the 10th anniversaryare freely available from Day 1 --- 1844 for The of the Wright brothers’ first flight). Frank EllisGlobe in fact. Larry called a library card “a lazy seems to have been born with a love for historyman’s source of fabulous information.” in his veins, gathering all kinds of material.

Beyond the local press, even before the First By the mid-1930s, Canadian Aviation wasWorld War specialized international publications publishing Ellis’ articles. In due course, hecovered flight. The first such in Canada likely turned these into an in-depth manuscript. Butappeared during the Great War --- newsletters book publishing was costly, so how was anand magazines published by the Royal Flying ordinary working man like Ellis going to get hisCorps training stations in Ontario at places such dream into print? The problem was solved whenas Beamsville, Deseronto, Borden, Leaside and Imperial Oil agreed to fund the project. This wasArmour Heights in Toronto. Then, just at war’s likely due to the special interest of pioneer bushend, Lieutenant Alan Sullivan was commissioned and Arctic pilot T.M. “Pat” Reid, then in sales atto write a resume of the RFC training plan. This Imperial Oil. At the same time an arrangementresulted in his 1918 title, Aviation in Canada. was made with the University of Toronto pressSullivan did an excellent job telling the story, and Ellis’ book was published in 1954. Entitledusing mountains of source material and Canada’s Flying Heritage, this amazingly fineillustrating the book with a wide selection of work remains in print 55 years later. In Larry’stop-drawer photos. Copies of Sullivan’s book view, “CFH,” as it is called, is where anyoneare usually for sale any day of the week on such who really cares about the subject must begin toInternet sites as abeebooks.com. Just before his read. Many copies are still for sale any day of thepresentation, Larry saw 36 copies on offer on week on the Internet. CFH is certainly Canada’s“abe” ranging from $20 to $90 --- an excellent aviation history bible, yet its great author, Frankvalue. Whenever he sees a copy, it is nearly Ellis, remains unrecognized by Canada’salways in mint condition, including high quality Aviation Hall of Fame. paper, and well-made --- even though the book is Other people have since done great worknearly 100 years old. He suggested any serious getting Canada’s aviation heritage into print.aviation reader should have a copy. Next to Ellis, Larry would name Kenneth M.

Meanwhile, in the post-WWI days, Canadians Molson, author and longtime CAHS stalwart.

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Larry said that Molson’s seminal works, first great curators, Molson and Bradford. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909 and Pioneering in Along the way, fortunately, other researchersCanadian Air Transport, also should be in every and authors have produced some very solid andself-respecting aviation fan’s library. Like Ellis, enduring books. The bibliography today is vast,Molson followed the aviation scene since he was and Larry mentioned some of the true highlights:a boy. He learned to fly pre-war, studied the CAHS’s own 1983 125 Years of Canadianaeronautic science and worked at Victory Aeronautics, the great John Griffin’s 1969Aircraft and Avro Canada, then became the first Canadian Military Aircraft Serials andcurator of the National Aeronautical Collection Photographs, the incredibly useful 1977in Ottawa in the mid-1960s. There, Ken set the Griffin-Kostenuk title RCAF Squadrons andtone in establishing the world-class museum that Aircraft, Fred Hatch’s indispensable 1983thousands visit annually. His special love was the Aerodrome of Democracy, Fred Hotson’s 1983bushplanes of the interwar years, so he set out to The de Havilland Canada Story, Donald Bain’scollect as many relevant examples as he could. 1987 Canadian Pacific Air Lines: Its History andToday, you can enjoy the results of Ken’s efforts Aircraft, John Blatherwick’s 1989 A History ofin such beautifully restored types as the Bellanca, Airlines in Canada and Tom McGrath’s 1991Fairchild, HS-2L and Junkers. History of Canadian Airports. With these books

Molson also collaborated with such great on your shelf, you have the absolute core of ahistory-minded men in Ottawa as Wing fine Canadian aviation library.Commander Ralph Manning in establishing a There are by now hundreds of Canadiancollection of WWI and WWII aircraft, especially aviation biographies and autobiographies. Mostthose of the British Commonwealth Air Training are decent, if not excellent, contributions. LarryPlan, at the museum. Ken later gave us another mentioned such titles as Jack Lamb’s My Life inseminal book --- Canada’s National Aeronautical the North, Rex Terpening’s Bent Props andMuseum: Its History and Collections --- then Blowprops, Wess McIntosh’s Permissioncollaborated with another leading aviation Granted or Hap Kennedy’s Black Crosses Offhistory professional, Fred Shortt, to write the My Wingtip. The advent of “just in time” printCurtiss HS Flying Boats. Larry said these are two technology has enabled many to economicallyfurther gems that eminently deserve to be on produce small runs of their own aviationyour library shelf. The “HS” book is histories. While in Campbell River in April,exceptional. It was supposed to be the first of a Larry met retired Air Canada pilot Danny Bereza,series. However, once Ken, then his eminent who is writing a book called The Big Dippersuccessor --- Bob Bradford --- had retired from Route. Luckily, he had a copy to sell. Danny’sthe museum, serious publishing ceased. The tone book is a top-notch story about a young pilot’schanged, sad to say, from high enthusiasm for rights of passage in Arctic aviation. Well-writtenCanada’s aviation heritage, to what Larry and professionally edited, done in readable typedescribed as the humdrum of a well-tuned and so on, it’s a solid piece of work that beginsOttawa civil service operation. Larry said he to tell Danny’s story and that of a little-knownalmost fell over when he came across a decidedly Canadian air operator, Great Northern Airlines ofAmerican addition to the museum collection: a Whitehorse. U.S. Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas Harrier. Larry gave special recognition to what heNonetheless, as Larry noted, the museum called probably the grandest published source ofremains a monument of the finest order to its all Canadian aviation history --- our own CAHS

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 6

Larry Milberry speaking in May. Photo- Neil McGavock

Journal. Begun in 1963 and published faithfully process, Larry is currently trying to produce aat the rate of four per year, the Journal has now series on the Centennial of Flight. Volume 1reached almost 200 printed editions. Each one is came out in November 2008 --- Aviation inrock solid as to excellence in format and content. Canada: The Pioneer Decades. Volume 2,Responsible for each and every one of the first Aviation in Canada: The Formative Years,46 volumes, is the amazing Bill Wheeler. As appeared this summer. People usually ask Larryeditor, Bill put some 6000 to 7000 pages of most about the history process as he pursues it.Canadian aviation history onto the printed page. In gathering material, he followed aIt’s fair to say, as Larry did, that no individual tried-and-true system that began while hehas done more to advance our important cause. developed his first book, Aviation in Canada,Knowledgeable historians all over the world published in 1979. After interviewing face tohave lauded the Journal. We certainly can all be face and corresponding vigorously with the likesproud of it and of Bill, the amiable and of Russ Bannock, Jack Charleson, Bud Found,unflappable editor who served faithfully until his Bob Fowler, Tommy Fox, Lewie Leigh, Wessretirement with completion of the Winter 2008 McIntosh, Al Soutar and Harry Whereatt, LarryJournal, Vol. 46 No. 4. became a proponet of the personal interview.

Discussing the aviation book publishing historically reliable book, often a lot more

The way that a productive interview goes isstraightforward.

Larry sits down with an aviator who has onthe table before them his logbook, scrapbooks,photos, official documents, correspondence andsuch like. By going through all this material,while asking a series of very direct andsometimes pointed questions, the researcherstarts to get a good history going. Larry recentlyinterviewed Typhoon pilot John Porter inParksville, BC, then drove up to Campbell Riverto put Bomber Command air gunner Ted Turnerunder the microscope. What resulted is twopieces of solid history that will get nicely refinedover the next few months, starting by havingJohn and Ted tear apart Larry’s initial drafts.Naturally, Larry also uses all the official sourceshe can find, from the ORBs to personnel files,accident reports, official photo files and the like.Eventually, several qualified people also willread the manuscript --- maybe a formercrewmate, employer or CO. Qualifiedproofreaders also have a go at the manuscript,then at the galley proofs. The final result is somepretty solid reading, even if none of it is everdone to ultimate perfection. Larry produces a

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interesting than much of the work produced by of the Royal Canadian Mint honouring theorganizations such as the museums in Ottawa or Centennial of Powered Flight in Canada.the directorate of history. In Larry’s view, Howard Malone then presented special plaquesgovernment historians tend to dismiss relevant to five people in recognition of their tremendoushuman content and wind up producing drab contributions to the CAHS, the Toronto Chapter,pieces of work, created solely from official and stellar accomplishments as aviationdocuments. historians over many years. The honourees were

Another topic often queried is marketing --- Larry Milberry, Bill Wheeler, Fred Hotson,who really wants books badly enough to lay out Sheldon Benner and George Topple.the cash? That’s the great conundrum. Even oneof Larry’s smaller books cost $50,000 tocomplete. In terms of sales, CANAV decidedlong ago to specialize in mail order. This cameabout after Larry’s initial experiences withCanada’s book sellers, who he refers to as “thepeople who pretend to buy books, then pretend topay for them.” Sad to say, but nearly the entireretail book business is that way. So, CANAVsurvives by selling directly to those readersseriously interested in aviation books androughly speaking, that approach works. Otherthan that, Larry still has a handful of trade outlets---- solid, well-run operators such as AviationWorld, and a few aviation museum gift shopsthat appreciate the important role of book sales inthe museum fundraising game. Larry’s goal hasnever been to make money in the book business,but to enjoy the aviation world --- which hereally has.

Larry answered a number of questions. Hesaid that while apathy can be frustrating, it “justgoes with the territory.” Larry typically has “lotsof rockets” fired at him from people. It oftenboils down to those who look at the index of oneof his books and much to their chagrin, can’t findtheir name. As Larry noted, it would beimpossible to credit every individual for theirinvolvement in any given topic. In any case, hedescribed himself as “pretty armour-plated bynow” after completing 30 books. ChapterSecretary-Treasurer Bob Winson presented afitting gift to Larry in appreciation for all of hisdedicated effort --- the 2009 Proof Silver Dollar

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Background on the Aero Club of BuffaloGeorge Topple, 1st Vice-President of the

Chapter, then gave a report on a trip to an AeroClub of Buffalo meeting on Apr. 24. Georgewas accompanied by 2nd Vice-President GordMcNulty and by Sheldon Benner, former CAHSNational Membership Director.

George began by noting that the ChapterExecutive has been very concerned about fallingmembership attendance at meetings. He counted38 members in the audience for the Maymeeting, well down from about six years agowhen as many as 140 members would attendmeetings at the North York Public Library.When the Chapter moved to a location onBeecroft Avenue, attendance dropped to about 65members per meeting. The move to theCanadian Air and Space Museum for Saturdayafternoons has seen a further drop to about 35dedicated members.

While the Chapter remains healthyfinancially, the attendance is not. George saidthe Executive realizes that folded wings and anaging membership are factors, but believes thatother reasons are involved. Taking up asuggestion from Larry Milberry, Georgeorganized the trip to the 180-member Aero Clubof Buffalo --- the oldest aero club in America andthe second oldest in the world. A highlysuccessful organization, it began in 1879 as abicycle club, then became an auto club, andultimately an aero club. The membership fee is

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$30 a year and a newsletter is produced once a Lake Mart-Yavr within the Russian Arctic Circlemonth except for summer. for 60 years. It was discovered by a fisherman

Arriving at the Protocol Restaurant in who saw the silt-covered outline through theWilliamsville, NY, our group was warmly crystal clear waters of the lake. The airframe,welcomed. After paying our $20 admission fee, with the remains of the pilot in the cockpit, waswe were presented with their club pin --- a harvested from the lake. The pilot’s remainsBuffalo (the animal not the aircraft). A brief were buried with full Russian military honourshistory of the club was on the back of the card. near the Russian Litza Valley. The aircraft wasGeorge felt this is definitely an idea the Toronto recovered in 2004 and returned home to Buffalo,Chapter could implement. We went to sit at a for restoration at the old Bell plant, in 2009. Ittable for 10 people and more people began to will be displayed as a highlight of the Ira G. Rossarrive shortly after the scheduled 6 p.m. starting Aerospace Museum, located at the HSBC Arena,time for cocktails. We enjoyed conversing with in Buffalo. What a fascinating story. some friendly and interesting people, such as a After the meeting concluded at 9 p.m., we metformer Navy fighter pilot, Navy transport pilot with Fran Bainbridge, the immediate pastand two couples who were private aviation president, and her husband to exchange ideas.pilots. As George noted, most people had a Fran said the club is not a charitable organizationpre-dinner cocktail and the conversation flowed but does retain tax-free status. It uses theeasily. They were very interested in our following procedure for each meeting: Aorganization and freely exchanged information one-page newsletter is sent out no more thanabout theirs. three days after the meeting; along with their

Just prior to the dinner, served as scheduled newsletter, every member receives a card withprecisely at 7 p.m., the president of the club, notification of the next meeting, advising theGerald Bainbridge, came to our table. He began time, date, location and speaker information.a general discussion, using a microphone, and we Members complete the notification card andintroduced ourselves. Gerald also welcomed return it with a cheque or money order to theback a member who had been ill for a few organizer by the specified date. This is necessarymonths. He gave him a welcome back card and for meal-ordering purposes. However,a small jar of jelly beans, this gentleman’s last-minute orders can still be taken. Money isfavourite candy. As George said, the look on this returned if a member cancels 24 hours prior toman’s face said it all. This is another worthwhile the start of the meeting. All meetings must startidea we can use. The dinner was most enjoyable and end on time and speakers are advised they--- soup followed by a choice of salmon, chicken have one hour to make their presentation.or pork, with ice cream for dessert. Other interesting points were noted: Women

At 8 p.m., the speaker --- the Aero Club of associated with aviation are invited to meetingsBuffalo’s past president, Hugh Neeson --- made and encouraged to join. The Ninety-Nines, Inc.,a fine illustrated presentation on the recovery of are evidently well represented in the club. In fact,a Bell P-39Q Airacobra from Russia. Of 9,558 Fran indicated the club took off only after itAiracobras built by Bell Aircraft Corporation, started to invite the wives. As long as talks aren’t4,773 (mostly -39N and -39Q) were sent to the too technical, the women seem to enjoy theSoviet Union through the Lend Lease program program. Many members who have difficultyduring World War II. The aircraft in question, driving at night are now able to attend becauseBell P-39Q-15BE 44-2911, sat at the bottom of their wives can drive them to the meeting and

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join in. A restaurant with good parking and learned to fly on Tiger Moths in the RCAFaccess to public transportation is mandatory. during 1940. Art finished the final phase of hisUsing restaurants with proper facilities, the club flying training at Brantford Service Flyinghas reduced meeting room fees as the room is Training School on the gentlemanly Avro Anson.often rented for the cost of the food. We later After OTU training on the Whitley bomber in thelearned that the club was able to keep the ticket UK he was posted to 405 Squadron at Driffield,price to $20 without having to subsidize the cost Yorkshire in June of 1941. It was the first Royalfrom its own revenues. It made a deal with the Canadian Air Force bomber squadron to berestaurant and the tax exemption also helps. (For formed. Art became the first Canadianthe May 2009 meeting, held at Joseph’s Country Sergeant-Pilot on strength.Manor and Grove, in Depew, NY, the ticket price The squadron was equipped with Wellingtonwas $32.) bombers, which were about the size of a Dakota.

Fran indicated the quality of the speakers does Art felt that the Wellington was ahead of its timeaffect the turnout, but not excessively. Excellent since it had many advanced features, includingacoustics and lighting is mandatory. The cockpit heating, retractable tailwheel, constantaudio/visual system should be checked before the speed propellers, wing de-icing, self-sealing fuelmeeting to prevent any delays. A choice of three tanks and balloon wire-cutters. After a fewentrees is advisable. Starting and ending on time missions Art became a Captain on Wellingtonsis appreciated by the members. People are with 250 hours in his logbook! He subsequentlyencouraged to sit with different persons each flew to targets in Wilhelmshaven, Berlin,meeting to increase fellowship. An organized, Cologne, Rotterdam, Hamburg and the Ruhrup-to-date website is advisable, and Fran felt that valley.a cash bar is worthwhile. In November of 1941, Art was posted to No.

Our overall impression was that of a very 21 OTU, near Stratford-on-Avon where he spentfriendly, organized club which enjoys an average a year instructing. He was then posted to theof 100 to 120 people attending each meeting. Middle East flying Wellington X’s. With theGeorge then led a discussion with the introduction of the four-engined heavy bomber tomembership regarding arrangements for our the European Theatre, Wellington bombers wereSeptember, October and November meetings. assigned to the Middle East and Italy. The targetsWe extend our thanks to the Aero Club of were the shipping route through theBuffalo for their hospitality, support and good Mediterranean to Egypt and the Suez Canal withwishes. the aim to possess enough airfields to control it.

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Chapter News – September 2009Folded Wings

Dr. Arthur (Art) Bryant Wahlroth (CAHS#1286) passed away on August 11, 2009. Artworked summers at the old Toronto Flying Clublocated at the southern end of the presentDownsview airport north-south runway. At theclub he was exposed to flying of all types andthis was to motivate him for many decades. He

Italy’s entry into the Axis in 1940 caused the warto spread to Africa. Flying duties includeddestroying floating mines and bombing targets inTunisia and Italy.

A return to Canada came in the fall of 1944when Art was posted to 413 Photo SurveySquadron based at Rockcliffe. The squadron hadthree early mark Spitfires, a Hurricane, aLysander and a number of Anson Mk 5s, plusthree float-equipped Norseman. Art was attractedto the Norseman and soon had a checkout on

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floats. This would lead him to a seasonal bush at Cold Lake painting CF –18s. As a result, theflying career that would take him to northern Canadian War Museum holds a substantialOntario and Quebec. He started his civil flying in collection of his work.the Georgian Bay area and also started classes at Tom and this writer made many trips to thethe University of Toronto. His “real” bush flying Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, initially inbegan with Austin Airways and later with 1964 for our first CAHS Convention. We alsoOntario Central Airlines in the summer months, flew to the UK in 1988 to visit most of the majorresuming classes every fall. Art at the end of his British aviation museums. As CAHS membersstudies became a very successful optometrist. He we were usually given guided tours. Highlightingspoke three times each to the Ottawa and the trip was a lunch at the RAF Club in LondonToronto Chapters and contributed six articles to as the guest of the late Frank Wootton, the “deanthe Journal. of aviation artists”, who also took us to the

Chapter files opening of the Guild of Aviation Artists annual

Additionally, we have been informed of the the trip we would visit the Wootton home inpassing of three longtime Chapter Alfriston, Sussex to see Frank’s studio and havemembers…………. supper with him and his wife Jinny. Tom was an

Bjarni Thomas (Tom) Bjarnason 1924 –2008 (CAHS #0252) On August 31, a memorialservice was held in Windsor for Tom Bjarnason,one of our Society’s earliest members. Inattendance, representing the CAHS, were LarryMilberry and the writer, Bill Wheeler, whodelivered the eulogy. For many years, Tom hadbeen one of Canada’s leading illustrators andcertainly one of our most accomplished aviationartists. His ability was recognized by a LifetimeAchievement Award from CAPAC, the CanadianAssociation of Professional Artists andPhotographers. Since Tom contributed the first ofhis many Journal covers back in 1966, CAHSmembers will all be familiar with his work.Another contributor of Journal cover art, WillDavies, once regarded as Canada’s top illustratorwas Tom’s colleague and a very close friend.

In 1970, participating in the CAFCAP(Canadian Armed Forces Civilian Artist’sProgramme), Tom was flown to Germany by theCAF to visually document operations on bases atLahr and Baden-Soellingen, where he paintedStarfighters and Hercules Transports. In 1981, heagain became involved, spending several weeks

show. Frank was the Guild’s President. Later in

excellent traveling companion - he had workedas a freelance illustrator in London for manyyears and knew the country. It was a memorabletrip for both of us.

Tom’s generosity was legend. The desk clerkat our hotel in London liked his broad-brimmedleather hat – so Tom gave it to him. When myeldest son lost his life in a motorcycle accident,Tom painted his portrait and would acceptnothing more than an invitation for supper. Andfew of his buddies do not own a Bjarnason ortwo given to them by the artist.

Tom was a long-time member of a group ofaviation enthusiasts and CAHS members, dubbedthe “Aeronuts” by one of the wives, who met ata Markham pub for lunch on Saturdays. Winteror summer, he drove in from Port Hope, nevermissing a session.

During the war, Tom tried to enlist in theRCAF, but was turned down because of a “lazy”eye (which a later doctor could not detect). Hewas deeply disappointed. Then the Army draftedhim into the Signal Corps. Eventually he wassent home from the UK with a life-threateningcase of pleurisy. During the months he spentconvalescing in a Winnipeg hospital, he began

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drawing and found that he had a definite flair, for the September 2009 meeting. You have allleading to art school in Detroit and a very received information under a separate mailingsuccessful career as an illustrator in Toronto. He about the Chapter’s Dinner Meeting oneventually moved to Port Hope, renting a large September 27 to be held at the historic setting ofstudio loft where he created the “assemblages” the Canadian Forces College. Please come outfor which he was becoming known. Several of and support this new venture which the Chapterhis pieces were purchased by NavCanada for the Executive hopes will add considerable value andwalls of their Ottawa offices. Sadly, several years enjoyment to your Chapter membershipago he began to exhibit symptoms ofAlzheimer’s and was fortunate to be cared for byrelatives in Belle River, Ontario. He was in To combat the yearly increases in postal rateshospital with a broken hip when he contracted and this year’s increase in the price of printingpneumonia and died. Tom was 84. paper for Flypast it was decided by the Executive

Bill Wheeler Committee to increase Chapter dues for 2010 as

Donald Charles Fawcett (CAHS # 0706)Donald died in his 85th year on May 31, 2009.Donald was a native of Alberta who thoroughlyenjoyed attending chapter meetings and manyairshows. He served in the wartime RCAF andtrained as a pilot. In the postwar period he was acommercial photographer. Our condolences areextended to his wife, Joan. New Members

Joan Fawcett & files

William Hiley Roberts (David) (CAHS #3608) David passed away on February 3, 2009.David was also a native of Alberta, born on theGrizzly Bear Ranch outside of Vermilion.David’s family moved back to England duringthe Great Depression. At age 16, David enlistedin the RAF and served in Malta and India asground crew hoping all the while to become apilot. Postwar he returned to Alberta and studiedengineering at the Calgary Institute ofTechnology. He was then hired by A.V. Roe andworked on the Arrow and later with the OrendaEngines Division until retirement.

Family & files

Dinner MeetingAt the June 24th. Chapter Executive Meeting

it was decided to proceed with a changed format

Chapter Dues Increase for 2010

follows: Email Service - $20.00 (unchanged)Mail Service - $25.00. The Executive Committeeregrets that this action had to be taken in spite ofthe Chapter’s relatively solid financial standing.The last price increase that occurred was in 2003and that brought the price of the annual dues upfrom $15.00 to $20.00.

We are pleased to welcome Keith Hyde, KenMist (CAHS #5500) and Scott Maclagan asmembers of the Toronto Chapter. Keith and Kenare both active volunteers with the Canadian Air& Space Museum, while members mayremember Scott as our September 2008 speaker.Scott spoke at that time about his experiences asa CF-100 navigator in the RCAF.

Electronic Observer WingsThe mystery

wings from May arepre-1952 (King’scrown) RCAFelectronic observer’swings.

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 12

By Taxi: Take the TTC Subway to the DownsviewStation and take a taxi from there. It will cost around$8 one way, but it is by far the most convenientoption for tourists, because the cab will take youright to our front door, whereas the TTC -unfortunately - doesn't!

By Car: From the 401 East or West, exit at KeeleStreet North. Turn right on Sheppard Ave, and followSheppard the entrance to Downsview Park. Turnright into the park (onto John Drury Road) until youreach Carl Hall Road. Turn left at Carl Hall andcontinue east over the railway tracks to the Museum,which is on your right hand side.

By TTC: From the Downsview TTC station takethe 108 Downsview, the 86 Sheppard West,Westbound or the 84 Sheppard West, Westbound busand ask the driver to let you off at the DownsviewPark entrance (it is well past the DRDC and Idomobuildings). Walk into the park entrance and followJohn Drury Road until you reach Carl Hall Road.Turn left at Carl Hall Road and continue east overthe railway tracks to the Museum, which is on yourright hand side. Approximate walking distance is 0.7km.

CAHS National Website : www.cahs.caMeetings and news from all the chapters, journal back issues, and more!Toronto Chapter Meetings - 2nd Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall RoadTAM is in the former deHaviland building in Downsview ParkNear Downsview TTC Station

All Welcome