As I Have Been Absent from a Number of Functions and 101 Meetings and Haven T a Clue What
Contrails, May 2007
Life is full of changes … where once I was living the fat and happy life of President of 101 Squadron in that idyllic paradise known as “the North Island,” I now find myself scrambling for a living amidst the noise and bustle of our provincial capital - way down at the other end of the Island. After the 1st of July I will no longer be President so I am grateful my comrades and colleagues kindly left me the humble duty of writing the Contrails articleand I promise not to miss too many more deadlines.
As I have been absent from a number of functions and 101 meetings and haven’t a clue what’s going on anymore I will just make up a whole bunch of stuff and see if you good readers can tell that from the truth… oh, but of course you know that’s what I’ve always done anyway!
101 has been working on compiling a list of crash sites on the NorthIsland to facilitate our efforts to commemorate those comrades who have fallen. That work has gone well and we have had a map plotted with those sites shown with all relevant information. There are still some crashes we would like to learn about and are inviting our readers to pass on any information they might have regarding any such locations on the North Island.
We dusted off the Fish & Chip wagon – “Smuggler’s Inn” –recently, for the third annual “North Vancouver Island Artist Society Spring for the Arts Festival and weredelighted everything went well - our team’s really cooking! as you can see from the picture. We’re in fine form for the many upcoming events we’ll be serving at, such as our beloved parents, 888 Wing, and the messes for Officers, and the WOs, and SM NCOs at 19 Wing this month and next and on Canada Day with the Port McNeill Flying Club (helping our brand new President, Bill Velie, dazzle the North Island with amazing feats of aerial daring-do.) That list goes on and on,as do our efforts to obtain fish for the hungry hordes. “Many hands make light work,” and watching the 101 crew filleting a ton of freshly caught fish would bring tears to your eyes… as it does those who have lost fingers and limbs (well… almost!)
We are happy to announce the Canadian Rangers will be looking after maintenance of the Ventura Memorial at Lawn Point and the Dakota 576 as part of their exercises. Unfortunately it is a sad statement about some people’s lack of respectfor history and the sacrifices of our airmen that vandalism has occurred to signs at the 576 Dakota site. One can only hope that karma follows the perpetrators wherever they go.
Plans are going well for this year’s Battle of Britain event, which will take place at the old RCAF station at CoalHarbour. One of the many things that is being done as part of that celebration will be the permanent display of a map pointing out the various buildings and points of interest of the old Station. Work on erecting an obelisk in memory of the crew of a doomed Stranraer 951 based out of Coal Harbour is going well and the commemoration ceremony will take place on the 14 of September which is the same weekend as the Battle of Britain.
101 will be placing two Heritage Stones at the ComoxAirPark this June. We conducted theBattle of the Atlantic Sunday Paradeand were helped by the Port Hardy Legion.No rain and it turned out to be a very good event that was appreciated by the Naval Vets. Russ Hellberg will attend the Pacific Group AGM in Kamloops. I look forward to seeing all my friends at 888 Wing this spring! ~ Bob Hemphill, Victoria.
