Volume 44 September 2009 Number 1

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

Canadian Aviation Historical Society Special Speakers: First Annual CAHS Toronto Dinner Meeting Gerald Haddon - Grandson of J.A.D. McCurdy Sunday September 27, 2009 Bjarni Tryggvason – Cdn. Astronaut & Silver Dart Replica Pilot Dinner at 6:30 PM Armour Heights Officers Mess $30.00 per Person – Spouses & Guests are most Canadian Forces College welcome 215 Yonge Blvd. at Wilson Avenue RSVP Chapter Secretary – Treasurer Toronto Tel: (416) 745 – 1462 Email: [email protected] Next Month’s Meeting Oct 17, 2009

Last Month’s Meeting ...... 2

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

Officer’s Mess at Canadian Forces Staff College

1 Flypast V. 44 No. 1 Last Month’s Meeting is the first general interest book dedicated solely May Meeting to Canada’s beginnings in flight. His book covers Topic: Canada’s Centennial of Flight in the the development of Canada’s incredible flying printed word heritage, starting with an introductory balloon Speaker: Larry Milberry ascent in New Brunswick in 1840, and traces the Reporter: Gord McNulty activities that led to the Silver Dart, flown by J.A.D. McCurdy, making Canada’s first powered CAHS Toronto Chapter President Howard airplane flight at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, on Malone introduced a man who truly needs no February 23, 1909. The book outlines how introduction, Larry Milberry. A life member of Canadians coast-to-coast were introduced to the CAHS, Larry is “Mr. Aviation History” in aircraft, mainly at fairs and exhibitions. Then Canada. Born in Haileybury, , in 1943, thousands went on to fight and die in World War Larry has been following aviation since a boy. I --- the first great aerial conflict. Three His writing days began in 1960 with articles in Canadian airmen received the Victoria Cross. In such magazines as Air Pictorial. He co-authored 1918, Canada’s airmen came home, many Canadian Communities (1975) and Canada: looking for new frontiers. Immigrants and Settlers (1979), two widely-used Larry opened in his typically straightforward social studies textbooks. McGraw-Hill Ryerson style, telling the audience, “If you came here published his first aeronautical title --- Aviation wearing your political correctness cap, you can in Canada --- in 1979. It enjoyed five printings take it off now.” In his presentation, he took a and became the model for the subsequent broad look at Canada’s aviation heritage and CANAV Books series. Beginning with a history what’s been done, mainly in the printed word, to of the CF-100, CANAV has published 29 preserve it. As Larry said, 2009 began with internationally acclaimed titles. decent efforts to generate interest in Canada’s In covering the achievements of Canada’s Centennial of Flight, varying from one province aviators and aviation innovators, Larry’s research to another. He noted the Toronto Aero Buff has taken him to all parts of Canada and modellers put on an ace of a model display in the overseas. Although never a pilot, he has flown in lobby of the Canadian Air and Space Museum. more than 100 types from the Ford Trimotor to There is a showing of aviation nose art at the the Norseman, North Star, C-130 Hercules and Western Canada Aviation Museum. One of the Antonov 124, F-106 and CF-18, B-52, Pitts speakers at the CAHS Calgary chapter meetings Special and Sikorsky Skycrane. He is also an featured the sad tale of Mosquito “F for Freddie.” Honourary Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics So each chapter appears to be doing something. and Space Institute and Honourary Member of The agenda for the successful 46th annual CAHS the Retired Airline Pilots of Canada. Larry has convention & AGM at Belleville and Trenton, been honoured by the Air Force Association of July 2-4, included several Centennial-themed Canada and the Canadian Owners and Pilots presentations including such significant Association. In 2004, he was inducted into restoration projects as the AEA 2005 Silver Dart Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. replica, completed in Niagara and subsequently In 2008, Larry made an outstanding flown at Baddeck in February. contribution to the celebration of Canada’s Larry, who attended the Centennial of Flight Centennial of Flight this year by publishing celebrations at Baddeck, was pleased to learn that Aviation in Canada: The Pioneer Decades. This the fine Silver Dart replica would be housed

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 2 permanently in a wing to be added to the with events such as its Flyfest in June, including magnificent Bell Museum in Baddeck. All of the the first official flight of its Lysander. Several moving parts that had to be used to make the major air shows celebrated the Centennial of aircraft 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 4-5 components. So it will be as close to an at 8 Wing Trenton, where an estimated 60,000 or authentic Silver Dart as we’re ever going to see. more spectators enjoyed a commemorative Larry recommended the Bell museum as a weekend aviation spectacle. The Trenton must-see, along with the outstanding Curtiss ceremonies celebrated not only the 100th museum at Hammondsport, N.Y. In Montreal, in Anniversary of Powered Flight in Canada, but May, the Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre at also the 85th anniversary of the RCAF, the 60th Ste. Anne de Bellevue rolled out a near-perfect anniversary of the BCATP Memorial Gates, and replica of a Bleriot, very similar to the pair that the 25th Anniversary of the National Airforce flew during the Montreal and Toronto aviation Museum of Canada. A magnificent air display meets of 1910. The museum, located at the featured the Snowbirds and the VWoC Hawk Macdonald Campus of McGill University, is also One Sabre, the CF-18 Demo Team, and a wide restoring a Fairchild bushplane and a range of current and vintage aircraft. Bolingbroke. Much of its excellent work has been supported by the son of Hubert Pasmore, who was manager of Fairchild of Canada at Longueil. The Alberta Aviation Museum conducted some commemorative re-enactments of historical flights, despite the rigours of winter. As many as 400 people attended a Centennial of Flight dinner in April at Comox, B.C., themed around a Golden Hawks reunion. About 15 Golden Hawk pilots attended. Adding even more to the occasion, the Snowbirds and the Hawk One Sabre restored to flying condition by Centennial of Flight Demo Team at CFB Trenton Vintage Wings of Canada in the colours of the Airshow. Photo - Gord McNulty legendary RCAF Golden Hawks, practised their routine for the 2009 air show season. Larry also Larry discussed the enduring efforts made in lauded the Air Force Museum at 19 Wing, previous years to lay a foundation for Canada’s Comox, for its exceptional quality. It has what is aviation heritage. The original material from considered to be the second-finest aviation which our knowledge today emanates includes library in Canada. such resources as the records of the AEA itself. The Canadian Air and Space Museum held a Alexander Graham Bell insisted on recording successful Wings & Wheels event, the fourth and preserving in print everything that the AEA annual, 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 to achievements exemplified by the Silver Dart, the the Wright brothers and also Glenn Curtiss and Arrow and the Jetliner. In addition, the Canadian associates. Meanwhile, the contemporary press Warplane Heritage Museum has been on a roll back then usually provided decent coverage of

3 Flypast V. 44 No. 1 anything to do with flight, starting with Canada’s were reading from a host of UK and US aviation first 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, flying 19th 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 is we 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 Aerial culminated at Baddeck. Larry contended that League of Canada, and Canadian Aviation contrary to what some of our “PhD aviation magazine, the voice of the Canadian Flying researchers” would say, such contemporary Clubs Association, both were circulating by newspapers by now should be viewed as a 1928. Also, by this time, people began to delve primary 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 members every day. Through the Toronto Public Library, of the “Early Birds,” someone who had piloted a for example, The Globe and Mail and The Star plane before Dec. 17, 1913 (the 10th anniversary are freely available from Day 1 --- 1844 for The of the Wright brothers’ first flight). Frank Ellis Globe in fact. Larry called a library card “a lazy seems to have been born with a love for history man’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 was World War specialized international publications publishing Ellis’ articles. In due course, he covered flight. The first such in Canada likely turned these into an in-depth manuscript. But appeared during the Great War --- newsletters book publishing was costly, so how was an and magazines published by the Royal Flying ordinary working man like Ellis going to get his Corps training stations in Ontario at places such dream into print? The problem was solved when as Beamsville, Deseronto, Borden, Leaside and Imperial Oil agreed to fund the project. This was Armour Heights in Toronto. Then, just at war’s likely due to the special interest of pioneer bush end, Lieutenant Alan Sullivan was commissioned and Arctic pilot T.M. “Pat” Reid, then in sales at to write a resume of the RFC training plan. This Imperial Oil. At the same time an arrangement resulted in his 1918 title, Aviation in Canada. was made with the University of Toronto press Sullivan did an excellent job telling the story, and Ellis’ book was published in 1954. Entitled using mountains of source material and Canada’s Flying Heritage, this amazingly fine illustrating the book with a wide selection of work remains in print 55 years later. In Larry’s top-drawer photos. Copies of Sullivan’s book view, “CFH,” as it is called, is where anyone are usually for sale any day of the week on such who really cares about the subject must begin to Internet sites as abeebooks.com. Just before his read. Many copies are still for sale any day of the presentation, 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, Frank value. Whenever he sees a copy, it is nearly Ellis, remains unrecognized by Canada’s always 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 work nearly 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.

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 4 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 researchers Canadian Air Transport, also should be in every and authors have produced some very solid and self-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 Canadian aeronautic science and worked at Victory Aeronautics, the great John Griffin’s 1969 Aircraft and Avro Canada, then became the first Canadian Military Aircraft Serials and curator of the National Aeronautical Collection Photographs, the incredibly useful 1977 in in the mid-1960s. There, Ken set the Griffin-Kostenuk title RCAF Squadrons and tone in establishing the world-class museum that Aircraft, Fred Hatch’s indispensable 1983 thousands visit annually. His special love was the Aerodrome of Democracy, Fred Hotson’s 1983 bushplanes of the interwar years, so he set out to The de Havilland Canada Story, Donald Bain’s collect as many relevant examples as he could. 1987 Canadian Pacific Air Lines: Its History and Today, you can enjoy the results of Ken’s efforts Aircraft, John Blatherwick’s 1989 A History of in such beautifully restored types as the Bellanca, Airlines in Canada and Tom McGrath’s 1991 Fairchild, 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 a history-minded men in Ottawa as Wing fine Canadian aviation library. Commander Ralph Manning in establishing a There are by now hundreds of Canadian collection of WWI and WWII aircraft, especially aviation biographies and autobiographies. Most those of the British Commonwealth Air Training are decent, if not excellent, contributions. Larry Plan, at the museum. Ken later gave us another mentioned such titles as Jack Lamb’s My Life in seminal book --- Canada’s National Aeronautical the North, Rex Terpening’s Bent Props and Museum: Its History and Collections --- then Blowprops, Wess McIntosh’s Permission collaborated with another leading aviation Granted or Hap Kennedy’s Black Crosses Off history professional, Fred Shortt, to write the My Wingtip. The advent of “just in time” print Curtiss HS Flying Boats. Larry said these are two technology has enabled many to economically further gems that eminently deserve to be on produce small runs of their own aviation your 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 pilot Danny Bereza, series. However, once Ken, then his eminent who is writing a book called The Big Dipper successor --- Bob Bradford --- had retired from Route. Luckily, he had a copy to sell. Danny’s the museum, serious publishing ceased. The tone book is a top-notch story about a young pilot’s changed, sad to say, from high enthusiasm for rights of passage in Arctic aviation. Well-written Canada’s aviation heritage, to what Larry and professionally edited, done in readable type described as the humdrum of a well-tuned and so on, it’s a solid piece of work that begins Ottawa civil service operation. Larry said he to tell Danny’s story and that of a little-known almost fell over when he came across a decidedly Canadian air operator, Great Northern Airlines of American addition to the museum collection: a Whitehorse. U.S. Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas Harrier. Larry gave special recognition to what he Nonetheless, as Larry noted, the museum called probably the grandest published source of remains a monument of the finest order to its all Canadian aviation history --- our own CAHS

5 Flypast V. 44 No. 1 Journal. Begun in 1963 and published faithfully process, Larry is currently trying to produce a at the rate of four per year, the Journal has now series on the Centennial of Flight. Volume 1 reached almost 200 printed editions. Each one is came out in November 2008 --- Aviation in rock 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 Larry editor, 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 a It’s fair to say, as Larry did, that no individual tried-and-true system that began while he has 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 to have lauded the Journal. We certainly can all be face and corresponding vigorously with the likes proud 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, Wess retirement with completion of the Winter 2008 McIntosh, Al Soutar and Harry Whereatt, Larry Journal, Vol. 46 No. 4. became a proponet of the personal interview. The way that a productive interview goes is straightforward. Larry sits down with an aviator who has on the table before them his logbook, scrapbooks, photos, official documents, correspondence and such like. By going through all this material, while asking a series of very direct and sometimes pointed questions, the researcher starts to get a good history going. Larry recently interviewed Typhoon pilot John Porter in Parksville, BC, then drove up to Campbell River to put Bomber Command air gunner Ted Turner under the microscope. What resulted is two pieces of solid history that will get nicely refined over the next few months, starting by having John and Ted tear apart Larry’s initial drafts. Naturally, Larry also uses all the official sources he can find, from the ORBs to personnel files, accident reports, official photo files and the like. Eventually, several qualified people also will read the manuscript --- maybe a former crewmate, employer or CO. Qualified proofreaders also have a go at the manuscript, then at the galley proofs. The final result is some Larry Milberry speaking in May. Photo- Neil McGavock pretty solid reading, even if none of it is ever done to ultimate perfection. Larry produces a Discussing the aviation book publishing historically reliable book, often a lot more

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 6 interesting than much of the work produced by of the Royal Canadian Mint honouring the organizations 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 plaques government historians tend to dismiss relevant to five people in recognition of their tremendous human content and wind up producing drab contributions to the CAHS, the Toronto Chapter, pieces of work, created solely from official and stellar accomplishments as aviation documents. 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 one  of Larry’s smaller books cost $50,000 to complete. In terms of sales, CANAV decided Background on the Aero Club of Buffalo long ago to specialize in mail order. This came George Topple, 1st Vice-President of the about after Larry’s initial experiences with Chapter, then gave a report on a trip to an Aero Canada’s book sellers, who he refers to as “the Club of Buffalo meeting on Apr. 24. George people who pretend to buy books, then pretend to was accompanied by 2nd Vice-President Gord pay for them.” Sad to say, but nearly the entire McNulty and by Sheldon Benner, former CAHS retail book business is that way. So, CANAV National Membership Director. survives by selling directly to those readers George began by noting that the Chapter seriously interested in aviation books and Executive has been very concerned about falling roughly speaking, that approach works. Other membership attendance at meetings. He counted than that, Larry still has a handful of trade outlets 38 members in the audience for the May ---- solid, well-run operators such as Aviation meeting, well down from about six years ago World, and a few aviation museum gift shops when as many as 140 members would attend that appreciate the important role of book sales in meetings at the North York Public Library. the museum fundraising game. Larry’s goal has When the Chapter moved to a location on never been to make money in the book business, Beecroft Avenue, attendance dropped to about 65 but to enjoy the aviation world --- which he members per meeting. The move to the really has. Canadian Air and Space Museum for Saturday Larry answered a number of questions. He afternoons has seen a further drop to about 35 said that while apathy can be frustrating, it “just dedicated members. goes with the territory.” Larry typically has “lots While the Chapter remains healthy of rockets” fired at him from people. It often financially, the attendance is not. George said boils down to those who look at the index of one the Executive realizes that folded wings and an of his books and much to their chagrin, can’t find aging membership are factors, but believes that their name. As Larry noted, it would be other reasons are involved. Taking up a impossible to credit every individual for their suggestion from Larry Milberry, George involvement in any given topic. In any case, he organized the trip to the 180-member Aero Club described himself as “pretty armour-plated by of Buffalo --- the oldest aero club in America and now” after completing 30 books. Chapter the second oldest in the world. A highly Secretary-Treasurer Bob Winson presented a successful organization, it began in 1879 as a fitting gift to Larry in appreciation for all of his bicycle club, then became an auto club, and dedicated effort --- the 2009 Proof Silver Dollar ultimately an aero club. The membership fee is

7 Flypast V. 44 No. 1 $30 a year and a newsletter is produced once a Lake Mart-Yavr within the Russian Arctic Circle month 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 the Williamsville, 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, was we were presented with their club pin --- a harvested from the lake. The pilot’s remains Buffalo (the animal not the aircraft). A brief were buried with full Russian military honours history of the club was on the back of the card. near the Russian Litza Valley. The aircraft was George 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. It table for 10 people and more people began to will be displayed as a highlight of the Ira G. Ross arrive 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 met former Navy fighter pilot, Navy transport pilot with Fran Bainbridge, the immediate past and 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 organization pre-dinner cocktail and the conversation flowed but does retain tax-free status. It uses the easily. They were very interested in our following procedure for each meeting: A organization and freely exchanged information one-page newsletter is sent out no more than about theirs. three days after the meeting; along with their Just prior to the dinner, served as scheduled newsletter, every member receives a card with precisely at 7 p.m., the president of the club, notification of the next meeting, advising the Gerald 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 and introduced ourselves. Gerald also welcomed return it with a cheque or money order to the back a member who had been ill for a few organizer by the specified date. This is necessary months. 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 is favourite candy. As George said, the look on this returned if a member cancels 24 hours prior to man’s face said it all. This is another worthwhile the start of the meeting. All meetings must start idea 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 meetings Buffalo’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 it Airacobras built by Bell Aircraft Corporation, started to invite the wives. As long as talks aren’t 4,773 (mostly -39N and -39Q) were sent to the too technical, the women seem to enjoy the Soviet Union through the Lend Lease program program. Many members who have difficulty during World War II. The aircraft in question, driving at night are now able to attend because Bell P-39Q-15BE 44-2911, sat at the bottom of their wives can drive them to the meeting and

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 8 join in. A restaurant with good parking and learned to fly on Tiger Moths in the RCAF access to public transportation is mandatory. during 1940. Art finished the final phase of his Using restaurants with proper facilities, the club flying training at Brantford Service Flying has 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 the learned 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 Royal from its own revenues. It made a deal with the Canadian Air Force bomber squadron to be restaurant and the tax exemption also helps. (For formed. Art became the first Canadian the 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 Wellington was $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 time affect the turnout, but not excessively. Excellent since it had many advanced features, including acoustics and lighting is mandatory. The cockpit heating, retractable tailwheel, constant audio/visual system should be checked before the speed propellers, wing de-icing, self-sealing fuel meeting to prevent any delays. A choice of three tanks and balloon wire-cutters. After a few entrees is advisable. Starting and ending on time missions Art became a Captain on Wellingtons is appreciated by the members. People are with 250 hours in his logbook! He subsequently encouraged to sit with different persons each flew to targets in Wilhelmshaven, Berlin, meeting to increase fellowship. An organized, Cologne, Rotterdam, Hamburg and the Ruhr up-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 spent friendly, organized club which enjoys an average a year instructing. He was then posted to the of 100 to 120 people attending each meeting. Middle East flying Wellington X’s. With the George then led a discussion with the introduction of the four-engined heavy bomber to membership regarding arrangements for our the European Theatre, Wellington bombers were September, October and November meetings. assigned to the Middle East and Italy. The targets We extend our thanks to the Aero Club of were the shipping route through the Buffalo for their hospitality, support and good Mediterranean to Egypt and the Suez Canal with wishes. the aim to possess enough airfields to control it.  Italy’s entry into the Axis in 1940 caused the war to spread to Africa. Flying duties included Chapter News – September 2009 destroying floating mines and bombing targets in Folded Wings Tunisia and Italy. Dr. Arthur (Art) Bryant Wahlroth (CAHS A return to Canada came in the fall of 1944 #1286) passed away on August 11, 2009. Art when Art was posted to 413 Photo Survey worked summers at the old Toronto Flying Club Squadron based at Rockcliffe. The squadron had located at the southern end of the present three early mark Spitfires, a Hurricane, a Downsview airport north-south runway. At the Lysander and a number of Anson Mk 5s, plus club he was exposed to flying of all types and three float-equipped Norseman. Art was attracted this was to motivate him for many decades. He to the Norseman and soon had a checkout on

9 Flypast V. 44 No. 1 floats. This would lead him to a seasonal bush at Cold Lake painting CF –18s. As a result, the flying career that would take him to northern Canadian War Museum holds a substantial Ontario 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 the the University of Toronto. His “real” Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, initially in began with and later with 1964 for our first CAHS Convention. We also in the summer months, flew to the UK in 1988 to visit most of the major resuming classes every fall. Art at the end of his British aviation museums. As CAHS members studies became a very successful optometrist. He we were usually given guided tours. Highlighting spoke three times each to the Ottawa and the trip was a lunch at the RAF Club in London Toronto Chapters and contributed six articles to as the guest of the late Frank Wootton, the “dean the Journal. of aviation artists”, who also took us to the Chapter files opening of the Guild of Aviation Artists annual show. Frank was the Guild’s President. Later in Additionally, we have been informed of the the trip we would visit the Wootton home in passing of three longtime Chapter Alfriston, Sussex to see Frank’s studio and have members…………. supper with him and his wife Jinny. Tom was an excellent traveling companion - he had worked Bjarni Thomas (Tom) Bjarnason 1924 – as a freelance illustrator in London for many 2008 (CAHS #0252) On August 31, a memorial years and knew the country. It was a memorable service was held in Windsor for Tom Bjarnason, trip for both of us. one of our Society’s earliest members. In Tom’s generosity was legend. The desk clerk attendance, representing the CAHS, were Larry at our hotel in London liked his broad-brimmed Milberry and the writer, Bill Wheeler, who leather hat – so Tom gave it to him. When my delivered the eulogy. For many years, Tom had eldest son lost his life in a motorcycle accident, been one of Canada’s leading illustrators and Tom painted his portrait and would accept certainly one of our most accomplished aviation nothing more than an invitation for supper. And artists. His ability was recognized by a Lifetime few of his buddies do not own a Bjarnason or Achievement Award from CAPAC, the Canadian two given to them by the artist. Association of Professional Artists and Tom was a long-time member of a group of Photographers. Since Tom contributed the first of aviation enthusiasts and CAHS members, dubbed his many Journal covers back in 1966, CAHS the “Aeronuts” by one of the wives, who met at members will all be familiar with his work. a Markham pub for lunch on Saturdays. Winter Another contributor of Journal cover art, Will or summer, he drove in from Port Hope, never Davies, once regarded as Canada’s top illustrator missing a session. was Tom’s colleague and a very close friend. During the war, Tom tried to enlist in the In 1970, participating in the CAFCAP RCAF, but was turned down because of a “lazy” (Canadian Armed Forces Civilian Artist’s eye (which a later doctor could not detect). He Programme), Tom was flown to Germany by the was deeply disappointed. Then the Army drafted CAF to visually document operations on bases at him into the Signal Corps. Eventually he was Lahr and Baden-Soellingen, where he painted sent home from the UK with a life-threatening Starfighters and Hercules Transports. In 1981, he case of pleurisy. During the months he spent again became involved, spending several weeks convalescing in a Winnipeg hospital, he began

Flypast V. 44 No. 1 10 drawing and found that he had a definite flair, for the September 2009 meeting. You have all leading to art school in Detroit and a very received information under a separate mailing successful career as an illustrator in Toronto. He about the Chapter’s Dinner Meeting on eventually moved to Port Hope, renting a large September 27 to be held at the historic setting of studio loft where he created the “assemblages” the Canadian Forces College. Please come out for which he was becoming known. Several of and support this new venture which the Chapter his pieces were purchased by NavCanada for the Executive hopes will add considerable value and walls of their Ottawa offices. Sadly, several years enjoyment to your Chapter membership ago he began to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s and was fortunate to be cared for by Chapter Dues Increase for 2010 relatives in Belle River, Ontario. He was in To combat the yearly increases in postal rates hospital with a broken hip when he contracted and this year’s increase in the price of printing pneumonia and died. Tom was 84. paper for Flypast it was decided by the Executive Bill Wheeler Committee to increase Chapter dues for 2010 as follows: Email Service - $20.00 (unchanged) Donald Charles Fawcett (CAHS # 0706) Mail Service - $25.00. The Executive Committee Donald died in his 85th year on May 31, 2009. regrets that this action had to be taken in spite of Donald was a native of Alberta who thoroughly the Chapter’s relatively solid financial standing. enjoyed attending chapter meetings and many The last price increase that occurred was in 2003 airshows. He served in the wartime RCAF and and that brought the price of the annual dues up trained as a pilot. In the postwar period he was a from $15.00 to $20.00. commercial photographer. Our condolences are extended to his wife, Joan. New Members Joan Fawcett & files We are pleased to welcome Keith Hyde, Ken Mist (CAHS #5500) and Scott Maclagan as William Hiley Roberts (David) (CAHS # members of the Toronto Chapter. Keith and Ken 3608) David passed away on February 3, 2009. are both active volunteers with the Canadian Air David was also a native of Alberta, born on the & Space Museum, while members may Grizzly Bear Ranch outside of Vermilion. remember Scott as our September 2008 speaker. David’s family moved back to England during Scott spoke at that time about his experiences as the Great Depression. At age 16, David enlisted a CF-100 navigator in the RCAF. in the RAF and served in Malta and India as ground crew hoping all the while to become a Electronic Observer Wings pilot. Postwar he returned to Alberta and studied The mystery engineering at the Calgary Institute of wings from May are Technology. He was then hired by A.V. Roe and pre-1952 (King’s worked on the Arrow and later with the Orenda crown) RCAF Engines Division until retirement. electronic observer’s Family & files wings.

Dinner Meeting At the June 24th. Chapter Executive Meeting it was decided to proceed with a changed format

11 Flypast V. 44 No. 1 By Taxi: Take the TTC Subway to the Downsview Station and take a taxi from there. It will cost around $8 one way, but it is by far the most convenient option for tourists, because the cab will take you right to our front door, whereas the TTC - unfortunately - doesn't! By Car: From the 401 East or West, exit at Keele Street North. Turn right on Sheppard Ave, and follow Sheppard the entrance to Downsview Park. Turn right into the park (onto John Drury Road) until you reach Carl Hall Road. Turn left at Carl Hall and continue east over the railway tracks to the Museum, which is on your right hand side. By TTC: From the Downsview TTC station take the 108 Downsview, the 86 Sheppard West, Westbound or the 84 Sheppard West, Westbound bus and ask the driver to let you off at the Downsview Park entrance (it is well past the DRDC and Idomo buildings). Walk into the park entrance and follow John Drury Road until you reach Carl Hall Road. Turn left at Carl Hall Road and continue east over the railway tracks to the Museum, which is on your right hand side. Approximate walking distance is 0.7 km.

CAHS National Website : www.cahs.ca Meetings 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 Road TAM is in the former deHaviland building in Downsview Park Near Downsview TTC Station All Welcome

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