Volume 41 March 2007 Number 6

http://www.cahs.ca/torontochapter . Canadian Aviation Historical Society This meeting is jointly sponsored by CAHS Toronto Chapter Meeting Toronto Chapter and the Toronto Aerospace March 10, 2006 Museum- All CAHS / TAM members, guests Meeting starts at 1 PM and the public (museum admission payable) are -Under the Glider- welcome to attend. Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall Refreshments will be served Road, Toronto AAALanding Fee @@@ of $2.00 will be charged to cover meeting expenses

Next Meeting March10, 2006

Last Month’s Meeting ...... 2

Chapter News B March 2007 . . . . 7 Folded Wings ...... 7 Chapter Elections ...... 7 Thank You ...... 8 Wings & Wheels ...... 8 National Convention . . . . 8 Meeting Dates ...... 8 Message from the Editor . 8

This month’s meeting: “Beaver Primer”

1 Flypast V. 41 No. 6 Last Month’s Meeting Evacuation Platoon Commander, Operations February Meeting Officer, Hospital Administrator and Adjutant. In 1986, he was posted to CFB Cornwallis, 2005 Disaster Assistance Response Team N.S., and in 1989 he was posted to the (DART) Mission for Earthquake Relief in Canadian Forces Medical School in Borden, Ont. In 1992, he was posted to the National Speaker: Capt. (Ret’d) Percy Purpura, CLE, Defence Medical Centre as Administration BA, CD Officer to the Chief of Medical Staff and later Reporter: Gord McNulty as the Personnel Administration Officer. While at NDMC, he deployed to the UN mission in CAHS Toronto Chapter President Howard Bosnia from October 1994 to April 1995 with Malone introduced Capt. (Ret’d) Percy Purpura, the Royal Canadian Dragoons Battle Group and a widely-travelled army officer who deployed was Operations Officer for the Advance with the Disaster Assistance Response Team Surgical Centre. (DART) to Pakistan for earthquake relief in In 1996 Capt. Purpura was posted to 23 October 2005. Capt. Purpura was born in Fort (Hamilton) Medical Company in Hamilton as Erie, Ont., on 23 Oct 1946. He attended the Regular Support Officer. In 1999, he was elementary and secondary school there. In May posted to the Area Surgeon’s Branch in 1965 he joined the militia’s 57 Field Regiment Toronto, and then in 2000 to the Canadian as a gunner and trained on a 105 mm howitzer Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment in Fort Erie. He served six years with the as the Adjutant. In 2005, he was posted back to regiment, attaining the rank of sergeant. During the Area Surgeon’s Office and in October of this time he deployed to Germany for three that year he deployed with DART to Pakistan, months as part of the first militia fly-over serving as Medical Platoon Administration exercise with the Regular Force. He spent one Officer and Patient Evacuation Officer. He year (1971-72) with the Lincoln and Welland redeployed in early December 2005. Capt. Regiment, then released from the militia. During Purpura retired from the CF on 23 October this period, he attended Niagara College in 2006 and resides in Oakville. He currently Welland, completing the Law Enforcement works as a Facilitator at a non-profit job Program. He then attended Notre Dame training centre in Malton. University of Nelson, B.C., and completed a BA Capt. Purpura described the mission in in Sociology in 1972. In 1979, he moved to Pakistan, where he served as part of a 201- Masset, B.C., working with the B.C. person DART deployment, as the highlight of government. While there he became his long army career. He noted that the Commanding Officer of the Masset/Haida Royal Canadian soldiers were proud to represent Canadian Sea Cadet Corps. From Masset, he overseas and were proud to have saved joined the Regular Force Medical Services as an many lives directly. They produced potable officer, completing the Basic Officer Training water and other vital services for the Course in Chilliwack in 1982. earthquake victims and came away from the Capt. Purpura was posted to the Regional mission with an Aincredible good feeling about Surgeon’s Office in Esquimalt in 1982. In 1983 themselves @ as a result of their participation. he was posted to 1 Field Ambulance in Calgary. The people of Pakistan, in turn, were delighted During three years there, he served as that the Canadians were there to help. Capt.

Flypast V. 41 No. 6 2 Purpura brought a fine selection of slides, Ukraine to handle the heavy equipment covering the earthquake itself, DART, the air overseas. The Antonov was far more practical support assets, and more. The massive than the alternative, the Canadian Forces earthquake occurred on 8 October 2005, at 8:50 Hercules fleet. It would have required 23 a.m. It measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, with flights of Canadian Forces Hercules transports the epicentre located 105 kilometres north-east to carry the load that the Antonov could handle of , the capital of Pakistan. Whole in three flights. There is another problem in villages disappeared when they were buried that only about half the fleet of Hercules is under tons of rock. The casualty toll was ready to fly at any one time. roughly estimated at 86,000 deaths, with 69,000 In explaining the obstacles that hinder the people injured. Roughly four million people instant deployment urged by the news media, were homeless, and about 70 per cent of the Capt. Purpura underlined the complexities of health facilities were destroyed. moving 201 people with tonnes of equipment Capt. Purpura noted that when the earthquake into a hectic military airport at Islamabad that occurred, DART could not be deployed was receiving aircraft from all over the world. immediately because its members are deployed AWhen we flew in, it was just a zoo, @ he across the country, serving in their regular jobs, recalled. Before the team could be deployed to as opposed to being located in a central base. the earthquake zone, supporting infrastructure Shortly after news of the earthquake broke, had to be arranged by a reconnaissance party, Capt. Purpura received a phone call in Toronto consisting of the commanding officer of DART advising him to report to the next day as and the senior medical officer, which liaised part of the advance party. In the meantime, with the Pakistan government. They chose to controversy was already brewing in the news assist a village that had been severely damaged, media about the perceived slowness of the and the road leading into it was destroyed. Canadian government’s response to the They had to bulldoze the road before they earthquake after earlier criticism about the could get in. The first group to arrive in the response to the devastating tsunami in south- DARTS contingent were the engineers, who set east Asia. Capt. Purpura noted, however, that up the tents and supporting facilities. Once the the situation was more complicated than base camp was set up, the rest of the team generally realized. Although Canada offered arrived in three flights. The reality is that it all DART to Pakistan, the Pakistanis were took about a week to get up and running. assessing offers of help from around the world, AUnfortunately you can’t do it any faster than and that took some time. that, @ Capt. Purpura noted. AIt’s not that easy to Nonetheless, Canada acted quickly to mobilize move 201 people into a disaster zone. @ DART, and to book flights from CFB Trenton. Capt. Purpura said pleased that the Canadian On 15 October, the Canadians landed in Forces will be receiving the new McDonnell Islamabad. Capt. Purpura was among the initial Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic members of the DART entourage who flew on airlifter, which he understands will be located a Canadian Forces Airbus, which brought them at Trenton. The C-17 will give the Canadian to Croatia, where they refuelled before Forces full independence as opposed to relying proceeding to Islamabad. A mighty Antonov on foreign aircraft. He also noted that the An-225 strategic airlifter, the world’s largest Antonovs are beginning to show their age. transport aircraft, was brought in from the The base camp was established at a little town

3 Flypast V. 41 No. 6 about 25 kilometres south of Muzaffarabad, the In one amazing case, a woman was found alive provincial capital of Pakistan-controlled under the rubble of a building in Muzaffarabad Kashmir. Two wars have been fought over in the latter part of December, after DART had Kashmir and only six months before the arrival redeployed to Canada. of DART rounds were being exchanged in the DART was a totally self-contained operation, border area. Normally, it takes about four hours offering primary medical care, with some to travel to Muzaffarabad from Islamabad. minor surgeries, the production of safe water, However, after the earthquake, DART required and a limited specialist engineer capability an exhausting 12-hour trip through mountainous which facilitated minor road construction and terrain in the Himalayas to get there. carpentry work in addition to potable water. A The equipment was transported to the camp in DART brought standard military rations. striking, uniquely decorated Pakistani trucks Occasionally, DART traded some of its rations nicknamed Ajingle trucks. @ with the Americans and therefore had a bit of DART set up camp about 45 minutes on a very variety. DART’s rations were mainly ‘boil in a bad road to the unofficial border between bag’ type and thus the team didn’t have a Pakistan- and -controlled Kashmir. Capt. kitchen facility, with cooks,etc., as that would Purpura described the devastation as incredible. have taken up valuable space in a limited camp AI couldn’t take a picture for the first two weeks area. @ The potable water system, a Canadian- because the devastation was so overwhelming, @ designed system using reverse osmosis, could he said. The health facilities had been destroyed, turn the filthiest water imaginable into drinking as had the infrastructure. Complicating factors water. Three systems were set up to serve three included the topography of the Himalayas, with communities. The medical platoon of which its high mountains and deep valleys; the Capt. Purpura was a member included doctors, widespread nature of the devastation throughout nurses, medical technicians, lab technicians, Kashmir; loss of communication and and X-ray technicians, from all over Canada. transportation infrastructure; a dispersed, rural The team included six medical officers, five population which lived in terraced homes in the nursing officers, three health care mountains, high above the roads; and the fear of administrators, 30 medical technicians, two amputation and loss of property. Villagers were physician assistants, one medical lab reluctant to see DART personnel because they technologist, one medical radiation were afraid they would have limbs amputated on technologist, and two preventative medical account of injuries. In some cases, amputation technicians. was indeed necessary in order to save lives. It was important to ensure that enough of the Villagers didn’t have any land titles to their staff were female in order to resolve concerns homes, so they were worried that they could among the villagers about men treating women. lose their homes if they went to the DART camp Family members always stayed with patients. for treatment. Much of the water in the area was In fact, sometimes the husband or older brother highly polluted, making a fresh supply of would refuse treatment for an injured woman. potable water a critical priority. The earthquake They would clam that treatment wasn’t needed. caused the ground to shake for two minutes. In one case, the brother of a young woman with Many homes and buildings collapsed and that’s a fractured pelvis would not allow her to be what caused the bulk of the injuries. The dead sent to hospital for treatment. There was bodies had been collected before DART arrived. nothing DART could do and the woman

Flypast V. 41 No. 6 4 hobbled away, probably to hobble for the rest of The staff would drive as far as they could, then her life after the injury healed. hike up into the village areas to find casualties. For the 51-member medical platoon, the camp When the search for casualties became too included 20 beds, separate male and female time-consuming, DART called Ottawa for a wards, an obstetrics area, and one ambulance helicopter. A 1970s-vintage Russian-made, among other things. A The accommodation tents multi-role Kamov Ka-32 chopper was flown for the staff didn’t have any heat and were chilly over in the Antonov. The Kamov, a medium- at night, so the staff had to bundle up in sleeping transport helicopter, was rented from a bags. The hospital tented facility, however, was company in Vancouver and was registered C- heated in order to keep the patients warm. @ GKHL. It had contra-rotating propellers and Villagers would literally carry their injured was described by Capt. Purpura as a fascinating down their mountain to get to the clinic, where aircraft with heavy lift capacity. It could they would be triaged according to the severity transport casualties and was flown by a of their injuries. University students were hired Canadian crew, one who was ex-. The as translators. The more educated people in helicopter, from its base in Islamabad, would Pakistan spoke English. In fact, virtually every fly to the camp every day to pick up the mobile Pakistani army officer spoke English. The hard medical teams and drop them in pre-designated part, Capt. Purpura recalled, was treating kids. areas. It was a noisy aircraft. The seating was It wasn’t uncommon to hear tragic stories of tight, especially with a stretcher in the cabin, children who had lost one or both parents in the and it had a powerful downwash. The chopper earthquake. AYou had to listen to it and put it proved exceptionally valuable in handling aside, @ said Capt. Purpura. Four patients, evacuation of casualties and humanitarian aid, including two children and two elderly people, carrying materials to build shelters. It was died at the camp. Four babies were born at the flying non-stop every day, and did impressive camp. Diseases such as malaria, diphtheria, work, with very limited ground support in the tuberculosis, leprosy, tetanus and scabies posed form of just one flight engineer. The Kamov another challenge. Capt. Purpura was in charge was down for maintenance on only one day. It of patient transport, and arranged to move the remained in Pakistan for another couple of casualties who needed more intensive treatment months, continuing with humanitarian duties. to places such as Muzaffarabad. AMore serious Pakistan flew Chinook helicopters but they injuries were flown to Islamabad by Pakistani were few in number as the Pakistan military helicopter. Capt. Purpura transported patients to was heavily committed to fighter aircraft, tanks the Pakistan Army landing zone located a 10- and infantry, etc. minute drive from the DART camp. @ AMobile At the request of the World Health medical teams, initially transported by vehicles, Organization, DART immunized just under were generally two in number at any given time. 2,000 kids who would not otherwise have seen When the helicopter was brought in, these same a needle. AWhen it was time to redeploy, teams were deployed by the aircraft for two DART arranged to set up a donated medical nights and three-day missions before returning facility because the local facility had been to camp and replaced by new teams. @ No one destroyed. A tented facility enabled local wore seat belts in case they had to make a quick, medical personnel to continue medical care emergency exit from the trucks as they travelled until a new structure was built in the following along the roads in the steep mountain terrain. spring. The cost of the donated facility with

5 Flypast V. 41 No. 6 tents, equipment and medicines was around world to look after them. The fact that medical $250,000. @ To encourage preventive medicine people were there, providing hands-on help, after the mission ended, DART worked with made a real difference to the victims of the partners who would take over the job. disaster. Pakistani government officials, who DART donated virtually all of its medical were overwhelmed with the number of equipment to the Pakistani Red Crescent casualties, extended many kudos to the Society, providing the society with a functional Canadians. medical facility. It also worked with other Chapter Secretary-Treasurer Bob Winson groups such as the Canadian International thanked Capt. Purpura on behalf of the Chapter Development Agency, Operation Heartbeat --- for a fascinating presentation which a non-profit organization --- and the Canadian demonstrated the value of DART in a crisis Relief Foundation. situation and the professionalism of the In all, DARTs treated 11,782 patients. Of those, members of the team. Canadians should be about 7,000 were treated by the mobile medical proud of their dedicated efforts. Bob presented teams in the mountains, while more than 2,600 Capt. Purpura, who is an avid aviation and were treated at the clinic. Five hundred tonnes history buff, with a copy of Fred Hotson’s fine of humanitarian aid were delivered with the book, de Havilland in Canada. helicopter, and just under four million litres of Bob then introduced Lt.-Col. Andrew Downes, potable water were produced and delivered. regional surgeon for Land Forces Central After more than two months of hard living at the Region based at the Dennison Armoury, who camp, DART members enjoyed a very welcome, presented Capt. Purpura with a well-deserved two-day stay at a four-star hotel at Islamabad. Special Service Medal commemorating his Capt. Purpura also enjoyed a special visit to the deployment to Pakistan with DART. It was a Khyber Pass near the Pakistan-Afghanistan fitting honour for Capt. Purpura, in recognition border. The Khyber Rifle Regiment put on an of the outstanding service that he performed for impressive display. As mementoes, Capt. people in desperate need. Purpura bought himself a pair of locally produced goods including special shoes and a nice evening outfit among other things. He displayed the goods as he ended his presentation. Capt. Purpura answered a number of questions. He noted that DART members worked every day. They would cook their own breakfast, then open the clinic at 8 a.m. and continuing until around 5 or 6 p.m. to break for supper. They would generally return to the clinic until 8 or 9 p.m. Everyone was putting in at least 12 to 14 Capt. Purpura receiving his Special Service hours a day. AAs soldiers, we’re used to that, @ Medal Capt. Purpura said. It was a rewarding experience. Capt. Purpura noted that Pakistanis were impressed with Canada sending its military servicemen and women half way around the

Flypast V. 41 No. 6 6 Chapter News BBB March 2007 leadership the outstanding AOrenda @ engine Folded Wings was designed and developed. That engine was Jeff Burch used in the CF-100 ACanuck @ , F-86 ASabre @ The Chapter has been advised that Jeff Burch, a and saw service with 6 air forces. Paul had CAHS founder Member #2 passed away many honours and citations and was inducted on Thursday, February 22, in Florida in his 77th into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2000. year. Further details will be published as they become available. Spitfire Pilot Dies Ian Keltie DFC, one of Edwin Joyce the last surviving We recently learned of the passing of Edwin World War II Spitfire Joyce, (Chapter Member # 4282) on December pilots has passed away 16, 2006. Edwin was a long time resident (50 in Toronto on January years) of Milton, Ontario. Our sympathies go 29, 2007 at age 86. As out to the family. a fighter pilot with RCAF 402 Winnipeg Squadron, Ian flew 75 Paul Bernard Dilworth AAAEngineer missions between 1940 and 1944. He flew in Extraordinaire @@@ support of the Dunkirk evacuations and was the Former National second pilot to land in following Webmaster Don Evans D-Day. has notified us that Paul King George VI awarded him the Dilworth (CAHS Life Distinguished Flying Cross at Buckingham Member 2531L) passed Palace. away February 18, While escorting American B-17 bombers on a 2007. Paul graduated daylight raid into on Aug.24,1942, Ian’s from the University of Spitfire was hit and the canopy shattered and Toronto with a flew off. He turned and opened fire on one of Bachelor of Applied two German FW-190 planes that were closing Science degree in in on him. Black smoke erupted into the air and 1939. He then joined the National Research Ian dived low over the and Council in Ottawa and was assigned to headed straight for England. aero-engine research. His research led to Ian landed at Kenley air force base in southern Canada’s entry into the design, development and England and discovered that shrapnel had hit manufacture of gas turbine (jet) engines.This him in the leg and that his boot was full of further led to Canada becoming a world leader blood. After three weeks in hospital, Ian was in the field. This remarkable story was told by back in the cockpit of his Spitfire, which had Paul in the CAHS Journals of Spring & Summer APopeye @, the cartoon sailor painted on the 2000 under the title AAb Initio to World Class @ nose. with files from the Toronto Star Parts I & II. Ultimately, Paul moved to the Gas Turbine Division of A.V. Roe Canada (Avro) Chapter Elections and was appointed Manager and Chief Engineer Elections will be held during our April 14th. of the division. The division was later named meeting. The election date is one month earlier Orenda Engines Ltd. and under Paul’s due to convention activities in May. Chapter

7 Flypast V. 41 No. 6 President Howard Malone asks that you As you may have noted from the flyer enclosed consider standing for election as a Director. The with the Winter 2006 AJournal @, that during continuance and viability of the chapter depends those three days of May 23-25 prior to the on members taking an active role in the WWHF Festival, the Toronto Chapter will be operation of the chapter. hosting the 2007 CAHS National Convention. The WWHF Festival organizers have asked Thank You Members! Toronto Chapter to conduct a Beaver Chapter Membership renewals and donations Symposium on May 25 as part of the festival have been arriving at a steady pace and the celebrations and which would also be part of executive committee wishes to thank Chapter our convention program. Chapter President members for their diligence. Please bear with us Howard Malone has established a committee as we sort out your various requests for service. for the planning, budgeting and management of The establishment of AFlypast by Email @ and the convention. Initial committee members are the setting up of the Chapter AE-Directory @ and Howard Malone, Jim Sidorchuk, Bob Winson, the maintenance of the normal mailing and George Topple, George Georgas and Ken donations lists means that we now have five Churm. If you have either time to assist in the separate and distinct listings for our members. planning of the convention and /or have a This is quite a bit different than the single special skill / knowledge, please contact master list of two years ago. So, if we list your Howard. Convention, accommodation and information incorrectly, get you on the wrong program details will be made available as they listing or you don’t receive the service requested are firmed up. YY.please let us know. Contact Bob Winson at 416-745-1462 or [email protected] Winter / Spring Meeting Dates Meeting dates are as follows YY February 10, Wings & Wheels Heritage Festival 2007 March 10, April 14, May 12 and the The Toronto Aerospace Museum and Parc Convention May 23 B 25. A June meeting is Downsview Park Inc. will host the second not anticipated this year due to the convention annual AWings & Wheels Heritage Festival @ dates. (WWHF) at Downsview Park on Saturday and Sunday May 26-27, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Message from the Editor The festival will celebrate the 60th anniversary As we approach another election meeting, I of the deHavilland DHC-2 ABeaver @ which was will echo Howard Malone’s request for those developed in the building of the present day site with the time and interest to step forward and of the Toronto Aerospace Museum. The festival help run the Chapter. I’ve worn many hats organizers expect 10 B 30 Beavers on wheels around the Toronto Chapter. I’ve always found and amphibious floats to fly-in from North the sense of accomplishment and camaraderie American points to arrive for the celebrations. the Chapter provides to be worth far more than Some float equipped Beavers may possibly be the effort I’ve put in. accommodated at Toronto Harbour. All types of It’s also a good time to thank all the members vintage aircraft have also been invited to the who put up with the foibles that an all event. volunteer organisation such as ours is prey to. MC 2007 CAHS National Convention

Flypast V. 41 No. 6 8 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.com 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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