LT-COL FERN VILLENEUVE, AFC hawkPART 1: THE FLEDGLING YEARS one One of Canada’s most illustrious airmen, Lt-Col FERN VILLENEUVE died on December 25, 2019. Best known as the founding leader of the RCAF’s Golden Hawks innovative formation aerobatic team, his 32-year Service career took in much else besides. In the first half of a previously unpublished 2005 interview with TAH’s Editor, Fern traces the first decade of his remarkable life in aviation T WAS WITH great sadness that we learned of the death of Lt-Col Fern Villeneuve AFC, one of Canada’s most distinguished aviators and a much-valued friend, on December 25, 2019. Back in 2005 I had the privilege — and Igreat pleasure — of interviewing Fern, best known in his home country as the founding leader of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s trailblazing Golden Hawks formation aerobatic display team. We met at Lee Bottom Flying Field in Indiana, USA, where he was a regular visitor to the annual Wood, Fabric & Tailwheels Fly-in. With his Globe Swift parked in the paddock outside, Fern, softly spoken and ever-willing to discuss anything and everything connected with aviation, devoted several hours to a wide- ranging conversation about his flying career. During our conversation he demonstrated his passion for flying of all kinds, from spine- cracking formation aerobatics in state-of-the-art jet fighters to the rather more sedate glider- TAH ARCHIVE TAH towing for students he later enjoyed. His ABOVE Fern Villeneuve during his leadership of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Golden Hawks formation aero- batic display team, which he established in 1959. Joseph Armand Gerard Fernand “Fern” Villeneuve was born in Gatineau, Quebec, on July 2, 1927, and joined the RCAF in 1950. OPPOSITE PAGE Fern, aged 78, with his Globe Swift C-GLYN (in honour of his wife Lynda), at Lee Bottom Flying Field, Indiana, USA, in September 2005. NICK STROUD 98 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN Issue No 31 Issue No 6 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN 99.