VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 FALL 2012

THE COMOX VALLEY AIR FORCE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

ON PROUD WINGS

Queens Diamond Jubilee Medals

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
DJM AWARDS NEW DIRECTOR PRESIDENT'S MANAGERS SNOWBIRDS CROSSWORD SPOTTER QUIZ RECENT EVENTS MEMBERSHIP EDITORIAL SOME HISTORY X WORD SOLN. EXEC. PAGE INFO SESSION DOUG PATON GIFT SHOP WANTED 1 2-3 4 5 6 7 7 8-9 10 11 11 11 12 13 14-15 16 16

The Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal

This commemorative medal was created to mark the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIs accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada in 2012. This medal is a visible and tangible way to recognize our outstanding Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life, who have built and continue to build our society and country through their service and achievements. During the year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized. The Chancellery of Honours, as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, administers the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal program, principally through partnering organizations such as nationally r ecogni zed and accr edi t ed Associations and organizations such as the Legion, AFAC, Museum Associations etc., as well as Members of Parliament and other Government departments.

Don Manley, our immediate Past President and David Stinson, a former secretary to our Board, and both Directors of OMMC who nominated and presented them at this years OMMC Conference in Montreal.

Allison Hetman, our own Mommy Rabbit was nominated by the OMMC and presented with her Diamond Jubilee Medal at this years AGM.

SPECIAL POINTS OF IN
Queens Jubilee Celebration Medals Awards to Members and Staff. Meet our New Director, Capt. Lynn Barley. The Snowbirds annual visit and photo contest. History of Chinese Canadian troops in WW II. Plus, some fun, facts and frivolities

Terry Chester was nominated by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute as National President, of the Air Force Association of Canada

Mike Hendren, nominated by CVAFMA and presented the Hon. John Duncan MP. Dave Mellin, Director, nominated by RCMP for 40 yrs. service in the RCMP Auxiliary Constable Program

Jon Ambler, nominated by AFAC for his work in preserving and celebrating RCAF history
Getty Images

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

Introducing our new Director

As I had always wanted to join the Air Force (both my parents were in the RCAF during the war my Mom as a Supply Tech and my Dad as a Sgt Pilot), I was doubly attracted by the promise at enlistment of Join the From High School, Lynn joined the reserve forces and see the world. as well as being army band of the Kings Own Calgary Regiment taught to speak French. Thats cool, I as a musician. In the briefing she was just told, thought, had certainly liked seeing the `...dont worry about the military, well look world so far and always wanted to learn after them. Just play the instrument, march, French, so I signed up as an Aerospace stand at attention, stand at ease, salute and there Engineer (AERE) and off I went. First you go. And so it went for a number of years came Winnipeg and then the Aerospace which, together with summer jobs, also helped Engineering Course at Borden. That took pay for her Mechanical Engineering degree at me to CFB Cold Lake to work on CF-18s, the U of C. where I was summarily assigned to its simAs Lynn relates, since that time, most of us ulator instead of maintenance as I had have moved away leaving only a few of the asked for. I explained to the Career Manband but many memories behind. I was pleasager section, that I was trained in mechaniantly surprised to meet a KOCR member at the cal engineering and was sure that the simuOMMC convention I recently attended for the lator was mostly electronics. I was assured museum. We knew and talked about many of they knew all about me, but that didnt the same people and places, it was great. The change their minds. From then on they band was really only a hobby so I didnt join the regular force kept trying to send me to Avionics positions. Background there and then. My interest stayed with the Forces and engi- doesnt seem to matter as much ones own tenacity in atneering but this I balanced with my desire to travel. tempting to keep on or near to ones chosen career path. However, after I had been on the base for a while, I was transLooking at all opportunities Lynn decided to travel first, which took her to Fiji, Australasia, the Far East, through Den- ferred to 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron with the CF-18s as a mark to see her brother and, a couple years later, ten months Maintenance Officer. Great! overland with a group through much of Africa. I had lots of fun on the trip, despite some risky experiences in those unset- What then? tled times. I finally left the group in Botswana to fly into I got to do a broader range of activiSouth Africa and stay with friends there before coming back. ties, to know all that was going on and, by

Capt. Lynn Barley

With all that travel, were you not tempted to seek engineering work somewhere?
Well, yes, I did get my work visa for Australia but, once there, found it was very unusual for women to work as engineers. I asked about it, but people just couldnt fathom what that would mean. The frequent response was, Ah, but, you are from Canada, arent you, so yes .. thats ok .. you do things differently there dont you? This separation of the genders was confirmed for her when Lynn traveled up the east coast and saw lots of places that still had Ladies Only entrances and other such rules. Fortunately, I was able to spend quite a bit of time hitching around New Zealand, sailing up the coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns, and hitchhiking with my brother around Australia. For engineering work, I didn`t find any interesting opportunities, but I did end up working on a sheep station as a Jillaroo for a few months!

the way, quite a few flights in CF-18s, which was really cool. One of the flights was along the Sand River, northwest of the base, at really low level hugging the Steve Perez contours of the river itself. Sat there in the back seat with all the controls and ejection seat lever within easy reach was exciting, to say the least. It is hard not to be airsick during such flights and you need to have brought enough bags! Saying, Im going cold mic and Im back was all the pilot needed to know. Only on a trip to Las Vegas for a Red Flag exercise, was I ever reasonably comfortable. Our doctor had given me some pills; meanwhile, in true Vegas style, gambling had begun on how many sick bags I would fill. Hah, I wasnt sick at all!

And after Cold Lake?

After spending from 1991 to 1995 in Cold Lake, I was posted to Hull QC as an LCMM for Army/Navy life support. I had met my husband Michael, a photographer with the CF, in Cold Lake and we were married during the Hull posting.

Where did that leave you on your return to Canada?

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Introducing our new Director He was then posted to Esquimalt after a dive course in Halifax. So, hes in Esquimalt and Im in Hull and by then the Forces Reduction Program (FRP) had been implemented. I had a chance to review my situation and as attempts to go back west nearer to Esquimalt were refused me I got out and moved to Victoria with Michael. but I really like where I am now.

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

So, I was posted to AETE (Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment) back in Cold Lake where we both loved it We had our son Tyrell there and the call back to work and I thought I would just stay eventually resurfaced. With few opportunities in Victoria I there. Nope, after three years they said I was posted and one put my name in for the military, an occupation I realised I had of the places they offered me was Gagetown, with 403 Sqn in much enjoyed. There were no positions for an AERE, but the Land Aviation Test and Evaluation Flight for the Griffon there were for Communications Electronics Engineers Helicopters. I talked to my family, and lo and behold, the (CELE) with the land forces and after I spent another three house we had built there and lived in for three years was for months in St. Jean upgrading my French, I was posted to CFB sale again, quite a tempting coincidence. We ended up buying Kingston for training. Michael got a posting to Petawawa. our house back! It was a We had done it! I traveled back and forth on weekends, leav- beautiful place, situated on ing Michael and one-year-old Tyrell behind. It was very hard a lake with some amazing at the time but turned out well for us all. Training involved landscaping which Misome army combat training as well as the CELE training and chael had done. What in the army questions are not as well received as they are in goes around. We really enjoyed moving back in the air force. I had a few adjustments to make. and especially putting up After my army training, we were posted to Gagetown the pictures of our children where I did four years with Sigs, in a very similar type of job and us from our first time there. to when I was in Cold Lake, as troop officer leading the technicians on the bases computer and communications network. When it was time for me to retire, we thought, Where During that posting our daughter Jolyn was born and Michael shall we go now? and Where do we want to be for good? A retired to look after our family full time. The CO asked me Comox posting had always evaded us, so we looked around what I wanted next and I suggested being a SigO, preferably and decided to with 4ESR (4th Engineering Support Regiment) in Gagetown. settle in Campbell To which he said, ...now look, as a SigO, if you want to go River where we places with your career, what you need is to be with the found a nice place PPCLI, RCR or another field regiment. That day I noticed in and could also the routine orders that the CF Voluntary Occupational Trans- harbour our sailfer Program was open for application and the next day, I boat. Still wantlooked at my truly army but excellent CO and said, Do you ing a Reserve poknow what I would really like, Sir, I would like to be an Aero- sition, I looked at space Engineer again? He said, I think people ought to be CFB Comox for where they want to be, as thats where they do best. He possibilities. One backed me up and I was transferred back in the Air Force of the positions available was this A Class one at the museum, again! These moves did have their costs as I see my contem- which I found very diverse, interesting and right up my alley poraries went on to become majors, base commanders etc.., for a new experience in the military.

DIRECTORS DIALOGUE
Well, it has been a busy first seven months for me at the Museum. I have lots to learn but certainly a wealth of knowledge to access - between Jon Ambler, WO Barnucz, Ken Oxley and all our great volunteers! McNamee did an admirable job filling in for him over the summer. I'm now looking forward to seeing some more changes in our displays this fall with new "Don Smith panels" arriving and all the work involved in implementing them. I know Jon has our handyman Irv Fraser's time tied up for the next couple of months, thanks Irv!

What an excellent group of people to work with everyone is here because they love it and are interested. We were all very happy to have Ken Oxley return back to work in I am really happy to be here and I am enjoying this job the gift shop after his visit with the heart surgeon. Steve immensely. Lynn.

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PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITIES

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

In April we held our AGM. At that time Don Manley stepped down as President and I was voted in by the board to take over. We also lost Val Kaehler from the board and I would like to thank both Don and Val for their valuable contributions to this organization. Your new board now consists of the following members. Bill Cuell Bob Mortimer Mike Spooner Jean Ennis Len Phillips Herb Lightfoot Mike Hendren Dave Mellin Terry Chester Rodney Jones President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Membership Director Director Director Director Director and Editor of On Proud Wings.

THE PRESIDENTS PODIUM

I congratulate all the members of our Association who were awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal. Also a very big Well Done to Dave Mellin who was the driving force in getting the Tutor installed at the new Visitor Centre in Cumberland. The installation of the Tutor at the Visitor Center is now complete and everyone is impressed by the display. Bill

Association News - From the Info Session (Bill)

More on P.13

Updates: AGM
THE AGM WAS HELD ON APRIL 2. MEMBERS, VAL KAEHLER AND DON MANLEY HAVE STEPPED DOWN, BILL CUELL IS NOW PRESIDENT, AND 2 NEW MEMBERS, LEN PHILIPS AND JEAN ENNIS HAVE JOINED THE BOARD. THANKS WERE EXTENDED TO VAL AND KEN OXLEY FOR THEIR WORK ON THE SNOWBIRD CONTEST, AND TO DON MANLEY FOR HIS SERVICE AS PRESIDENT. DON MANLEY PRESENTED ALLISON HETMAN WITH THE QUEENS JUBILEE MEDAL FOR HER VOLUN TEER SERVICE. LENGTHS OF SERVICE PINS WERE PRESENTED TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED 5, 10, 15, AND 20 YEARS.

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE- HAS ARRIVED AND IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING IN A CASE IN THE LIBRARY. GARAGE SALE- $1107.15 WAS RAISED AT THE SALE. THANKS TO THOSE THAT HELPED OUT AT THE SALE AND TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED ITEMS. BINGO MONEY APPLICATION- DUE TO CHANGES IN LEGISLATION THE APPLICATION IS IN A STATE OF FLUX, BUT THE FINAL AMOUNTS FROM LAST YEAR HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED. THE APPLICATION FOR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN MADE.

OMMC- DON MANLEY, CAPT. LYNN BARLEY, AND MEL BIRNIE REPRESENTED THE MUSEUM AT THE OMMC. MELS INCLUSION PROVIDED A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK
WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER MUSEUMS. DON MANLEY AND DAVID STINSON WERE PRESENTED WITH THE QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL AT THE CONFERENCE.

VISITOR CENTER- THE TUTOR DISPLAY HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND EVERYONE IS IMPRESSED WITH ITS INSTALLATION AND SEEING THE DISPLAY. SKUNKWORKS- A SIGN-UP SHEET WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE GIFT SHOP FOR ANYONE WISHING TO TOUR THE SHOP AND SEE THE HERITAGE VEHICLES.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS
We have certainly been busy this summer and, as we run through the fall, we will soon become very pre-occupied with the next set of museum display upgrades. All good, but every once in a while we have to stop, talk about and celebrate what we do: We create and operate a fantastic Museum that celebrates our Air Force history. Let's review August: We averaged 54 visitors a day, and the average donation was $3.00 per person.

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

The visitors' feedback book is chock full of praise for our Museum and all the folks that run it. We received a lovely letter from the Bitcon family who were most impressed with the display we have of Pilot Officer Bitcon's medals, remembering that he was killed during WW2. Lest We Forget. Three Boys and Girls Clubs visits took place, all with rave reviews. The Communities in Bloom judges were very impressed with our Museum and our volunteer workforce. Our heritage vehicle was shown off in the Nautical Days Parade, and our Voodoo is once again queen of the Heritage Air Park. Finally, Gary "Weedman" Wiffen has almost finished weeding the Air Park. Wow! All that being said, our volunteers are making this place a pride and joy, and those efforts are recognised and appreciated. P.S. Mark your calendar: our next Info Session is scheduled for Monday 1 October and our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event is now scheduled for Tuesday 11 December.

Jon.

From the Info Session - Museum Update (Jon)

MAIN GALLERY:
UPGRADES:
-WORLD WAR 1, WITH STREAMERS AND NURSES; -HANDLE Y PAGE HAMPDE N DAMAGE D RUDDE R; -SNOWBIRDS AND GOLDE N HAWKS GROUP MODELS RE-MOUNTING; -VU33 DISPL AY COMPL ETE , W ITH COL OURS TO BE FINAL IZE D; -BASE BAL L SW E ATE R; -ARGUS C Y L INDE R (1 L IT RE C APAC IT Y ) AND MOUNT ING; -DON SMITH WORK, TO BE CONTINUED IN THE FALL.

More on P.13

Q&A: ARE INT ERACT IVE DISPLAYS BEING CONS IDERED? NEVER WANT TO BE `DONE`.

YES, WE

LIBRARY:
-AIR SCRUBBERS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO REMOVE MUSTY ATMOSPHERE AND ARE TO BE RUN EACH NIGHT.

HERITAGE AIRCRAFT:
-T HE ST ARF IGHTE R IS D UE INT O T HE HANGAR F OR IT S ASSE SSME NT ON W HET HE R W E C AN DO A NY RE ST ORAT ION ON IT OR NOT. - T H E T U T O R , O F C O U R S E , N O W A T TH E D I S C O VE R Y V I S I T O R S C E N T RE -R O N W E B BE R A N D D A VE M EL L I N H A VE D O N E IT , W IT H T HE C OMMUN ITY DONAT ING C ONC RE TE , ST EE L AND PAINT . T HE DUAL C RE ST PE DE S T AL DISPLAY , RECOGNIZING THE BAS E AND THE FIRST NATIONS CONTRIBUTION IS NOW AL SO IN PL ACE A T THE TUTORS FOOTING. -F OR T HE VAMPIRE , L Y NN ADVISE S , T HAT T HE E XEC C OMM ITTE E HAS REC OMME NDE D IT BE DE CL ARE D SURPL US. IT HAS BE E N OF FE RE D TO MUSE UMS AND THE C ANADIAN AE RONAUTIC AL PRE SE RVATION ASSOC IATION F OR A SE AL E D BID PROC E SS. T HUS F AR, VINT AGE W INGS AND JET AIRC RAFT MUSE UM HAVE E XPRE SSE D INTE RE ST . IF NONE ARE UL T IMATE LY INT E RE STE D, W HIC H IS VE RY UNL IKE LY , IT W OUL D GO T O C ROW N ASSE T S F OR DISPOSAL . -THE TRAILE RE D T -3 3 TRAINE R C OC KPIT IS NOW IN A HANGAR: W ITH OUR NE W PARKING L OT ARRANGE ME NT, WE ARE L OOKING AT THE IDEA OF P UTTING IT ON DISPLAY IN THE OPE N SPACE A DJACE NT TO THE NEW BASE E NTRANCE , W ITH STEPS FOR GOOD PUBL IC ACCESS TO VI EW THE INTERIOR.

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

Snowbirds Fly-by Comox

Combat Camera

2012 Snowbirds Photo Contest Winners

1st Pauline Hannaford
2nd. Gloria Folk 3rd. Josh Bowles

Congratulations to the winners of the Annual snowbirds Photo Contest. From left to right: Pauline Hannarford (1st place), Gloria Folk (2nd place), Josh Bowles (3rd place).

ON PROUD WINGS
FUN FARE

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

Spotters QUIZ
Spring Issue Results.. None, regrettably, for the so-called Rotten Rodneys Quiz. You cant win em all, you know? Nevertheless, this issue will try and be a little more accommodating respite back to only aircraft recognition. Here be the answers: 1. The space between the word, Association, and the collar of the mini mannequins bomber jacket next to the CAPA award to CAFM, on top of the magazine rack in the library. A pressure sensor nozzle on the Japanese fire balloons upper ring. The top of the emitter pedestal on the CF-101 radar dish. The tubex injector finger grip in 442 Medics equipment display box. WW1 Nurses syringe hip flask in Uniform Display. Top of face mic on 442 SAR Tech mannequin.

crossword

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

2. quiz This issue's 1.

clues
Across
2. 1. Famous WWII fighter 19. I shall return quote6. Canadians liberated this maker Italian city 8. Important Canadian battle in Italy 9. Failed European raid 11. Canadian D-Day beach landing

Down

2. WWII German General 3. British WWII leader 4. Stalins namesake city 5. Pacific Wars turning point battle 7. Beware of the Hun, in the Sun 10. Snoopys rooftop battle nemesis (two words with space) 12. Stalin dissenters home 14. Famous WWI Canadian pilot

Two challenges here, of course. One small and one big, in more ways than one. Please do not assume that our editor readily has the answer(s), so your answers may fill a gap, hopefully. Simply put, your mission is to provide the what, who and where info of these images. The winner will be automatically entered into Spotter of the Year Award, if we are to be blessed by one after the last backfire, and $10 of hard -earned CVAFMA funds will go to the most accurate and verifiable answer.
Please send your answers by December 1st to: rodney.hyde.jones@gmail.com or phone Rodney at 250-650-0166. Any tie will be settled by our Director drawing the winning entry.

13. A man famous for his list 15. The nuke America wanted the Canadians to have during the Cold War 16. German WWII bomber 17. Famous American WWII General 18. SS Commander

Solution on Pg. 11.

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QUARTER-BACK REVIEW

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(GALLERY OF SOME RECENT EVENTS)

2012 CVAFMA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A R G U S WA S H - D AY

C A N A D A D AY

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QUARTER-BACK REVIEW
CONT..

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TUTOR - ON - A - STICK

Wow, she did all that!?

SURREY SCHOOL CHOIR TOUR

Awesome, bye and thanks.

You mean, they sat right behind the fuel tank!?

..almost there..

Phew, theres another bomb shelter done!

DONE!

Just how many more weeds, guys?

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MEMBERSHIP A BIG WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:
Ray Morrison Courtney Hunter Elizabeth Roden George Vinall This gives us a total of: 91 paying members 24 life members 2 honourary members For a total of 117 members

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Frank Lewis Dan Esplen Gary Crossan

Jordan Marliave Alex Boyko Calvin Williamson Teresa Webber

Membership Dues for 2008/09. We would like to remind all association members that the annual dues should now be paid. We rely very much on having a strong membership, so please continue to give us your support. The annual fee remains at $10, but we have discontinued the family membership. As always, we are grateful for any donations, and tax receipts are issued for amounts over $10. Some advantages of membership to the Association are: Being part of a community-focused organization Broadening your network of contacts and making new friends Learning first hand about Canadas role in military aviation An opportunity to develop new skills Involvement in a wide range of museum activities A voting member of the Comox Valley Air Force Museum Association (CVAFMA) Opportunity to become one of the Association Directors Enjoyment of membership activities and social functions

SOME INTERESTING WEBSITES: (Ctrl + Click or Copy & Paste to internet)

A sober word or two:

http://www.ideacityonline.com/talks/lewis-mackenzie-on-canadas-military-role-in-the-world/

Lost Sqn of Spits found in Myanmar (no further news yet):

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/04/19/buried-treasure-in-burma-squadron-lost-wwii-spitfires-to-be-exhumed/

Beaver Ballad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w_v0k57KhE

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EDITORIAL
For those of you reading a hard copy of this issue, we hope that the new folded page format makes it easier and more pleasant to read. If not, please let us know . Recently, more members have been stepping up to the plate to join the newsletter team in its work, including our now new Co-Editor, Ms. Corrine Bainard, complete with many fresh and interesting ideas. I hope you will begin to see the benefits of this in most of this issue and that it will show up more as we proceed in the future. Changes to the museums website are in the works, and the editorial team has been exploring the concept of blogging (online journaling) as an additional way to connect with our members. Blogging allows information on current events to be read within days or weeks rather than months. We will introduce new volunteers through a Volunteer Profile section and provide regular updates on the progress of museum plans and projects. Allowing participation by the general public by opening interesting arti-

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cles and topics for discussion is expected to generate interest in our museum from a wider audience, while we will still be providing restricted related information to our membership, and will provide an opportunity to attract new members. We will update you as the website nears completion. Our aviation themed crossword has not worked out as well as we had hoped, so we will be taking a close look a the feasibility of continuing it or moving to another entertainment form. In this issue, we conclude our story of Doug Patons WWII exploits in the Mosquitoes of 410 Sqn in Europe. We wish to continue documenting such remarkable career stories and are open to any suggestions that you may have. We hope you enjoy paging through this issue. Rodney

HISTORICAL SNIPPET

A Tale of Chinese-Canadians in World War II

Chinese served more than any other specific ethnic group of people. In addition, the Chinese Canadian Community contributed $10 Million to the Victory Bond Drive. The first idea to use their people was to drop them behind enemy lines in China to help raise an army of 300,000 for the fight against the Japanese. This idea was cancelled due to a command problem. One mission, Operation Oblivion, in August 1944 involved 13 Chinese Canadians dropped into Burma. It was thought that none would return, however all 13 came back and four were decorated for bravery. I think it fair to say that Chinese Canadians did their full share for the war effort in spite of the earlier prejudice which they suffered. For more information on this topic go to www.ccmms.ca and http://www.campxhistoricalsociety.ca/combay.htm Don Manley

When I first started writing about the participation of Chinese Canadians in World War II, I was thinking about their contribution to the British Force 136 which operated in the Far East. However, as those who read my article in the previous issue no doubt realised, I got engrossed in writing about Lieutenant-Colonel Kam Len Douglas Sam (1918-1989) who served as a pilot in the RCAF. So now I wish to get back to my original idea. Force 136 was a British Unit, a part of Special Operations Executive (SOE). Their roll was sabotage and reconnaissance behind enemy lines in Burma, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. As the war progressed, it was decided in Canada that under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NREMA) 1940 to call up Chinese Canadians who had originally been excluded. British Columbia strongly remained opposed to Asian involvement in the war effort but now went along with idea. The British Government was looking to find people who could understand Chinese, pass as Chinese nationals. Canada could fill their request. All told 600 Chinese men served in this plan and, in fact, the

Rare photo of the 1940 Tour de France

Crossword solution
Across
1. Spitfire 6. Rome 8. Ortona 9. Dieppe 11. Juno 13. Schindler 15. Bomarc 16. Stuka 18. Himmler 19. McArthur

Down
2. Rommel 3. Churchill 4. Stalingrad 5. Midway 7. Messerschmitt 10. Red Baron 12. Gulag 14. Bishop

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CVAFMA Executive 2012-13
President Bill Cuell Membership Bingo Coordinator Director at Large Director at Large Len Philips Herb Lightfoot Mike Hendren Dave Mellin

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

Director at Large Rodney Jones Director at Large Terry Chester Rec. Secretary Observer Observer Corrine Bainard Capt. Lynn Barley Jon Ambler

Vice President Bob Mortimer Secretary Treasurer Jean Ennis Mike Spooner

Newsletter Editor

Rodney Jones

Co-Editor

Corrine Bainard

Museum Contact Information

Deputy Director Program Manager & Volunteer Coordinator Gift Shop Manager Capt. Lynn Barley, 19 Wing Heritage Officer Jon Ambler Ken Oxley

Comox Air Force Museum

19 Wing Comox, Lazo BC V0R 2K0 Phone/Fax: E-mail: Website: 250-339-8162 info@comoxairforcemuseum.ca www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca www.vintagewings.ca/Aircraft/ & scroll down Tuesdays to Sundays: 10 am - 4 pm. Please enquire at the museum. May - September: 10 am - 4 pm

Roseland Spitfire Project Website: OPENING TIMES: Museum, Library and Gift Shop Spitfire Hangar Heritage Airpark

COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES

To join our Association, download the application on our website (below) under Volunteer, leave a phone message at the Museum, or drop by and fill out an application. For only $10 annually, some of the benefits you receive include our newsletter, discounts in the gift shop, and a voice in the organization. If you are currently receiving this newsletter by mail, please forward your email address to receive a high quality issue via the Internet. Our thanks to those of you who have contributed articles and other material for this issue. If you have been thinking of doing so, whether it be a photo, story, or something relevant to what we do and who we are, please dont hesitate to send it along to the contacts below:

info@comoxairforcemuseum.ca or leave a message at the Museum; The editor, at: rodney.hyde.jones@gmail.com ; or drop by the museum.

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INFO SESSION

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Info Session

11th

June 2012

THE YELLOW TRUCK IS ALMOST COMPLETE EXCEPT FOR ITS BOX WHICH WILL LIKELY BE OF WOODEN CONSTRUCTION. AS IT IS A RIGHT-HANDDRIVE VEHICLE AND SOME BRIT VETS ARE QUEUING UP TO TAKE IT FOR A SPIN!

WELCOMES, INTRODUCTIONS AND THANKS. (JON) WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: VOLUNTEERS AND MEMBERS.

THE GIFT SHOP:

KEN IS SHORTLY OFF TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VOLUNTEER ANNUAL BY-PASS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. FOR THAT, HE WILL NEED SIX WEEKS RECUPERATION AND WE ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR COVER-OFF TO PERSON THE SHOP.

GARY CORRAN, NEW VOLUNTEER WITH SKUNKWORKS IN HANGAR T3, WAS OUR RESIDENT EXPERT ON THEIR GOINGS-ON FOR THIS MEETING. OTHER MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT ATTENDED AN INFO SESSION BEFORE.

SAFETY- REMINDER TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR WET FLOORS, PARKING IS STILL CONSTRAINED AFTER CHANGES, PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

New
DAVID CRAIG PAINTING:

(JON) THANKS: 407 DEMONS REUNION.

PORTRAITS, BIOS. AIRCRAFT MODELS, DEPLOYMENT MAPS AND OTHER INFO PUT ON DISPLAY BY CAFM VOLUNTEERS.

OUR MUSEUMS SOLIDARITY.

BEING REGULARLY OPEN FOR 6 DAYS/WEEK BY PART-TIME STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IS SOMETHING OF A RARITY IN CANADA. MOST MILITARY MUSEUMS ARE OPEN FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS/WEEK.

WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MUSEUM AND ASSOCIATION, MEL BIRNIE PURCHASED A DAVID CRAIG ORIGINAL PAINTING FOR THE MUSEUM FOR $950.00 ON E-BAY. THE POW SUBJECT MATTER TIES IN WITH THE NEW DISPLAY PLANNED FOR THE COLWELL DIARY SECTION AND RIGHTS TO REPRODUCE THE IMAGE DIGITALLY IN A PANEL HAVE BEEN OBTAINED FROM THE ARTIST FOR $250.00.

MEDALS:

JON AMBLER IS WORKING ON A NEW, PORTABLE DISPLAY OF MEMORIAL CROSSES.

HELP PROVIDED TO SNOWBIRDS IN APRIL/MAY.

HOSPITAL:
THE NEW BASE HOSPITAL WISHES TO CELEBRATE MILITARY MEDICAL HERITAGE AND HAS ASKED THE MUSEUM FOR ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING OFFSITE DISPLAYS. IN ADDITION, EACH EXAMINATION ROOM WILL BE NAMED FOR A PLANE THAT ONCE FLEW FROM 19 WING COMOX.

THE SNOWBIRDS EXPRESSED THEIR THANKS FOR OUR HELP AND REGRETS FOR THE DIFFICULTIES IT GAVE US IN SUPPLYING ANSWERS TO MYRIAD PHONE CALLS AND OTHER REQUESTS FOR SCHEDULE TIMES AND DETAILS, FEW OF WHICH WERE SUPPLIED TO US BY THE SQUADRON. WITH CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING UPDATES, OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE CAUSED MUCH ANXIETY IN TRYING TO FULFILL THE PUBLICS NEEDS FOR INFORMATION. THE SQUADRON HAS UNDERTAKEN NOT TO REPEAT THIS NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND. 200 FOLKS CAME THROUGH THE MUSEUM FOR THE AUTOGRAPH SESSION, WHICH WAS VERY WELL DONE AND DREW MANY COMMENTS OF APPRECIATION.

WORKSHOP:

IRV NOW HAS A NEW PLACE TO WORK. A FORMER BIKE SHED HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A WORKSHOP. THE FLOOR IS BEING INSTALLED, THE HEATING AND ELECTRICAL HAVE BEEN UPDATED. THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE WILL NOT BE PERMANENT.

4TH YEAR OF SNOW BIRDS PHOTO COMPETITION.

AIRSHOW:

MANY THANKS TO KEN AND VAL FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.

(LYNN) OMMC COURSE, MONTREAL, ATTENDED ALONG WITH MEL BIRNIE:

L YNN MUCH APPRECIATE D THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO, AS IT REINFORCED FOR HER THE VALUE OF OUR MUSEUMS ATTRIBUTES AND ROL ES. FOR THE SAME REASONS, SHE EXPRESSED A STRONG NEED TO GET OTHER VOL UNTEERS TO ATTEND FUTURE OMMC C ONF E RE NC E S AND ITE MIZ E D THIS C ONF E RE NC E AS F OL L OW S:

THE DATE FOR THE AIRSHOW HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AS AUG 17, 2013. AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE BASE THAT IF THERE IS A GIFT SHOP OUT IN THE FIELD, KEN AND OTHER NECESSARY PERSONNEL WILL BE PAID FOR THEIR TIME, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK INVOLVED. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT TICKETS FOR THE AIRSHOW WILL BE SOLD FROM THE GIFT SHOP. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT TRAFFIC WILL NOT BE ROUTED THROUGH THE BASE, BUT RATHER THROUGH A GATE NEAR THE AIRPORT.

SPITFIRE:

VERY W ORTHW HILE, WIT H SESSIONS AND ACTIVITIES CONTINUING TO 1 0 PM EVERY NIGHT. MET MANY MUSEUM STAF F AND VOLUNTEERS FROM RIGHT ACROSS CANADA. HOSTED BY THE ARMORY OF L ES FUSIL IERS MO NTROY AL (F MR), T OURS W E RE C ONDUCT E D T O T HRE E OTHER ARMORIES, INCLUDING:

THE SPITFIRE HANGAR IS ONCE AGAIN OPEN FOR TOURS NOW THAT THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IS FINISHED. THE PLANE HAS BEEN PRIMED AND PAINTED, THE CONTROLS, LINES, AND TANKS ARE INSTALLED. THE NEW WINGS FOR THE PLANE HAVE ARRIVED IN CANADA. VINTAGE WINGS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN THE AIR SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, BUT THE TARGET DATE IS 2015. THERE ARE HOPES FOR A WESTERN DIVISION OF VINTAGE WINGS, POSSIBLY BASED IN CALGARY.

WEBSITE UPDATE:

THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT) OF CANADA; ROYAL MONTREAL REGIMENT (RMR); AND CANADIAN GRENADIER GUARDS (CGG).

DUE TO THE RETIREMENT OF JOHN LOW THE MUSEUM WEBSITE HAS BEEN IN NEED OF UPDATING. CAPT. BARLEY, WO BARNUCZ AND JON AMBLER HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BASE TO HIRE A NEW WEBMASTER TO PROCEED WITH CHANGES TO THE SITE. CERTAIN PROCEDURES MUST BE FOLLOWED, AND IT WILL TAKE TIME TO MAKE THE CHANGES. UNTIL THEN MIKE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH JOHN LOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT WEBSITES LINKS ARE FUNCTIONING AND UPDATED. THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE ABILITY TO UPDATE THE SITE IMMEDIATELY. AS THE PROCESS PROCEEDS, VOLUNTEER INPUT WILL BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE SITE ARE RECOGNIZED. MORE TO FOLLOW.

TAKEN TO THE DIG OF THE 18TH CENTURY FORT SAINT-JEAN AT THE PRESENT CMR SITE. TOURED THE LONG-POINT GARRISON IN MONTRAL, THE SUPPLY DEPOT FOR ALL OF EASTERN CANADA'S ARMED FORCES.

THE MEETING CLOSED WITH ROBERT LESAGE, ON THE BEHALF OF THE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, PRESENTING A T-SHIRT AND DECK OF CARDS TO JON AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR HIS WORK AS VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.

HERITAGE VEHICLES:

THE SEA CONTAINER NEAR TO T3 HANGAR WILL BE JOINED BY ANOTHER CONTAINER ADJACENT TO IT AND A BRIDGING ROOF CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN THEM. THIS WILL MAXIMIZE ON THEIR STORAGE SPACE OPPORTUNITIES.

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

Memoirs of a Mosquito Pilot cont..

The Story so far:
In the spring newsletter, we began with one of Doug Patons wartime experiences, as relayed by his groundcrew passenger Red Brown, of their bird-strike crash landing in a French field and fortunate escape from some angry peasants armed with pitchforks and scythes . With his acute humour and profound sense of irony in this world, Doug took us through his initial attraction to flying and the RCAF and some amusing tales from his own training experiences. In this issue, we turn again to Europe and more excerpts from his war-time exploits: flight over England, in an earlier model Mosquito, with ground control talking me through some heavy cloud. On reaching my destination in south Sussex, I was given a southerly bearing out over the channel and then brought back through a 180 to the base. I made the turn, levelled out and the next moment, BANG! There was a hell of an explosion somewhere in the fuselage and the whole plane started to go this way and that, zigzagging through the sky. When we got it settled down the plane was still shaking and I thought that we must have been shot at, but I hadnt seen a plane anywhere. Nothing was said by ATC, so I continued on the approach, let down through the clouds and was suddenly faced with by large bomber, in some sort of trouble, flying smack across our course. With no more from the ATC my language over the radio was something not to be repeated! I was able to make the landing but the plane, still hard to control, bumped and banged all the way down the runway. I shouted over the radio, what the .^#+!?.. was that? Well, one of the big shots from the office was in the control tower and told me to pull up next to it. I did so, stopped there and shut her down. Climbing out, I see him come storming at me and I thought my flying career must nearly be over! Well, the problem for him had not been my flying so much as my language, as there were ladies working in the tower at the time. To him, that was a higher priority than our near demise in trying to both avoid the bomber and land my aircraft all at once! Anyway he began to dress me down directly, saying ...look at that, you havent even got your battery access door securely closed and let it fall open. To which I corrected him by showing that the catches on the door were lined up correctly and had merely been wrenched open on landing. He shouted at me a bit more and mumbled ...come into my office first thing tomorrow morning and maybe we can find something else for you to do. Well, that was what really shook me up bad and I got no sleep that night. In the morning he was a different man altogether. He had found out later that one of the two high-pressure air bottles in the Mossy, which provided the hydraulics to the flaps and some controls, had just exploded and cut the tail wheel control cable. Without these, the reason for the poor landing had become clear. In the end, I got a sort of reluctant apology from him. In his weak defence, completely unrelated to my bad language, he explained that the last pilot and crew who had such a problem were killed by it, as their plane was blown right out of the sky. So, that made us think! On a different note, but slightly similar to the last and flying in a

Despite your disappointingly short time in Europe, what happened for you there?

My training duties in England had gone on for a long time and then I was posted to 410 (Cougar) Squadron, but for less time than I had been expecting; but, still with plenty of activity. We were originally equipped with Boulton-Paul Defiants, then the Beaufighter and finally, in 1944, the DH Mosquitoes or Mossies, as we called them. While based at Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen, a Dutch military air base on the Belgian border , I flew relatively quiet patrols for which we were tasked to shoot down any Luftwaffe aircraft, whether they be fighters, bombers or transport. A lot of the action was over and, fortunately, I didnt have to shoot anyone down. A friend from my home town doing similar patrols, had to down three aircraft in one night. Our CO, S/ L Joe Schultz, with navigator Vernon Williams did the same one night and had downed quite a few earlier on. Joe really enjoyed playing practical jokes on us such as inventing false missions and dummy attacks as, he said, our morales needed boosting! We could have murdered him sometimes!

Being a very laid-back type of guy, father of six kids and having lived through what you did, were you ever really shaken up by any of it?

Umm, yeah, there was once. It was on a cross-country

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

Memoirs of a Mosquito Pilot cont..

Mossie along with my mechanic Red Brown, we were low over a prisoner-of-war camp, a day or so after the wars end, just so that Red could swear his last at the enemy! What happened next was something that at first surprised and then really annoyed me, because someone, again in ATC, had fouled up badly. First of all our whole instrument panel seemed to be on fire in a blue flame everywhere. We could see nothing out of the cockpit as all the windows were just covered in blue, just like Northern Lights. I immediately recalled this as being St. Elmo's fire phenomenon, from a similar but less dramatic event in an Anson at Portage. That was the first thing, but the second was the problem. As the fire began to wane, I saw we had been positioned by traffic control directly in the path of a flight of heavy bombers. You can imagine what was said over the air then as we hurriedly pulled out of there! Shortly after that, on a different flight altogether, one of the American P-51 Mustangs, that were fast and excellent at escorting bombers on long missions into central Germany, came alongside us to show off his good performance in comparison to ours. So I mumbled some uncomplimentary words about this to Red and said, Right, lets see what we can do here! We tucked in straight behind him and stuck there while he tried to pull away from us. I stayed on his tail through his zigzagging all over the sky, in and out of cloud, climbing and diving while trying to shake us off. We stayed with him and, eventually, he stopped trying to impress us and went back to his base! Another bit of showing off to us was done by a brand new very fast twin-engined Douglas Invader, about four of which came into a small drome near us in Holland, maybe 10 15 miles away. A few days later, two came very low over our drome and beat up the airfield for a while. Boy, I wouldve liked to be up there with them then so, later, when returning on a flight, I kind of hung around the area where these planes were and, sure enough, two came up, flying around us in close formation. Starting at altitude above and behind them, I put my nose down and got up to around 450 knots or so, even though my port engine was feathered due to a low oil pressure. We roared by them on the one engine and peeled off back to our drome. Boy, that was fun, and in our short time remaining there, they never showed up at our field again! My last mission was a patrol over Berlin where we saw almost nothing happening on the ground and thought how strange that was. Back on the ground we were told that Germany had just surrendered that morning! I was the last aircraft out of Gilze-Rijen and back we went to England. Ironically, a few weeks later my RCAF commission was awarded me. Too late, unfortunately, as all our thoughts were now about our freedoms ahead! straight from being a night-fighter pilot to a night-shift tractor driver! The next thing, duck season opened and we were all out with the guns, which made me right at home. I went to Winnipeg where they said I would get my discharge, which I could never figure, having joined up in Saskatoon, a hundred miles the opposite way. That struck me as very unusual in those days. Shortly after that an uncle of mine, Dr. Farney who was in charge of the veterans hospital in Winnipeg, gave me a reference letter to go and see an aircraft operating business that was flying freight from Winnipeg up into the North. The next morning I obediently went out with letter in hand to see them and, looking drained, the boss said, Sorry, I havent got any use for you right now because the repair hangar just burned down with many aircraft inside. The situation had turned and he was now suddenly short of aircraft, not pilots! At that time, both my Dad and Dr. Farney were also trying to talk me into going back to school and won me over with this unexpected new lack of aircraft to fly! My Dad and Dr. Farney wanted me to go to Saskatoon but an aeronautical mechanics course that I was after wasnt run there. I looked at UBC that was running an AM course but I didnt take to it. Then, I looked at the Veterans Training College in Saskatoon, where I was offered a place but, soon realised with my family growing up, my $8 per month income wasnt enough to keep us so I decided to stay in B.C. and make some good money in logging instead. Thus, we all went to Woss, up in North Vancouver Island, stayed there for 12 years or so and eventually returned back to Saskatchewan to farm.

When it was all over, did you spend any more time with the RCAF?

Looking back on it all, what is your biggest impression ?

No, I only wanted to enjoy the freedom. I went back home to Buchanan, Saskatchewan and drove a tractor on the night shift at harvest time. I found that amusing, going

Well, what I could never figure out was how a person like me, with little or no credentials to my name, could get taken on by that big system, taught to fly and then been given so much responsibility.

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NOTICES GIFT SHOP
AT THE COMOX AIR FORCE MUSEUM

Page 16
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 AP RIL 2012

UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS

Anyone interested in Aviation will cherish a gift from our collection of hundreds of items. Something for any budget, any age. Toys, models, clothing, mugs, hats, books, models, clocks, decals, posters, patches, pins etc. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 A.M. 4 P.M. [Located outside the gate at CFB Comox at Ryan Road and Military Row]

250-339-8162

www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca

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