RCAF History Forum

[Moose47]

G'day

Here is a nice shot of an R.C.A.F. Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar at Saglek Air Station, Labrador. It was on a re-supply mission for the U.S.A.F.`s 924th Air Control & Warning Squadron based there.

The Royal Canadian Air Force acquired 35 C-119F's and took them on strength on the 8th of September, 1952. They were later converted to a 'G' model. A number of former R.C.A.F. Boxcars ended up being used by Hawkins and Powers of Greybull, Wyoming. One aircraft was used in Namibia for the re-make of the The Flight of the Phoenix.

Cheers...Chris

[Kosiw]

Really enjoy seeing the photos of DEW/Mid-Canada/Pine Tree Line activity....kind of a forgotten segment of our continental military past....

One more suggestion, is that most of this forum focus lies with WW2 and later....would like to see more about the earlier RCAF history, such as the Canada's most decorated soldier (and most forgotten by our own history)......William Barker, was he not the founder of the modern RCAF post WW1 ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_George_Barker

[Moose47]

G'day Kosiw

Here's a shot of Major Barker sitting in his Sopwith Camel.

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day

This Fairchild 71 was built in the United States by the parent company. The manufacturer's number is 625. It was taken on strength with the Royal Canadian Air Force on the 30th of April, 1929 and given the civilian registration G-CYXB. The aircraft was assigned to R.C.A.F. Station Winnipeg and operated on floats from the base at Lac du Bonnet. It was later re-serialed to R.C.A.F. s/n 644. This aircraft served at the following units before being struck of strength on the 8th of October, 1940.

No. 7 General Purpose Squadron – R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario
No. 112 Army Co-operation Squadron - R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario
Communications Flight - R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario
Test and Development Flight – R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario
No. 1 Bombing & Gunnery School – Jarvis, Ontario

In 1941, the aircraft was sold to Dominion Skyways of Montreal, Quebec for $1,200.00 and was given the Canadian civil registration CF-BVK. From there it went to Trans America Mining Corporation; North Inca Gold Mines; Dunsford Securities and finally Central B.C. Airways. One of CF-BVK's floats hit deadwood on take-off. On the 13th of November, 1955 while being towed during the recovery operation at Ocean Falls, it overturned. The aircraft was subsequently written off.

Anyone on here ever been to Ocean Falls?

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day Fellow Wing Nuts

Avro Lancaster B. Mk. X, s/n FM122 was built by Victory Aircraft Limited of Malton, Ontario. It was ferried overseas to England in May, 1945 and issued to No No. 405 'Vancouver' (B) Squadron at R.A.F. Station Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire. It was coded LQ*L and nicknamed 'The Lady Love'. The squadron operated 20 of the Canadian-built Lancasters into the month of June. None were used operatonally. This aircraft along with other squadron Lancs was flown back Canada on the 17th of June, 1945. They arrived at R.C.A.F. Station Greenwood, Nova Scotia on the 21st of June, 1945. No. 405 (B) Squadron was assigned to Eastern Air Command for training. No. 664 (Heavy Bomber) Wing which was comprised of No.'s 405 and 408 'Goose' (B) Squadrons were to serve as part of the Royal Air Force's 'Tiger Force' in the Pacific. Before the R.C.A.F. finished training, the Americans dropped a couple of nukes that ended the war against Japan. After the end of the Second World War, FM122 was ferried to R.C.A.F. Station Penhold, Alberta for long-term storage

With the expansion of the R.C.A.F. Post-war, Lancasters were being taken out of storage and re-conditioned for service. FM122 was one of those. It was converted by A,V, Roe at Malton, Ontario to a Lancaster Mk. X P (later known as Mk. 10P) for photographic and survey duties. No. 408 'Goose' (P) Squadron based at R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario received Lancaster FM122 on the 15th of June, 1950. The aircraft was coded AK*122 between 1950 and 1951 then MN*122 until 1958.

Lancaster FM122 was struck off strength with the R.C.A.F. On the 26th of September, 1962.

Cheers...Chris

[xsbank]

I've been to Ocean Falls, but a long time ago. It was famous for having one of the highest rainfalls on the planet. Moss would grow on you as you walked to the hotel...

[Moose47]

G'day

O.K. folks it's quiz time.

Who is this Canadian fighter pilot?

Cheers...Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

George "Buzz" Beurling

Barney WAG

[Moose47]

G'day Barney

Correct Sir!

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day Folks

Time for another quiz.

Something a little more difficult.

Barney you probably served with this guy so please do not answer. LOL

Who is he and why is he famous?

Cheers...Chris

[Beefitarian]

G'day Kosiw

Here's a shot of Major Barker sitting in his Sopwith Camel.

Cheers...Chris

Looks likes a Sopwith Pup to me. It's more likely a Camel but.. Could we get a judges ruling?

[Old Dog Flying]

It is a Camel! Here is Capt Roy Brown's Camel..in 1:48 scale. Barker's Camel is not finished yet

Barney

[culver10]

Great info here folks!

Chris,

Do you have any info on my Uncle Graham Kite? He flew a Halifax. From what I have been told, on his final mission he was damaged by flack and his crew all bailed out and became POW's and he crashed and died in Belgium. Do you have any additional information?

Cheers,

Phil

[Moose47]

G'day Phil

J87906 Flying Officer George Robert Graham Kite of Pettapiece, Manitoba

Give me a few days to put together what I have on him.

Cheers...Chris

[Beefitarian]

The light color of the top side of the fuselage threw me off. Makes it look flat there. Do you see what I mean?

[Old Dog Flying]

Beef: A very old photo, very poor film and low def camera...need I say more?

Barney

[Beefitarian]

No sir. Your model in addition to being a pleasure to look at cleared up my doubts.

[Moose47]

G'day Phil

Here is a photo of Graham in his R.C.A.F. uniform with the rank of Flight Sergeant.

I know he was the son of George R. and Janette B. Kite. The official R.C.A.F. Casualty Report has him listed as being from Pettapiece, Manitoba yet I also see family references to Rapid City, Manitoba iwhich s located northeast of Pettapiece.

Cheers...Chris

[bluemic]

George "Buzz" Beurling

Barney WAG

Don't know whether or not it's been posted elsewhere, but apparently the History Channel is running a story on Beurling tonight (Mon, Jan 07) at 9 pm Eastern. Program is called Air Aces.

mic

[culver10]

Great picture Chris!! Thank you very much! I have never seen this picture and wonder if his 85 year brother and ex-RCAF member (my dad) has? Thanks again and if you find anything more PLEASE post!

[Moose47]

G'day

Here is the first clue to a mystery aviator Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:18 pm.

"Newfoundland"

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day

Here is the second clue to a mystery aviator Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:18 pm.

"Irish bog"

Cheers...Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

Chris: I may have served in the air force a long time ago but your "mystery aviator" was long before my time...I won't tell who it is! Honest!

Barney

[xsbank]

Alcock (sp?) or Brown?

I have a control wheel from a Vickers Vimy bomber. Its seen better days (but so have I). Maybe I should sell it as being from the bog aircraft? Naw, I'd never try that.

[Moose47]

G'day xsbank

It is Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown from Glasgow, Scotland. Brown was the navigator on the epic Trans-Atlantic crossing while Captain John Alcock was the pilot.

Here's a bit of trivia. The Vickers Vimy bomber was named after the Battle of Vimy Ridge which I think Barney flew top cover for.

Photo 1 - a Vickers Vimy

Photo 2 - Alcock and Brown



Cheers...Chris