RCAF History Forum

[sidestick stirrer]

Why is it enough?
I forgot to add that those two runways south of Lake Manitoba was RCAF MacDonald...

[Beefitarian]

I would like more nostalgic ramblings. Please continue.

[Old Dog Flying]

My first posting in the RCAF was Portage La Prairie in the fall of 1953 at the time that we were switching from Harvards to T-33s and it was a very exciting time. McDonald was an Air Weapons School if memory serves me...and it was known locally as No1 Release Depot because people hated the place so much.

Portage runway lighting was the old flare pots and laying a pattern on a Sunday night in the winter was a really misarable job. We had a Dodge 4X4 with a wooden deck in the back along with two racks of flare pots and on one very cold night my job was to light the pots with a fusee and thrown the pots along side the runway.

Try lighting those damned things in a 20+ knot wind..so we decided..the Cpl that was driving...that we would light them in the lea of a hangar and I was the tossee. This was fine for the first 1500' or so when Al hit a windrow, the racks fell over and the pots flamed the back of the truck. I was wearing standard issue nylon parka soaked in kerosene from having to clean and fill the pots. Needless to say I bailed out of that flaming truck into snow bank while Al headed for the fire hall with a big fire ball behind him.

As a new trainee I was only doing what I was told but my Cpl Al friend took the flak on this one.

Barney

[Skydrvr7]

I would like more nostalgic ramblings. Please continue.

Yes, please! Keep the stories coming!

[sidestick stirrer]

My friend and I, both about twelve years old, bicycled outo too close to the runway at 4Wing when the very-first Starfighter arrived, packed inside a shiny new Hercules.
This was a very-big deal, high security, and the Tower guy leaned out of his cab and yelled at us, not at all unusual in any military branch, as I'm sure ODF will confirm, so we were somewhat nonplussed.
However, as he retreated into his lair and immediately picked up the phone while watching us, we decided that perhaps we should beat feet.
As we rounded the firehall corner, about to get back onto the road, there came an olive-drab VW Microbus with a flashing blue light on the top and two MP's inside, and the guy riding shotgun was pointing at us.
We turned around, back out behind the hall and what followed was something right out of Keystone cops: the MPs and us, circling and circling the firehall, us not getting away but them not gaining either.
Eventually, being smarter, they just stopped right around one of the building's corners and waited for us to run into the back of their VW, which we promptly did.
Then they proceeded to scare the hell out of us, not actually drawing their weapons, but bracing us against the vehicle then taking down every last bit of personal information so that knew our Dads were going to find out and that was much-more frightening.
They gave us ten minutes to get off the base via the main gate, to ensure this, they followed us with their light flashing, us on our somewhat-damaged bicycles.
Anyone who remembers the base at 4Wing knows it is a long distance, past the swimming pool, cinema, library and canteen, the hockey arena and the dispersals where 444 Squadron kept there Sabres hidden amongst the tall pines, all the way to the Gate, as fast as our little legs could turn those pedals.
Used to leave my PMQ bedroom Windows's roller blind up while falling asleep, as my window faced northwest, looking towards Hugelsheim and I could watch the pattern of the window slide back and forth across the far wall as the Starfighters slid from base to final, their landing lights sweeping across our house.
Joined Air Cadeys as soon as returned to Canada, age fourteen. Despite countless hours pressing my uniform and polishing my shoes, I never, not even once, got chosen to go flying after parade on Wednesday evenings.
Joined the Air Reserve Squadron as soon as I turned sixteen, went flying the very-first day.
Life became very, very good, right at that point.
Okay, it was an Otter, not a Starfighter but I was airborne and that was all that mattered.

[shitdisturber]

Eventually, being smarter, they just stopped right around one of the building's corners and waited for us to run into the back of their VW, which we promptly did.

Outsmarted by MP's???? I grew up on bases too and I didn't even think that was possible; I certainly wouldn't admit it!

[sidestick stirrer]

That might have been the case when I was younger but now that I am the wrong side of sixty, I can relate some of the stupid things that I done without worrying about what my AvCanada colleagues might think.
Of course, they would never do anything like that...

[Moose47]

Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea

By Chris Charland
Associate RCAF Historian

Today was a banner day for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command as crews from two separate squadrons sank German U Boats.

Flying Officer Daniel Francis Raymes of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was a pilot with No. 10 ‘North Atlantic Squadron’ (BR) Squadron based at R.C.A.F. Station Gander, Newfoundland. On the 30th of October, 1942, he was piloting Douglas DB-1 Digby, s/n 747 and coded ‘X’ when his crew while returning from a patrol of Convoy ON140 when they sighted a U Boat at 47:47 N X 49:50 W. They carried out an attack with four 250-pound depth charges, sinking it with a loss of all 53 hands onboard. For his actions, Raymes was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross. The U Boat was U-520, a Type IXC, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Volkmar Schwartzkopf from Halle, Saale. He and his crew did not sink any vessels.

The second success of the day came at the hands of Flying Officer Edward LaPage Robinson of Vancouver. British Columbia. He was the pilot of Lockheed Hudson Mk. I s/n 784 from No. 145 (BR) Squadron that attacked a sank U Boat 320 miles east of St. John’s, Newfoundland 50:30 N X 46:32 W) with a loss of all 53 hands onboard. Robinson was later awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross. U–658 was a Type IXC commanded by Korvettenkapitän Hans Senkel from Schönbrunn, Thüringen. He and his crew had previously sunk three ships and damaged one.

Sadly on the 3rd of October, 1943, Flight Lieutenant Robinson was killed in a flying accident while serving with No. 145 (BR) Squadron. He was the pilot of Lockheed-Vega Ventura s/n 2160 that crashed on take-off at R.C.A.F. Station Torbay, Newfoundland. Two other airmen were killed in the accident.

[Old Dog Flying]

With all of the tv coverage of hurricane Sandy, memories of riding out a big blast had me thinking of the night of horrors spent in the tower at RCAF Station Greenwood.

We had plenty of warning of the inbound hurricane named Edna in 1954 and as a result all serviceable aircraft on the base were ordered to be flown west to Trenton and St. Hubert. Two squadrons of Lancasters, Cansos, Steam Otters and C-47s along with a few C-45s departed leaving a few hangar queens and a lonely Tiger Moth.

Even though the base was deserted, the ATC staff, 1 controller and myself were instructed to remain on duty in the old wooden control tower perched on top of No.1 hangar. Early in the evening the winds started increasing and at the peak of the blow, I saw the windspeed indicator top 130 knots. With these gusts hitting the old tower, the plate glass windows were actually flexing a couple of inches in the centre.

With these conditions, we pulled a couple of single mattresses up from the standby room, crawled under the consols and pulled the mattresses into the opening just in case the glass let go. If it had, the tower would have ended up in the town of Middleton about 9 miles away.

About midnight the eye went through and we would have to deal with even stronger gusts. The duty controller said enough of this and we abandoned our perch in favour of the Sgts Mess where we renewed our courage in fine spirits. The storm abated in the wee hours of the AM and we returned to our post in the tower.

There was very little damage to the base but nerves took an awful beating that night. Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing?

[shitdisturber]

In Baden around 89 or 90 we had a howling windstorm blow through the Rhine Valley. I was playing hockey at the time and after the game had to drive home to my apartment around various fallen branches and trees. There wasn't much damage to the base itself, other than the roof was partially ripped off the metals shop. A 182 that had just been bought to use as a second aircraft for the parachute club; pulled it's moorings out of the ground, did a pirouette over a privately owned Cherokee 140, slightly grazing the spinner, before landing on it's roof. The malicious chuckles that were going around the base the next morning involved a fallen tree that had landed from back to front on top of an SIU MP's brand new truck, pretty much squashing it like a bug.

[Moose47]

G'day Barney

I spent some time up in the old tower at No. 1 Hangar when it became the Base Amateur Radio Club VE1WN. The sign was still up on the north facing side "Welcome to Greenwood - 92 Feet ASL". The Air Cadets had the rest of the hangar for gliding and summer camp. Sadly that and a number of the other BCATP hangars and most of the wartime buildings have been torn down including just recently, the ZX Theatre.

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

G'day

Here is a photo of a Canadian Vickers-built Canso A s/n 11090 from No. 162 (BR) Squadron while operating from Reykjavik, Iceland. The squadron was assinged to Royal Air Force Coastal Command's Air Headquarters Iceland. This is the same squadron that Flight Lieutenant David Hornell from Mimico, Onario was flying with when he was awared to Victoria Cross posthumously.

After the war, the aircraft was sold surplus and subsequently registered as CF-OBK.

Cheers...Chris

[55+]

For those who may be interested, Gander, NL (CYQX) has the only official Commonwealth War Graves designated in North America. Gander was one of the main jumping points for Ferry Command deliveries of the WW2 produced aircraft during the 40's. There were many crashes at Gander and Ferry Command pilots who died in the line of duty flying the bombers to England are buried at this site(over a 100 I think), mostly RCAF. My late father worked at the MET(Weather office) in Gander during WW2 and I heard many a story.........

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cem ... 20Cemetery

[fleet16b]

Why we do what we do !

Yesterday I took 90yr old Albert John Chandler( Bert) for a flight in the Finch for his birthday. Bert joined the RAF in England and eventually trained as a Navigator here in Canada. Going back to England he flew missions on Wellington bombers for most of the war. This was his first flight in a wartime aircraft since WW2. His daughter tried to pay for the gas but I told her her Dad had already covered the cost. She said he did looking at me kind of puzzled. I said "Yes , he paid me 70 yrs ago."

[Moose47]

G'day Cam

Good on you mate for such a wonderful gesture,

Do you remember at Midland a couple of years ago, the 91 year-old Spitfire pilot. I got him up in the Tiger Moth (Bob MacIntire from the Tiger Boys I think?) and one of CHAA's Harvards. By all accounts he still had excellent flying skills.

Again, thanks for making a vet's day.

Cheers...Chris

[jump154]

Cam - nice one. Was great to see you flying on Sat afternoon while I was visiting 3-point. Think I might be spending more time there

[Moose47]

G'day

Here are three photos of Dakotas from Air Transport Command's No. 435 'Chinthe' (T) Squadron based at R.C.A.F. Station Edmonton. The photos were taken at Yellowknife, N.W.T. in 1946, At the time, the squadron was commanded by Wing Commander P. J. Grant. The squadron moved to R.C.A.F. Station Namao on the 14th of September, 1955.

Dakota 963 was a Dakota Mk. IIIN (former U.S.A.A.F. serial number 42-92712), It was taken on strength with the R.C.A.F on the 3rd of March, 1944 and served with the Edmonton Detchment of No. 164 (T) Squadron then post-war with the aforementioned No. 435 (T) Squadron., followed by No. 1 Air Navigation School at R.C.A.F. Station Summerside, PEI; No. 2 Air Navigation School at R.C.A.F. Stations Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie,Manitoba; Air Force Headquarters Practice Flight at R.C.A.F. Station rockcliffe, Ontario; Air Navigation School at R.C.A.F. Station Winnipeg (re-named Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg the same year). The aircraft was re-serialed with a new Canadian Forces serial number 12950 in June 1970. It was transferred to 429 `Bison`(T) Squadron at Winnipeg. The aircraft was re-designated as a Dakota Mk. 3FP (Freight & Passenger) on the 20th of November, 1975. The final unit was the Central Flying School also located at C.F.B. Winnipeg.

This Dakota was taken out of service in March, 1989. It was later purchased by the Fleming Corporation of Nashua New Hampshire and given the U.S. civil registration N104BF. It was then sold it to Basler airlines in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where it was converted to a turbine -powered aircraft. The aircraft was sold to the Mauritanian Air Force and serialed 5T-MAH on the 31st of December, 1999. It was returned to Basler in April, 2005.

Cheers...Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

Very interesting stuff Chris. I recall that back in the mid '50s the RCAF felt that the Dakota, for safety reasons would have to be withdrawn from service when they reached 10,000 airframe hrs...but when they were finally put out to pasture there was one or two with in excess of 50,000 hrs of pretty hard flying on them and they are still flying.

I used to think that there were two things produced in 1935..the DC-3 and ME and now I'm thinking that the old Douglas Racer will out last me.....

Barney

[Waldo Peppar]

Chris,
I just checked my Air force logbook, and my first flight in 950 was Oct 31,1970, with Captain Bill Colman WG-YW
followed by another 33 recorded missions on her thru to 1974. She was one of many airframes out of ANS Winnipeg , and then 429SQN. My logbook shows 3146.3 on the C47/DC-3( flew a few civies also).....had a flat tire once upon landing at CYHU...that was the only issue there was! Other that having a hearing issue now, good memories.
Waldo

[Moose47]

G'day Waldo


I just wanted to say that I am very jealous of you. The Dakota is the greatest aircraft I NEVER flew.

You might recognize these serial numbers of Daks from 429 (T) Squadron.

12903, 12906, 12912, 12913, 12915, 12918, 12919, 12923, 12924, 12925, 12926, 12927, 12928, 12932, 12933, 12936, 12937, 12938, 12943, 12944, 12945, 12946, 12950, 12953, 12957, 12963, 12964, 12968.

Cheers...Chris

[Waldo Peppar]

Moose47,
Yes Sir! I flew all of those tail numbers except 932,938,945 ,plus 905,910,939,940,941,942,962,965,969,968,993 that were not on your list.
968 was the Admiral Vip Dak out of 101(T) Shearwater
905,910 were SAR birds
950 was dressed up as well , if my memory serves me.
For a while, 429 Sqn did a Sunday sked to Moosejaw as call signs 429A and 429B, connected with the Boeing 707 at Winnipeg
Captain Hans Etzel was the first to use call sign BISON (formation).
There are a lot of old memories in the log book.
Waldo

[Moose47]

G'day Waldo

Here's my list of Daks that flew with the air nav school at Winnipeg throught the schools use of type.

Cheers...Chris

NOTE: The 900 series aircraft were those that were purchased by the R.C.A.F. The KG, FZ, KN and KP series aircraft were Royal Air Force aircraft obtained from the United States through Lend-Lease. They were taken on strength with the R.C.A.F. between 1944 and 1946.

Mk. 3FP - Freight & Personnel

Mk, 3N - Navigation Trainer

Mk. 3NRO - Navigation & Radar-Observer Trainer

Mk. 3R - Radio Trainer

Mk. 4MN - Conerted to R1830-92C - Navigation Trainer

Mk. 4 MNRO - Conerted to R1830-92C - Radar-Observer Trainer



Dakota Mk. 3
661

Dakota Mk. 3FP
KG394 later 12918

Dakota Mk. 3N
963 later 12950
964
993 later 12964
FZ669
FZ671 later 12944
KG312
KG330
KG350 later 12915
KG395
KG423
KG545
KG557
KG562
KG602
KG623
KG632
KG713,

Dakota 3NRO
992
FZ669
KG312 later 12912
KG330 later 12913
KG545
KG623 later 12933
KG713

Dakota 3R
KG320
KG403 later 12920
KG486
KG641

Dakota 4MN
KN201
KN281
KN443
KP227


Dakota 4MNRO
KN281 later 12910
KN443 later 12923
KP227 later 12906

CC-129
12906
12910
12912
12913
12915
12916
12918
12920
12923
12926
12933
12936
12939
12940
12944
12950
12964
12966
12968,

[Moose47]

G'day Waldo

Here is a list of all Dakotas that served with No. 101 (T) Flight and its predecessors No. 101 (K) Flight and No. 101 Communications Flight R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth/Canadian Forces Base Shearwter, Nova Scotia

NOTE: For those of you who may not know 'K' stands for Composite

The 600 series Dakotas were also aircraft purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force

* T.T. - Target Tug

* SC - Special Communications

* ST - Special transport

* U - Instructional

Dakota T.T. 4
659
it carried the codes CD*B also CD*C. While carrying the CD*C codes in 1953, the aircraft was marked in Target Tug Yellow and Black stripes

Dakota Mk. 3
656
660
663
Dakota Mk. 3FP
662 - This aircraft loaned to the Flight from R,C,A,F, Station Greenwood
968 later 12952
KG563
KG668,

Dakota Mk. 3N
964
KG632

Dakota MK. 4
KK143,

Dakota Mk. 4FP
KN261
KN511,

Dakota Mk. 4M
KN427

Dakota 4MFP
KN448
Dakota Mk. 4SC
KN261

Dakota Mk. 4ST
1000 later 12965
KJ827 (Borrowed from No. 103 S&R Flt)
KJ828

Dakota Mk.4U
KN451- coded CD*F. This was the personal aircraft of the Air Officer Commnading No. 10 Group, Maritime Air Command.

CC-129
12952
12965

[Moose47]

G'day...again Waldo

When 420 'Snowy Owl' Squadron stood to at Sharwater as a Reserve unit twinned with MR 888 (Maritime Reconnaissance flying De Havilland Canada-built Grumman CP-121 Trackers) at C.F.B. Summerside, P.E.I., VU-32 shuttled the aircrew and ground crew on duty that weekend there and back every weekend for about a year.

VU-32 at C.F.B. Shearwater operated the following Dakotas

* Mk. 3C - Converted to R1830-90C

Dakota Mk. 3C
KG354 later 12916

CC-129
12916
12924
12956
12965
12966

Cheers.Chris

[Old Dog Flying]

Let's see if Photobucket works on this bit of small scale nostalgia

Barney