Last Month s Meeting DVD production of Hornell s Victoria Cross Speaker: Robert (Bob) Cole Reporter: Gord McNulty

Transcription

1 Volume 40 Number 8 May CAHS Toronto Chapter Meeting - May 6, 2006 Last Month s Meeting... 1 Meeting starts at 1 PM -Under the Glider- Financial Statement for the Year Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall Road, Toronto Chipmunk Aircraft Symposium 4... CAHS Toronto Chapter Directors Meeting... 5 President s Report for the year Last Month s Meeting DVD production of Hornell s Victoria Cross Speaker: Robert (Bob) Cole Reporter: Gord McNulty Speaker- We are pleased to have the former Manager of the Avro Aircraft Film and Photography Department, Mr. Lou Wise as our speaker for this meeting. The Arrow and the AVRO Canada Photo Department All CAHS & TAM members, guests and the public are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served Information: Bob Winson, CAHS Toronto Chapter Tel: A Landing Fee of $2.00 will be charged to cover meeting expenses Toronto Chapter President Howard Malone introduced Robert (Bob) Cole, a veteran CBC cameraman, and special guests from 442 (David Hornell VC) Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada led by John Bamlett, Past President. Bob was born in 1935 in Long Branch about four miles west of where David Hornell lived. He is one of eight brothers and sisters, sometimes called the Coley Gang. Bob s brother, Syd, was among the crew of the PBY-5A Canso flown by Flight Lieutenant David Hornell, VC, when it was shot down in Bob has vivid memories of Syd s homecoming parade coming down Long Branch Avenue to the family home on Lake Promenade. 1 Flypast V. 40 No. 8

2 Bob worked for CBC News for 37 years, including and his co-pilot Bernard Denomy ditched the Canso 10 years with black and white film, 13 years with into a heavy swell. When one of the two dinghys colour film and then ENG (video). His biggest news exploded like a pricked balloon, the eight crew story was covering the 1967 Six-Day War from members were left with just one dinghy --- designed Israel. His biggest sports stories were the to hold four men --- in the cold North Atlantic with 1972-Canada-Soviet hockey series and the 30-foot swells. After eight hours had passed, the Muhammad Ali-George Chuvalo fight with his crew managed to signal a Catalina, a Norwegian reporter, Howard Cosell. Bob is now retired and aircraft from 333 Squadron, as it flew over. F/O living in Milton, but he still has lots of energy to Graham Campbell had three flares. Nothing devote to projects in photo journalism. happened when he tried to fire the first two but Discussing how he became involved in producing the fortunately the third one went off and the Catalina DVD, Bob recalled that on his brother Syd s 70th crew saw it. However, the rescue effort proved to be birthday in 1990, Syd played a 1946 CBC radio tape a harrowing ordeal which lasted for 21 hours in all. about the story narrated by Lorne Greene. Then, in Three crew members died, including Hornell, who 2001, all of the family members from the Hornell was the last to perish. When a Sunderland from the crew were invited to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Norwegian air force was finally able to drop a Museum at Hamilton Airport to attend a ceremony dinghy close enough to the crew, the rescue came dedicating the museum s Canso in memory of David too late for the gallant Hornell. He died in the Hornell. Bob was able to combine footage from the launch, blinded and exhausted, in spite of four hours CBC tape and the CWH dedication, together with of artificial respiration. He was posthumously Internet research, to produce the DVD. awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism in the attack and endurance afterward. His was the first RCAF VC of the war. Many other richly deserved decorations were awarded for the events of June F/O Campbell, for example, was awarded the DFC and Syd Cole was awarded a DFM. As part of his research, Bob Cole told how he located a person from the Norwegian 333 squadron. He called a friend in Iceland, and after four months, he received an from Norway informing him that there was one survivor from the squadron --- On June 24, 1944, Flight Lieutenant David Hornell and even better, he lived in Midland, Ont. Bob of No. 162 Squadron and his crew bombed and sank interviewed the airman, Rolf Hauge, and he also U-1225 after taking off from northern Scotland. As interviewed Graham Campbell, the last surviving described in the Royal Canadian Air Force at War member of the crew. Bob spent three years putting by Larry Milberry and Hugh Halliday, the documentary together. He showed two the squadron was deadly to submarines breaking out four-minute trailers from the DVD, which included into the Atlantic from Norwegian and German ports. excerpts from a film narrated by Lorne Greene and However, it also sustained heavy casualties --- highlights from the Canso dedication ceremony at evidence of German fight on the surface tactics, the the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. F/O Canso s vulnerability to flak, and the press on Campbell, DFC, attended the ceremony as the sole determination of the Canadians flying with Coastal survivor of the Hornell crew and enjoyed a flight in Command. Hornell exemplified their courage in the Canso. continuing to attack U-1225 despite sustaining heavy Bob recalled a number of memorable, ill-fated flak damage which set the starboard engine on fire. occasions in his CBC career while answering After the bombs were dropped from 50 feet, Hornell questions from the audience. He mentioned that he Flypast V. 40 No. 8 2

3 had been at the rehearsal for the CNE air show in September, 1966 the day before a Blue Angel pilot, Lieutenant Commander Dick Oliver, 31, died in the crash of his Grumman Tiger. During the rehearsal, the team had a near-miss during a low-level head-on pass. On the day of the show, Bob s assignment editor told him to get a boat and go to the breakwater at the Island Airport and be ready to take a shot of what the editor expected could potentially be a spectacular crash. Bob did as instructed and sure enough, as two Blue Angels flew the head-on pass he followed one aircraft as the wing hit the water and it crashed into the breakwater, exploding into a fireball. Bob took his film back to CBC, where he learned that another camerman farther east had taken a better shot of the accident. The other camerman caught the aircraft in slow motion and a series of pictures taken by the camermen appeared in Life magazine, including two taken by Bob. I met the pilot who had the accident the night before, Bob added. He was told to be careful. I still recall how he said, No sweat. On another occasion, early on July 5, 1970, Bob heard that a plane had crashed near Pearson airport. He called the office and told newsman Joe Schlesinger to get all of the reporters and crew to the airport. The aircraft involved was an Air Canada DC-8-63, Flight 621, which had crashed in a field near Woodbridge with the loss of all 109 passengers and crew. Bob recalled that it was a gruesome scene, but as is the case with a major news story, there was a certain adrenalin rush for the newsmen covering the tragedy in a high-pressure situation. Howard Malone added his own memories of that sad day. Howard mentioned that he had happened to be first officer on the next Air Canada aircraft due to land on Runway 32 which had been used by the ill-fated DC-8. It was a beautiful clear day, with a strong northerly wind. Suddenly, Howard s crew was ordered to turn right and head east along the waterfront for an approach on Runway 24. We thought it was strange, because of instead of having a 20 or 25 mph headwind, we would face a 20 or 25 mph crosswind. We thought it was totally inappropriate, and we questioned it, but we were told, we re sorry, Runway 32 is closed. No one was saying anything on the radio. We couldn t get any information whatever, which was somewhat disturbing. In any case the captain landed and as they passed Runway 32, Howard glanced to the right and was startled to see an engine sitting by the runway. The captain looked at me like I had two heads or something, and said, You re kidding. There was no emergency equipment, no fire trucks, there was nothing other than this engine sitting there smoking. It turned out that Flight 621 had made an exceptionally hard landing when the first officer inadvertently deployed the spoilers in flight, killing the lift and bringing the aircraft down like a rock. The No. 4 engine was torn off when the landing gear crunched down and a fuel tank was ruptured, unknown to the crew at the time. The pilot opted to go around but a catastrophic series of events ensued and the aircraft went down in flames. As Howard recalled, When we taxied into the gate, the door opened and one of the ground came on. He was wearing white coveralls. To this day, I can remember that his face was the cover of his coveralls --- totally white and drained of blood. He said, We just lost a DC-8... We went up to the administration building and there was a whole crew of people who had been standing there and saw it happen. Talk about a traumatized group of people. It was something else. Howard and his crew had to return to New York even though as he put it, he didn t really feel like flying after being so closely connected to the tragedy. It was a very difficult day for Howard, who knew the pilot, Capt. Pete Hamilton, a highly respected Second World War bomber pilot and former president of the Canadian Airline Pilots Association. In addition, Howard s wife was at the cottage that day. The neighbours came over to advise her that there had been a crash at the airport, just around the time when Howard s flight was due. There wasn t any telephone service at the cottage, so it was some time before Howard could make contact. Howard expressed his thanks to Bob for his informative talk and presented him with a copy of the book, Flying Boats and Seaplanes, in appreciation. 3 Flypast V. 40 No. 8

4 Toronto Chapter Canadian Aviation Historical Society Financial Statement for the Year 2005 Due to a welcomed 16% increase in received membership dues for 2005 in comparison to 2004, the Chapter achieved a respectable surplus of Statement / Chart of Accounts has been filed with CAHS National). Total Revenue (Landing Fees, Memberships, Donations).$ Total Expenses...$ $ for the year. Your directors have also Surplus..$ reduced expenses wherever possible, including the introduction of Flypast by this past winter. Robert A. Winson The preparation, printing and distribution of Flypast Secretary-Treasurer remains our single largest and necessary Chapter Chipmunk Aircraft Symposium expense. Our current membership roll stands at TORONTO, April 12, The Toronto approximately 220 members. The Chapter Aerospace Museum is pleased to announce a membership fee will be reviewed this summer, but no symposium on the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 increase is anticipated. Chipmunk training aircraft on the evening of Friday, Members continue to be generous with charitable May 26, This event is being hosted in donations to the Chapter and contributed some conjunction with the Wings and Wheels Heritage $ during Under current Canada Festival at Downsview Park on May that will Revenue Agency requirements the Chapter is obliged celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first flight of to spend at least 80% of that amount on charitable this famous Toronto-designed aircraft. To date, over disbursements during Your Directors will be twenty Chipmunk owners have agreed to participate voting shortly on a disbursement plan that will in the weekend s fly-in and Chipmunk homecoming include aviation scholarships and education, aviation activities. restoration projects and research. All disbursements The symposium will bring together key individuals will comply with and respect the stated aims of the involved in the development, manufacturing and Canadian Aviation Historical Society. The CAHS piloting of the Chipmunk, air force veterans, has held a Federal Charter as a non-profit charitable aviation historians, present day aircraft owners and organization since One item of confusion for members of the general public in a comprehensive members is the fact that the chapter itself cannot celebration of this delightful Canadian aircraft. The issue a tax receipt for donations. This is due to the evening s program is expected to include talks on fact that the Federal Charter is held by CAHS the design, development and flight test of the National only. Therefore, all Chapter donation aircraft, its technical development, the Chipmunk s monies needing a receipt have had to be forwarded to use by the RCAF and foreign air forces, and the CAHS National and then returned to the Chapter. joys and challenges of flying and maintaining This, needless to say, created a major workload for Chipmunk aircraft today. all concerned in past years. In 2006 for the first The symposium will be held at the Toronto time all receiptable donations to the Chapter will be Aerospace Museum at Downsview Park in north held in trust by CAHS National and then specific Toronto on May 26. Doors will open at 5 p.m., with amounts requested by the Chapter will be forwarded the opportunity to preview the aircraft and meet the when a disbursement is to be granted. The duties of pilots that will have arrived for the weekend aviation a Chapter director in future will parallel that of a and classic car festival. The symposium will begin trustee. To that purpose new Chapter Guidelines at 7 p.m. and there will be plenty of time for are being developed and also directives are expected hangar flying afterwards. Light refreshments will to be issued by CAHS National for the guidance of be served. Chapter directors. Tickets are limited and can be obtained by sending a check to the Toronto Aerospace Museum at 65 Chapter Financial Summary (A detailed Financial Carl Hall Road, Toronto, Ontario, M3K 2E1 or Flypast V. 40 No. 8 4

5 ordering by credit card by calling The meeting price for the evening symposium is $20. For those 2. Vote / Selection of Officers (i.e. President, 1st & interested in attending the vintage aircraft and classic 2nd. Vice-Presidents) car festival as well, a combination ticket for the entire 3. Appointment of Associate Directors weekend is available for $ Financial Update / Charitable Donation Program The Toronto Aerospace Museum is the only 5. Chapter Guidelines Review aviation-themed educational attraction in the Greater 6. Speaker Program Update Toronto Area. It is very popular with students 7. Chapter Promotion studying Canadian history and the science and theory 8. CAHS 2006 Convention of flight. It is located in part of the de Havilland heritage aircraft factory at Downsview Park, where some of Canada s most successful and innovative aircraft and the first Canadian spacecraft were developed. Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society President s Report for the year was my first full year as your President of the The Museum collection includes more than a dozen Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Aviation aircraft associated with development of aviation and Historical Society. It was busier than I expected but the aerospace industry in Toronto. was also very rewarding. I will give you a brief Highlights of the Museum collection include the City overview of the some of the events of my year as of Toronto s rare 1945 Avro Lancaster bomber - one President. I want to start by thanking the rest of the of only 20 in existence in the world - which is being Directors of the Toronto Chapter who have so ably painstakingly restored, and a full scale replica of the served to make your experience in the Chapter an famous Avro Arrow supersonic interceptor developed enjoyable one. These are the people that handle the in the Toronto area in the late 1950s and cancelled memberships, arrange for our speakers and present and scrapped in Piston and jet powered very professional meetings. I could not have done military trainers, anti-submarine aircraft, and several my job without their tireless efforts and I sincerely Ontario-built light aircraft are also on display. thank them for their assistance. The Toronto Aerospace Museum is located at I attended the Convention of CAHS National held in Downsview Park, 65 Carl Hall Road, Toronto, May in Regina, Saskatchewan, celebrating the Ontario, Canada, M3K 2E1. For further information 100th anniversary of Saskatchewan. It was an on the event, tickets and museum hours, call excellent Convention. It gave me the opportunity to , tam@bellnet.ca or visit the meet with members from all across the country. It m u s e u m w e b s i t e : was my first introduction to the Board of Directors Information on and the various Chapter Presidents. As part of the Downsview Park can be found at active program we toured many of the historic Media Contact: aviation sites in the vicinity of Regina, including Albert Peres, Event Coordinator, Tel. #15 Training Wing of The Canadian Armed Forces ( This had been RCAF Base Moose Jaw when I Paul Cabot, Manager/Curator, Tel trained on Harvards in the summer of 1960 as a Garth Hardie, Communications Coordinator, Tel. ROTP pilot trainee and later in the winter of at Flying Instructors School, as a brand new Flying More Info: Officer just graduated with his wings from Advanced Flying School at RCAF Station Portage CAHS Toronto Chapter Directors Meeting Sunday April 30, :30 PM La Prairie.) Out of the National Convention an Executive Gallery Room, Toronto Aerospace Museum Committee was formed and I have been able to Agenda participate as Vice President Eastern Canada 1. Review and approval of minutes of Jan. 22/06 Operations. This committee has provided me with 5 Flypast V. 40 No. 8

6 the opportunity to understand and work on many of the issues facing our National body, including the tax audit of CAHS by the Canadian Revenue Agency, review of our Chapter structure in answer to questions raised by CRA and review of our publication and public relations policies. In late summer the Toronto Chapter of CAHS teamed up with the Toronto Aerospace Museum and were co-hosts of the visit to Toronto of Miss Veedol from Wenatchee Washington as it helped recreate the 75th Anniversary Flight of Erroll Boyd, a great Canadian aviation pioneer. This aircraft touched down at Toronto City Centre Airport on September 1st, 2005, the exact same day when 75 years before, Erroll Boyd had taken off from Leaside Airport on the start of his flight to the east coast of Canada and subsequently across the Atlantic Ocean. This was the first crossing in the dangerous fall/winter season of the North Atlantic, proving the possibility of regular commercial airliner travel on this route. The aircraft a replica Bellanca Long-Distance Model J had been constructed by the Spirit of Wenatchee, a group who are attempting to recreate the 1931 world circumnavigation and the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean by Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon. The aircraft was allowed to join in the CNE airshow and after the four days of show flying, moved to Downsview to be seen by visitors to TAM as well as to the employees of Bombardier at Downsview. This visit displayed the cooperation between CAHS and TAM and was a good start to our fall season at TAM. A remarkable series of speakers highlighting our Toronto Chapter Meeting schedule ( a very special thanks has to go out to three of our hard working directors who have done so much to make our meetings successful, Bob Winson for his great organizational skills in finding and arranging for such high quality speakers, April Tredgett for her consistent efforts to ensure that the hospitality and refreshments were always there to complement the quality presentations, and finally Murray Joliffe for his assistance in ensuring that our physical facilities were ready to meet the challenge of our meetings. A brief summary of our meeting schedule follows: February 9, Martin Keenan gave a much appreciated impromptu presentation on the CF-101B Voodoo. Martin agreed to step in when our scheduled speaker was caught in a snowstorm in Montreal and was unable to get to Toronto. March 9, James Moffat gave a talk about his experiences flying in a Halifax aircraft during the Second World War and described the adventures after bailing out of his aircraft after a mid air collision with another aircraft. He concluded with his times behind enemy lines. This last phrase Behind Enemy Lines is the title of the book about the memoirs of James Moffat. He was featured in a film shown by CBC shortly after our meeting. The film Striking Back described the allies efforts to move the war deep into German territory with bombing raids and in particular the exploits of James Moffat and the Halifax aircraft in which he was flying. April 13, Brian Howard spoke about the History of Aviation in the Niagara Area and more specifically about the St. Catharines Flying Club. We received a well detailed perspective of the development of aviation in the Niagara Region. May 11, Bill Batter spoke about The Great War Flying Museum located in Brampton, Ontario. Bill was able to demonstrate some of the challenges that arise when trying to keep a number of replica aircraft in flying condition. He brought along a number of components that were used to demonstrate the level of detail that is addressed in getting these aircraft in the air and keeping them serviceable for their strenuous airshow schedule. June 9, Howard Hewer spoke of his service in the RAF Bomber Command Squadrons 218 and 148 during night operations over Germany and North Africa. His talk was filled with the details of many of his bombing flights and provided the audience with a very interesting story. Howard Hewer continued his air force career with the RCAF retiring as a Wing Commander and recently publishing In for A Penny, In For a Pound which is an account of his wartime endeavours. September 17, James Glassco Henderson gave an excellent talk on Shorty An Aviation Pioneer - The Story of Victor John Hatton This is also the title of the book that Mr. Henderson wrote in 2004 about his uncle. Of particular interest in his story are the tales of the Flypast V. 40 No. 8 6

7 early days of airmail in Canada. addition with the meetings now occurring on a October 15, Richard Marples, a Canadian Saturday, there is a better opportunity for our many pilot with the Mission Aviation Fellowship in Papua out of town members to join us. There have been New Guinea, spoke about their efforts to bring aid additional benefits to the change in meetings to Tam and assistance to the people in very remote areas. He and many of these relate to the relationship which dramatically illustrated his talk with film showing the we have been able to develop with TAM. A number very difficult flying conditions that he encountered on of our members have joined TAM and vice versa, a daily basis. we are able to hold our meetings in a locale which November 19, Our organizer Bob Winson by its very nature supports and enhances the treated us to a movie on dehavilland at Hatfield. The Historical aspect of our endeavours. The film described the growth of the dehavilland firm personnel at TAM have been incredibly supportive from its very early days up to the final shutdown of and have helped upgrade the audio/visual operations at Hatfield, England. It provided an good component of our meetings. In this regard I should historical development of dehavilland and many of pay specific thanks to Paul Cabot, Manager its aircraft types that came out of Hatfield. /Curator of the Museum and Albert Peres, an expert December 17, For our final meeting of the in audio/visual equipment, who have both given year we were given a double-header. First, Martin freely of their own time to make our meetings Keenan was able to give an expanded version of his successful. February 9th presentation on the CF-101B, Voodoo. We have come out of the year of the Veteran, 2005, He complemented the history of the aircraft in the with a renewed admiration for the contributions of RCAF with an excellent set of slides illustrating all Canadians to our Aviation History. I think that this the various roles that the aircraft filled. perspective has also instilled a sense of renewal and Our second speaker of the afternoon was Major purpose in our Chapter which is highlighted by the General Richard Rohmer who captured the audience level of interest of our members and our desire to with his tales of flying spanning his career as a expand our membership ranks. We are working now reconnaissance pilot flying over the beaches of to ensure that our organization is up to the task and Normandy on D-Day through his Command of does it within the constraints placed on us by our RCAF Squadron 411 at Downsview flying Vampires, membership in a Charitable organization. We will as well as his promotion to Chief of Reserves of the probably see some changes in procedures and Canadian Armed Forces. General Rohmer, one of our policies as a result of the recently completed audit of most decorated citizens has authored 28 fiction and our finances by CRA, however our commitment to non-fiction books. He was able to guide us through a the membership remains to provide a place where fascinating career in aviation with the liberal use of we can all share our interest in aviation history and appropriate slides presenting a very entertaining and be informed through our excellent speakers, our informative talk. well produced Journal edited by Bill Wheeler, and Meeting Format - We made a dramatic change in our the warm camaraderie of so many aviation meeting venue coming from Beecroft Manor, near enthusiasts within our own ranks. Yonge and Sheppard for our meetings up to the It has been a pleasure to serve as your President for summer break, then moving to the hospitable this past year and I look forward to the challenges surroundings of the Toronto Aerospace Museum at and continuing success of the Toronto Chapter for Downsview Park in September for our fall schedule. the year In addition to moving our location of meetings, we decided to change the timing of our meetings from a Respectfully Submitted, Wednesday evening to Saturday afternoon. Although Howard M. Malone P.Eng. MCIP, RPP there has been some discussion about the ease of President Toronto Chapter, access of TAM, the change to a daytime meeting The Canadian Aviation Historical Society from an evening meeting has been well received. In March Flypast V. 40 No. 8

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 : 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 Flypast V. 40 No. 8 8