by Diana Trafford | Mar 11, 2021 | 45 Group, Ferry Command, RAF Transport Command
In February 2021, one of the few remaining members of RAF Ferry Command passed away. Peter Maitland was 96. He joined the RCAF in 1942. In October 1943, he was assigned to 45 Group of RAF Transport Command, the successor to Ferry Command. At the age of 19, he was...
by Diana Trafford | Jan 29, 2021 | Howard Watt, Quebec aviation
It was Uncle Howard’s last flight. He loved every minute of it. Howard Watt had flown everything from Curtiss JN-4 Canadian “Jennies” to four-engine Liberator wartime transports during his three decades in commercial aviation and RAF Ferry Command. To fly in a...
by Diana Trafford | Nov 11, 2020 | Ferry Command
The Forgotten Command. That’s how some people refer to RAF Ferry Command. Remembrance Day is a good time to start remembering, Ferry Command existed for six years, from 1940 to early 1946. In that short time it recorded remarkable achievements, all the while...
by Diana Trafford | Nov 2, 2020 | Aviation biography, Early Canadian aviation, Flying boat, Robert Bradford
The 1920 first flight across Canada was a bold project of the Canadian Air Board to inspire the nation about the potential of aviation in peacetime. Part 1 of this story covers the seaplane flight from the East Coast to Winnipeg, while Part 2 traces the flight by...
by Diana Trafford | Sep 4, 2020 | Space
September 3, 2020 marked the announcement of the first woman president of the Canada Space Agency since the organization was created in 1989. Lisa Campbell served as assistant deputy minister at Veterans Affairs Public Services and before that was assistant deputy...
by Diana Trafford | Aug 24, 2020 | Aviation biography, St. Lawrence River
Richard J. Dawes: Dreams of a Quiet Life Dashed – Part 1 With nine victories to his credit, First World War ace Richard Jeffry Dawes D.F.C. said goodbye to dogfights with RAF 45 Squadron, and returned to Canada in August 1918. The days of Sopwith Camels...
by Diana Trafford | Apr 24, 2020 | Howard Watt
An eye to the future and a nose for business — that was my uncle Howard Watt. No surprise that he was one of the pioneers in commercial aviation in Canada, the holder of licence number 214, dated 2 March 1926. No surprise either that in early 1931 he was sent up to...
by Barbara Campbell | Mar 21, 2020 | Barb & Con Campbell, Gold Belt Air Service, Quebec aviation
by guest author Barbara Van Orden Campbell From 1950 until 1953, Con and Barbara Campbell ran a refueling base and weather reporting station for Gold Belt Airways of Noranda at Bachelor Lake, Québec, 180 miles northeast of Rouyn, near present-day...
by Barbara Campbell | Mar 19, 2020 | Barb & Con Campbell, Gold Belt Air Service, Quebec aviation
by guest author Barbara Van Orden Campbell In 1950, Con and Barbara Campbell took a job with Gold Belt Air Service of Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, running their float plane base at Bachelor Lake. Flights of History is proud to feature chapters from...
by Barbara Campbell | Mar 10, 2020 | Barb & Con Campbell, Gold Belt Air Service, Quebec aviation
by Barbara Van Orden Campbell Barb and Con Campbell were cutting survey lines in the bush north of Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, when they heard that Gold Belt Air Service was looking for someone to run their refuelling base at Bachelor Lake. They jumped at the chance to...
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