RCAF 90th anniversary celbration serves as trip down memory lane

By Dan Gray

Veterans from across southern Ontario gathered at the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association hanger onOct. 25 to reminisce about their time in the service.

Windsor’s Passing the Torch Committee, in association with CHAA and other community organizations, held a three-day celebration of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 90^th anniversary from Oct. 23 – 25. According to event organizers, it was designed to bring children and veterans together to help kids understand the importance of Remembrance Day.

As part of the event, the hangar was open to the public and planes and displays were set out for viewing. Air force veterans Anne Edmunds and Gordon Cook took time to come by the hangar and remember the days in which they served. Cook said he had the honour of flying Harvards in the Air Force. After getting out of the Thunderbird that was on display, he said that it was very different than the planes he had the opportunity to fly.

“Anne and I both have talked about our tenure in the air force,” said Cook. “(We came) just to see the aircraft and mix and mingle with the veterans. That’s a privledge.”

Other veterans could be seen getting in and out of the Lancaster, talking to some of the children who were also in attendance. Grant McAuley joined the RCAF in 1953 right out of high school and spent over 35 years working in jobs ranging from rigger to administrator. He said he believes events like this help keep interest in the Air Force alive and allow veterans to get together.

“My interest is still in the air force,” said McAuley. “We, at one time in Chatham had an Air Force Association of which I was president two or three times, so I’ve always maintained my interest in the air force.”

Many of the volunteers at the event were former members of the RCAF. They spent time getting visitors in and out of the Thunderbird, manning informational tables and sharing their knowledge with interested individuals. Others flew planes that the CHAA uses to execute parts of their mandate.

The CHAA is working diligently to piece together a Lancaster Bomber. The work in progress was on display out on the tarmac. Brad Saunders is the project co-ordinator for the Lancaster and was a guest speaker during the three-day long event at the hangar. Veterans were able to watch some of the aircraft from World War 2 fly because of CHAA’s commitment to keeping that part of the legacy alive.

“Our mandate is to fly, operate and restore period World War 2 aircraft,” said Saunders. “We have two Chipmunks and a Steerman we operate and we are currently restoring the Lancaster Bomber that used to be in Jackson Park as everyone knows, and we are restoring a fighter-bomber called the Mosquito.”

Many of the veterans in attendance are getting on in years. They said they hope that the general public will use events like this and Remembrance Day to keep their memories alive.