It’s always a pleasure to write the Contrails articles as I get a chance to go over our meeting minutes and remember the things the Squadron’s been up to in the last few months. It’s a good thing everything is in writing because I forget what’s happened…This is always the quietest time of year for the Squadron. I’d prefer to play the snowbird and flock off south like so many of you, but because of our motorcyclecrash last August we didn’t go to Thailand this winter. (More on that later…)
On February20th we helped the Legion host the Wounded Warriors Run when we presented the runners with a cheque. The next morning Port Hardy cheered them on their way at the new Cenotaph. We will sponsor Vera Smyth when she participates in the Boomer Ride from Port Hardy to Victoria June 7th. We are very pleased that 101 Member and past president, Jim King was recently elected 888 Wing 2nd Vice and now becomes our Liaison Officer. Jim will attend the Pac Grp AGM May 15-16 on our behalf. Speaking of elections, due to the anticipated heavy workload ahead of us 101’s executive opted to maintain their current roles – no sense messing with a well-oiled machine (and we dostay well oiled!)
Behind the scene, we have been working diligently on this year’s dedications. This will be the final year of 101 Squadron commemorating the RCAF’s presence here. On May 13, we will commemorate the WWII Radar Unit at Cape Scott, the site of the current lighthouse. 19 Wing and 442 Squadron are once again pitching in and providing a Chinook helicopter to take us to the remote location with the Wing Co opting to fly the chopper for us. Funny how none of our members were enthusiastic about hiking the Cape Scott Trail for 8-10 hours, like we used to do. The Rangers, however, like those kinds of challenges - theyrecently undertook a similar hike out to the US Navy Ventura crash at Lawn Point to perform maintenance on the obelisk and plaque for us. Thank you Rangers!!
Following the Cape Scott ceremony will be dedications at five other extremely remote and rugged Radar Units; Ferrer Point, Cape Saint James, Spider Island, Marble Island, and Langara Island. You have to see these locations to appreciate the challenges faced by our servicemen during WWII. As we are the type of fellows who happily share with others, we have invited the Canadian Rangers to undertake those missions, since theythrive on 8-10 hour hikes. Did I mentionhow extremely remote and rugged these locations are – I did?Thank you Rangers!! All the radar sites will be completed by the end of summer.
After that, it will be our final swan song September 23-24 –101’s Battle of Britain Memorial weekend – when we will commemorate RCAF Station Coal Harbour. The ceremony and banquet will take place in the WWII hangar and it promises to be one of our best extravaganzas ever,with a pig roast AND a first nations style salmon BBQ, along with crab and all the other goodies you have come to expect from the Squadron.Withall our dedicationscompleted, what comes next for 101? Who knows … I’m sure the Squadron will continue to find things to meet over on a regular basis….
Six of our members attended the Air Force Mess Dinner on April 1. It was especially rewarding as my brother and fellow Squadron member, Larry Hemphill, was able to attend. Larry, as many of you saw, continues his remarkable recovery. He has been given the go ahead to return to Thailand at the end of June and, at great sacrifice to myself, I have agreed to accompany him to make sure he arrives safely. The things we do for our kin… We’ll check on the River Kwai plaque and raise a glass to the RCAF boys who destroyed the bridge, which always impresses the Aussies hanging out there.