CAHS Convention 2024

Story and Photos by John Chalmers,
posted July 2024
Attendees at the 2024 convention of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society were surrounded by aircraft while attending sessions at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum. Located on Hangar Road near Saskatoon’s airport and only a few minutes from the convention hotel, we were welcomed there by executive director Brian Eikel.
Overview of the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum.
Presentations by the speakers included a broad range of topics related to Canadian civil and military history. The Royal Canadian Air Force, in its centennial year of 2024, was recognized in a number of presentations.
Breaks in the program provided opportunity for conventioneers to enjoy a beverage and a pastry, as well as a chance to visit with fellow CAHS members from across the country. On hand to help with the hospitality were Air Cadets of 107 Spitfire Squadron in Saskatoon. At centre is Warrant Officer First Class, Teagan Ozmun, flanked by twin sisters Julie Remple (left), and Jamie (right), both holding the rank of Warrant Officer Second Class. Teagan has earned his pilot’s license through Air Cadets.
Air Cadets
Will Chabun
Longtime CAHS Regina Chapter member, Will Chabun, was the first presenter in the convention program on Thursday June 20, speaking appropriately on the topic of “Military Aviation in Saskatchewan,” where the RCAF began operations in the province a hundred years ago in 1924.
Jerry Vernon presentation.
Jerry Vernon
Jerry Vernon, left, ex-RCAF and president of the CAHS Vancouver Chapter, first spoke at the pre-convention meet and greet social session, above, on the evening of June 19. He presented a slide show of photos he took in July 1960 at  RCAF Station Saskatoon while attending Summer Camp there. Informal social sessions are an important part of a convention in maintaining making contacts with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  As a presenter on June 20, Jerry’s topic was the story of W/C Paul Pitcher, who flew in the Battle of Britain, then served later in various posts as a senior officer with the RCAF.
Bruce Gowans
Bruce Gowans, longtime member of the CAHS Calgary Chapter, gave his presentation about the Cessna Crane, flown as a trainer aircraft in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, providing experience for navigators, and multi-engine experience for pilots. Bruce spoke also of the post-war history of the Crane and of those still flying today.
Bernie Runstedler
James Winkel
Lunch speaker on June 20 was Bernie Runstedler, left, on the subject of “Father John and the Puss Moth.” He recounted the story of the involvement of an RCAF chaplain, S/L John McGillivray, and the history of the de Havilland DH 80 Puss Moth. James Winkel, at right, spoke of “Christian Beliefs, Catalinas and Cansos,” telling the story of Catalinas and Cansos in serving northern Saskatchewan to provide service to bring fish to market.
Robert Galway
Robert Galway shared his interest and discoveries of northern aviation with his presentation on “The James Bay Treaty Flights of 1929 & 1930.” With a particular interest in northern historic aviation flights, any presentation by Robert is meticulously researched and illustrated with important photos related to his talk. Like other speakers in the program, his talk was accompanied with a PowerPoint presentation prepared for showing at the convention.
Presentation by Dr. Rachel Lea Heide.
Delivering her presentation online via Zoom from her home near Ottawa, Rachel Heide spoke of developments leading up to the establishment of the Royal Canadian Air Force on April 1, 1924. The presentation outlined the views of Canadian and British airmen and politicians for and against establishing a separate Canadian Air Force during the First World War. Red Mullock (1886-1961), shown in this slide from Rachel’s show, flew as a fighter pilot in the First World War, became Canada’s first ace, supported establishment of a Canadian air force, eventually served with the RCAF and was inducted as a member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2010.
602 Lynx Wing
No event or dinner was planned for the free evening on Thursday, June 20, but an invitation to attend the facility of 602 Lynx Wing of the RCAF Association was accepted by many of the conventioneers to enjoy a pub night there. At the Wing’s building, a T-33 Silver Star in the livery of the RCAF Red Knight is mounted just outside the entrance to the building.
Dorrin Wallace
Friday’s program on June 21 began with Dorrin Wallace, a volunteer with the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, who has 40 years experience as a pilot. He spoke about the museum, then took conventioneers outside to speak about aircraft in the collection. Shown behind him is the museum’s Tracker, with wings folded, one of the aircraft which is displayed outdoors.
Mike Bechthold
Mike Bechthold, a historian employed by the RCAF Heritage and History section, spoke of the RCAF Centennial publications and those in the works for future release. As well, he encouraged applications for funding from the RCAF Heritage Fund for financial support of air force related projects.
Barbeque
Lunch coincided perfectly with a regular Friday noon barbeque at the museum, providing a chance to meet fellow aviation enthusiasts who came for the event, and to spend time checking out the displays and aircraft.
Bus ride
Following lunch, attendees were taken by bus to the campus of the University of Saskatchewan to tour the Diefenbaker Centre, which honours John Diefenbaker (1895-1979), who served as Prime Minister of Canada from 1957-1963. Opportunity was provided to tour the exhibits. An orientation talk was provided that was followed by a presentation about the still-debated decision by the Diefenbaker government to cancel production of the famed Avro Arrow. Lively discussion followed!
Deifenbaker grave and John Chalmers selfie.
John Diefenbaker and his wife, Olive, are buried on the grounds by the Diefenbaker Centre. As well as paintings and artifacts, the Centre has replica rooms of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Privy Council Chamber. Having had the pleasure of meeting Dief the Chief many years ago, I wanted to shoot a selfie of me and him and the Centre! You can visit the Centre online when you click here.
Banquet
As is the practice of our conventions, the CAHS Annual Awards banquet was held on Friday evening, a great chance to enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts. Following dinner, the William Wheeler Volunteer Service Award of the CAHS was presented. The CAHS Turnbull Chapter in New Brunswick was recognized for its huge project in creating and placing a hundred banners of recognition for individuals who served the RCAF. The Award was also presented to Bill Zuk of the Manitoba Chapter for his continued support over many years. Entertainment following dinner was a presentation by Don Currie, “Concorde Visits Regina,” a story about the arrival of a Concorde at Regina in 1987, carrying French president François Mitterrand. Preparing the aircraft to leave presented several challenges for local maintenance personnel!
Saturday morning, June 22, began with the Annual General Meeting. Secretary Jim Bell, at left below, and CAHS president Gary Williams presided over the AGM. Always a highlight of the meeting is the treasurer’s report, presented by Rachel Heide, who manages the financial affairs of the CAHS, which is in solid financial state. Presented online, the report was illustrated with slides that itemized all income, expenses and investments of the CAHS.
Secretary Jim Bell and CAHS President Gary Williams
Treasurer's Report by Rachel Heide
Special thanks go to Jim Bell and his committee for their tireless efforts in planning and organizing the convention, selecting and confirming hotel accommodation and services, making arrangements with the museum, developing a fine program of speakers, and for printing the very informative programme of events.
Reg “Crash” Harrison and Deana Driver
Reg “Crash” Harrison of Saskatoon, now in his 102nd year,  earned his nickname by surviving four bomber crashes while serving with the RCAF as a pilot during the Second World War. He survived one crash by bailing out, earning a Caterpillar Pin by doing so. As well, he wears a Guinea Pig Pin, having been treated with plastic surgery and skin grafts needed as a result of burns incurred in one crash.
Reg was brought to the convention by writer/publisher Deana Driver, who collaborated with Reg in writing his book of war memoirs, Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death. Following a spellbinding talk of his adventures, Reg was kept busy signing copies of his book for appreciative CAHS members. See a CBC story about Reg when you click here and another story when you click here.
Demands for catching a flight home after the morning program on Saturday precluded my attendance at the remaining presentations and photographing the speakers. Fred Petrie connected via Zoom from Winnipeg, where he works in the Oral Histories project of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and volunteers there to give tours of the museum.

The first speaker after lunch was Brian Cotter, a member of the CAHS Toronto Chapter who has an extensive background in publishing and television production. Brian recounted the story of RCAF veteran Doug Smith, who served the air force from 1954-1964 during the years of the Cold War.

Clint Ward’s presentation, “A Personal Journey,” was his story as an RCAF pilot, who then continued flying with Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) and whose experience in the air ranged from the days of the Douglas DC-3 to the Boeing 747 over a period of nearly four decades.
Final speaker of the convention was Roddy MacKenzie of Vancouver, whose talks about his recently-published book, Bomber Command: Churchill’s Greatest Triumph, have taken him to speaking engagements across Canada. Inspiration to write the book derived from the experience of his father, who flew 34 operational flights during the war as a pilot of a Lancaster bomber.

Both Reg’s and Roddy’s books can be ordered online from Amazon or through your local bookstore, and Reg's book is available through the CAHS shop at a discounted rate. Roddy MacKenzie's book on Bomber Command is also available at a discount through the CAHS. 
Once again the CAHS has held a successful conference, this year honouring the RCAF in its 100th anniversary year, with the scope of presentations covering many aspects of Canadian aviation history.
Saskatoon
Saskatoon, in “The Land of Living Skies,” proved to be a fine location in which to hold the convention of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. Plans are already underway for the 2025 convention scheduled to happen in Ottawa, which will again provide opportunity for attendees to learn more about our aviation heritage and history. Information about the 2025 convention will be published as available in future issues of this newsletter.
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