Program Presentations
Report by John Chalmers
CAHS Membership Secretary
posted July 2023
CAHS Membership Secretary
posted July 2023
Following a fine start to our convention with the tours at Trenton on June 21, twelve subjects were topics of presentations on the program for Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, in the 60th Anniversary of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. Membership of the CAHS is presently over 900, with 10 chapters from New Brunswick to British Columbia, and over 20 Museum Members from across Canada.
Chris Hargreaves
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Dick Stojak
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First speaker on the Friday program was Chris Hargreaves, a past president of the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society and editor of The Canadian Aerophilatelist. His topic was “Kingston’s Aviation History,” which began with Kingston’s first flight in 1912 with a Curtiss pusher biplane. Dick Stojak spoke on “The Cuban Missile Crisis – Rumours of War,” from the days he flew as an RCAF navigator aboard Argus aircraft, when his longest flight was twenty-one and a half hours.
Paul Johnston
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Richard Mayne
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LCol Paul Johnston spoke to conventioneers with his topic, “Historiography – The State of the Field,” the subject of published literature about Canadian aviation and gaps in the written record. His talk also addressed notable controversial topics in our aviation history. Richard Mayne, Director and Chief Historian of the RCAF History and Heritage, was the Friday lunch speaker, on the topic of the RCAF History and Heritage office, and how it supports aviation history, how top air force leadership is becoming involved with history, and how the Heritage Fund supports worthwhile projects.
David Waechter
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Robert Galway
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David Waechter spoke about famed Canadian aeronautical engineer, Bev Shenstone, and his work at Avro Canada. Shenstone’s first major accomplishment was the design of the elliptical wing of the Spitfire fighter aircraft. Bev’s son, Saxon, sat in on the convention from England, as one of the online attendees. Robert Galway is well-known for his thorough research into stories of lesser-known aviation history. His topic was “Frank Lince Trethewey Wore Wings,” about an individual who served 12 years as chairman of the board for de Havilland Canada.
Diana Trafford
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John Bertram
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Final speaker on the Friday program was Diana Trafford on the subject of “George Fuller’s Legacy” and how George, an original CAHS member and well-known aviation enthusiast, contributed to the written record and supported the work of others. Following the AGM to conclude the day’s program, John Bertram was the after-dinner speaker for our annual banquet, with his presentation of video clips on the subject of “Hollywood Joins the Air Force.” John’s talk was illustrated with mostly black and white vintage movie clips and recruitment promos, showing how the air force was presented in decades past.
Left to right: Jim Bell, Gary Williams and Gord McNulty
Presiding at the Annual General Meeting on Friday afternoon were secretary Jim Bell, president Gary Williams vice-president Gord McNulty, and membership secretary John Chalmers. Treasurer Rachel Lea Heide participated online to present the financial reports. For 2023-24, the National Directors elected are John Chalmers, Bert Furlong, Rachel Lea Heide, Mat Joost, Richard Mayne, Gord McNulty, and Bill Zuk. The following Chapter Directors were also elected: Jim Bell, Kyle Huth, Gary Williams, and Jerry Vernon.
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On Saturday morning, the convention was again
called to order by Jim Bell, whose tireless efforts on behalf of CAHS were again deployed to plan and organize the event. Over the previous weeks and months, Jim recruited speakers, sought out an appropriate venue for the convention, planned the tours at Trenton and wrote, prepared and published the printed program. His behind-the-scenes work for the CAHS is mostly not seen by our members, but is of great value and benefit to them. |
Jim Bell
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Saturday’s presentations began with David Riach delivering his talk via Zoom from his home in Winnipeg, speaking about “Louis Bisson – Pilot for the Flying Bishop.” The bishop was French-born Gabriel Breynat (1867-1954), one of several priests flown for decades by Louis Bisson in Canada’s northernmost areas. Breynat had high praise for Bisson as an exceptionally skilled pilot, who also flew commercially for Nipigon Airways. Breynat wrote of his time in our North in his books, Flying Bishop and Bishop of the Winds.
Russ Klingaman presentation
Russ Klingaman, a lawyer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who flies his own airplane, came to tell us about the very early days of powered flight in both Canada and the United States. Much of his presentation on “The Aileron Patent Story and Warped Justice” was about the fascinating story of the battle in the courts between Glenn Curtiss and the Wright Brothers. Although we think of ailerons as components of all aircraft, in the early 20th Century those pioneers of aviation fought over who had the rights to the aileron, which when implemented provided a quantum leap in the control of flight.
Some of the attentive audience. (Jim Bell photo)
John Chalmers (Jim Bell photo)
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Richard Goette
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John Chalmers, who served 10 years as Historian for Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, spoke to attendees about the Battle of Britain and the involvement of Canadian RCAF pilots in that months-long aerial conflict. Richard Goette presented his talk about “Bill Carr and RCAF Air Transport Command During the 1950s.” LGen Bill Carr was a highly-accomplished and highly-respected pilot of the Second World War, who post-war is regarded as “the father of Canada’s modern air force.” Carr was installed as a member of the Order of Canada, and was inducted as a Member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. He is the subject of a book being written by Richard.
Robert Downes
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Nick Wolochatiuk
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Robert Downes, the Merchandise and Customer Care Manager at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, spoke of the challenges faced by aviation museums in attracting visitors. He described the work of the Centre to do so in his talk, “Developing the Future of Aviation Enthusiasm.” Nick Wolochatiuk, the final speaker on the program, recounted stories of his experience as a passenger in “Acquiring Flights in 360 Types.”
Once again the CAHS has brought together aviation enthusiasts from across Canada, both in person and online via video to deal with the wide and diverse history of aviation in Canada. We can chalk up another successful convention as one of the major activities of our Society.
On Saturday morning at breakfast I was joined by Bruce Gowans of Calgary, an original member of the CAHS and a regular at our conventions. I asked the question I often posed to fellow attendees: “What do you think of our convention this year?” Bruce replied with a great answer: “I come to these events to enjoy myself, and I always do!”
The city for the 2024 convention has not yet been determined, but you will be kept informed when plans are settled, and you will enjoy the experience when you come!
Once again the CAHS has brought together aviation enthusiasts from across Canada, both in person and online via video to deal with the wide and diverse history of aviation in Canada. We can chalk up another successful convention as one of the major activities of our Society.
On Saturday morning at breakfast I was joined by Bruce Gowans of Calgary, an original member of the CAHS and a regular at our conventions. I asked the question I often posed to fellow attendees: “What do you think of our convention this year?” Bruce replied with a great answer: “I come to these events to enjoy myself, and I always do!”
The city for the 2024 convention has not yet been determined, but you will be kept informed when plans are settled, and you will enjoy the experience when you come!
Convention Programme for 2023
The CAHS 2023 Annual Convention is sponsored by…
Our Society is also grateful to these organizations for sponsoring our recent annual conventions
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