LCol William G. Barker Memorial Park Project will honour Canada’s most decorated war hero

Report by Gord McNulty
CAHS Vice President
posted June 2023
From Brook Bangsboll presentation.
Plans to pay tribute to LCol William G. Barker, VC, in a new park on the grounds of the former RCAF Station Rockcliffe made an excellent impression at the 71st Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Group, Royal Canadian Air Force Association, in Hamilton on May 20.
From Bangsboll presentation.
The project, featuring an eight-foot statute of the renowned First World War aviator, was described by LCol (Retd) Brook Bangsboll, 410 (Ottawa) Wing RCAFA Director, in a briefing.  A groundbreaking ceremony will be held during the week of Sept. 11-15 2023, with a Grand Opening slated for June 2024 as part of the events recognizing the 100th anniversary of the RCAF.

As LCol Bangsboll noted, this attractively designed park will provide long overdue recognition for Barker by the RCAF, in the right place and the right time.  Barker was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for exceptional bravery in an October 1918 combat engagement over France.  He encountered 15 enemy aircraft, shooting down five. Severely wounded after the incredible air battle, he returned to Allied lines.
With 50 enemy aircraft to his credit, Barker helped to establish the fledgling Canadian Air Force in 1920 and the RCAF in 1924. In January 1930 he was named vice president of Fairchild Aircraft of Canada but he died while test flying a new Fairchild aircraft near Rockcliffe airfield in 1930.

Barker was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1974, along with William A. ‘Billy’ Bishop, whose higher public profile made him a household name among many Canadians.
The statue of Barker will be unveiled at the Grand Opening, to be attended by high-ranking officers of the RCAF and RCAFA, First Nations representatives, and prominent politicians.  An RCAF flypast is planned.

LCol Bangsboll noted funding to complete the project is in place. The Barker estate and family has donated $100,000 and 410 Wing has donated $10,000.  Contributions for future maintenance can be made to the RCAFA National Headquarters in Ottawa, designated for the project.
From Bangsboll presentation.
We thank LCol Bangsboll for bringing this news to our attention. Further details are
outlined in the following downloaded slides from his briefing.
The LCol William G. Barker, VC Memorial Park Project

Stakeholders:
Canada Land Company and the City of Ottawa
410 Wing, RCAFA
First Nations and their Land Acknowledgement
RCAF Foundation
RCAF
The Barker Estate and Family

The Plan:
  • Week of 11-15 September 2023: Ground-breaking Ceremony
          Photo opportunity for social media coverage and promotion of the grand-opening in 2024
  • June 2024: Grand-Opening Ceremony (as part of the RCAF’s Centennial)
         RCAF Commander and Honour Guard
         First Nations Land Acknowledgement
         Speeches (Members of Parliament, Mayor of Ottawa, RCAFA Reps, RCAF Commander)
         Unveiling of the LCol Barker Statue
         RCAF Flypast
 
Financing and Logistics:
  1. The Statue:
          Financing & Production:
          i. 410 Wing
          ii. The Barker Estate
          iii. RCAF Foundation
     2.  Delivery and Storage:
           i. RCAF Foundation
           ii. CAF / DND
           iii. Air and Space Museum
     3.   Installation:
           i. Canada Land Company
     4.   Maintenance / Upkeep:
           i. City of Ottawa / Parks & Recreation
           ii. 410 Wing
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