RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge 100

Report and photos by Harold E. Wright,
CAHS New Brunswick (Turnbull) Chapter President
posted September 2022

A one-acre Air Force Memorial Park will be established at the former RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge. This Memorial Park will be dedicated in May 2024 during the centennial year of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Lockheed Ventura B.II AE929, is typical of the early versions of the popular Lockheed Vega-produced twins in service with No. 34 Operational Training Unit (OTU), RAF, at RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge from early June 1942 until late May 1944. This "bomber-nosed" variant lacked radar and featured a defensive armament of eight "British .303" calibre guns.

Lockheed Ventura GR.V FN974, is typical of the later versions of the aircraft also in service as General Reconnaissance (RAF parlance for maritime patrol) crew trainers at the OTU. This model, equipped with ASV radar in the nose, better maritime navigation equipment, and heavier .50 calibre American guns, was also used for ASW patrol by operational RCAF squadrons.

The RCAF continued training its own home-based ASW crews on Ventura GR.Vs at the station soon after the RAF OTU disbanded in May 1944 (the unit, known simply as the Operational Training Squadron, existed from 1 July 1944 – 18 August 1945) . (illustrations © 2014, Terry Higgins. SkyGrid Studio/Aviaeology Publishing - click to enlarge)

The one-acre plot was deeded by Acadian Seaplants Inc. to 250 (Saint John) Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force Association (RCAFA) Inc. The project is being spearhead by 250 (Saint John) RCAFA and Turnbull (NB) Chapter, Canadian Aviation Historical Society. The 250 Wing has been involved with the annual Pennfield and Camp Utopia memorial services since 2006 when they partnered with the Charlotte Kinsmen to install a memorial stone at the current Pennfield Ridge Memorial Park and Picnic Area.

There are two components to this Memorial Park. The first part will recognize all of the servicemen who died at Pennfield Ridge during its use during the Second World War. This includes those who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and one member of the Royal Navy.

This memorial component will have three granite tablets, approximately 2.5 metres high, which will have engraved the names, ages, dates of death, and which Air Force they were serving with. The military crests of all air force services will be engraved on the front stone.

There will be further symbolism to this component. Underneath each stone tablet will be placed a Canadian Remembrance Toonie. Those three toonies were donated the date of the project’s announcement. There will also be a component part of a Ventura aircraft from Pennfield Ridge which will be added to the park, and a Canadian Remembrance Loonie will be placed underneath that element.

The vegetation of the park will also reflect the countries of origin of each branch of the Air Force: the Maple Tree for Canada, the Oak Tree for the United Kingdom, the Indian Fig Tree for Australia and the Silver Fern for New Zealand. The fig tree and silver fern, or alternatives, are subject to their suitability to growing in our local climate. The park will be surrounded by the Blueberries of Pennfield.

The Monument Base where the three granite tablets will be placed will be of the same triangular angles of the Pennfield runways.

While the three tablets will be Black Granite to represent granite being such a significant industry of Charlotte County, there will be a piece of Red Granite from St. George inserted into the top of the front facing tablet. This Red Granite will be carved to form the right hand of Squadron Leader Bruce Carter, CD. Bruce was with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the war, and he spent a short time at Pennfield. He then later served with the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve.

The Red Granite hand represents this line from the RCAF Sonnet ‘High Flight’ by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr.: “put out my hand and touched the face of God.”

The second component of the Memorial Park will be a series of Interpretive plaques. The first will tell the story of aviation at Pennfield, including Captain James Mollison, the RCAF and RAF Stations Pennfield Ridge, and its post war use by Trans Canada Airlines.

Other interpretive plaques will tell the story of the communities and businesses of Pennfield and surrounding communities in Charlotte County. These will also include the stories of industries important to the County such as aquaculture, blueberry, forestry, stone, and candy.

The park will have solar-powered lights and park benches for the comfort of those who wish to visit, rest, and contemplate the memory of all who served at this air station.

This Memorial Park will also serve as a cultural and educational attraction for the residents of Pennfield and area, plus those who chose to visit from further afield.

It is the intention of this project to use suppliers, contractors and businesses from Charlotte County.

The fund-raising campaign will be co-ordinated with the Turnbull (NB) Chapter as they are able to issue tax receipts for donations. As such, the following donation categories have been established to recognize both our New Brunswick aviation history and also the contributors for this community project:

CF-18 Hornet Patron $100,000+
CF-101 Voodoo Patron $75,000+
CF-100 Canuck Patron $50,000+
F-86 Sabre Patron $25,000+
Hawker Hurricane Patron $10,000+
Supermarine Spitfire Patron $5,000+
Red Devil Patron* $1,000+ *first airplane flight in NB, 1912 Saint John
Star of the East Patron** $100+ **first aircraft flight in Canada, 1840 Saint John
Student Pilot ≤ $99 any amount less than $100

The project’s budget is a minimum of $250,000. Of this amount, $50,000 will be used to establish a Trust Fund for maintenance with the Fundy Community Foundation. Members of this project will be happy to meet with any organization to discuss how they may assist in bringing this Air Force Memorial Park in Charlotte County to completion. For further information on this project and how you may support this Air Force Memorial Park, please send an email to the Chapter.

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