Wings Of The Prairies

           By 1944 the Japanese Empire had suffered major setbacks in their total war against the allies, and the options for a strike on American and Canadian soil had long since passed. Gone were the days of Japanese submarines and reconnaissance aircraft attempting raids on the coastlines as all assets were either tied up or destroyed, or simply too far away to cause any damage. The Japanese needed a solution; their allies in Europe faced a similar situation, and found an answer in flying bombs- the V1 and later on the first ballistic missile, the V2. The problem was however that the technology for the rockets at the time didn’t allow for them to reach targets across oceans, so how could the Japanese create an answer to the German wonder weapons? That answer came in the form of the Fu-Go fire balloon.           The Fu-Go fire balloon was a hydrogen balloon equipped with light explosives, usually anti-personnel or incendiary. The ...

           With this article I’ll be bringing to light some of the tales I’ve heard from my family and friends over the years of aviation. Some I was present for during my almost 23 years of life so far that I’ve been privileged enough to live, others have been told long before my time. So strap in, get IFR clearance, and await the blue skies of stories ahead.           In a previous post detailing the BCATP, I reflected on a story my Gido told me of pilots that would dive at him and other hired men around Yorkton area and how he reflected on those stories fondly. It wouldn’t be the last time my family had an encounter with the Air Force over the homestead however. When my father was growing up the Pine Tree Line, part of NORAD’s defense against the Soviet Union was very active and there was an installation near Yorkton. Often RCAF aircraft would run circuits over the homestead, sometimes low enough to be at treetop level to try and...

           With this entry I’ll open with a famous speech from British prime minister Winston Churchill. To many, it is with these words which the 1940 Battle Of Britain began;           “We shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!”           With that speech, the commonwealth and Britain were rallied to the cause. Soon after, the RCAF would receive its first aerial victories, aces, and awards. No. 1 Squadron RCAF played a vital role in defeating the Luftwaffe over Britain during that perilous time, and with it brought prestige and honor to one Saskatchewan resident.           Ernest McNab, comm...

          In a future video I intend on telling the tale of one particular aircraft type in the province of Saskatchewan, the Avro Anson. Many flew in the skies of Canada at one point, yet few remain. Most people will think that these relics of past conflicts are located only in museums, and yet they hide in plain sight. Recently, a gentlemen by the name of Lester Hinzman discovered the wreck of one airframe and with the help of a fellow Canadian Aviation Historical Society member I managed to get in contact with Mr. Hinzman. Not only did he agree to let me come film his Anson for the episode I have planned, but I agreed to help him locate a second Anson in his area that I’m aware of. There are many articles out there on his discovery of his Anson, but upon reaching out to him I learned that he has no plans to restore the aircraft; the price tag is just too big. Instead it will be used as a learning tool to bring attention to the British Commonwealth Air Trainin...

           February 20 1959- utter that date to any Canadian aviation fan and they’ll see red. That was the day the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow program was cancelled. To many its also the date that the aviation industry in Canada effectively died. Over the years, all the way back to elementary school I heard fantastical tales of the CF-105 being the savior of Canadian industry and tales of extraordinary technical achievements. Depending on who you ask, it was either the Americans that killed it via political pressure or John Diefenbaker being spineless and hating Canada. The complete truth is nobody wanted an interceptor in a world where ICBMs reigned supreme, but there’s a silver lining to that statement! Not only has the aviation industry continued to exist, it has also thrived since the fall of Avro Canada from grace.           In 2021, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an airport that doesn’t have a Canadian design on the tarmac. Look...