To understand why and how the Air Cadet League of Canada came into being, it is necessary to recall the early days of World War II. France had fallen, the Low Countries had been invaded, and Britain was under heavy attack from the air. The critical need was for planes and more planes - and for trained young men to fly them in defence of freedom.
Against this background there grew in Canada the idea of a select corps of teen-aged youths who would devote some of their spare time to preparing for the day when they would take their places as aircrew in the ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Force. more...
In 1940, WWI Fighter Ace, Wing Commander Donald R. MacLaren, DSO, MC, DFC was appointed as Manitoba's representative to the committee investigating the practicality of forming an Air Cadet program in Canada. The following year, on the formation of the Air Cadet League of Canada, he became the first Manitoba Provincial Committee Chairman, as well as the National President. He was succeeded in Manitoba by Mr. Gilbert M. Eaton in 1942. more...
The Victoria Cross is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of
valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. Three aviators
from Manitoba have been awarded this prestigious decoration for their acts of bravery. Two were
recipients during World War One the third during World War Two.
Lieutenant-Colonel William George Barker, V.C. DSO* MC**
(November 2, 1894 - March 12, 1930) of Dauphin, MB was a Canadian WWI fighter ace. He was awarded
the Military Cross on 10th January, 1917; first Bar on 18th July, 1917; the Distinguished Service
Order on 18th February, 1918; second Bar to Military Cross on 16th September, 1918; Bar to
Distinguished Service Order on 2nd November, 1918 and the Victoria Cross on 30th November, 1918.
He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973. His biography is available at Canadian Air Aces and Heroes web site. He is credited with 50 aircraft and nine balloon victories. 50 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron of Dauphin, MB is named in his honour.
Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod, V.C. (April 20, 1899 -
November 6, 1918) of Stonewall, MB was a Canadian WWI Reconnaissance pilot. In the spring of 1918,
within seconds after shooting down an enemy aircraft, seven members of Barron von Richtofen's
squadron attacked McLeod and his observer.
Their Armstrong Whitworth was struck by enemy fire wounding McLeod and his observer and causing the aircraft to burst into flames. Because of the fire and the fact that the cockpit floor had fallen away, McLeod had to fly the plane from a standing position on the lower wing. The enemy continued to hail bullets against the bomber until it crash-landed. Both men were thrown clear of the aircraft on impact, which undoubtedly saved them from the explosion of the heavy bombs they did not have the opportunity to release. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action on September 4, 1918; he was nineteen years old.
He was credited with five aircraft and one balloon victories. He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973. His biography is available at Canadian Air Aces and Heroes web site. 301 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron of Stonewall, MB was named in his honour. The squadron was active from 1943 until 1948; it is presently stood down; although efforts are taking place to reinstitute the squadron in Stonewall.
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski, V.C. (October 14, 1916 -
June 13, 1944) of Winnipeg, MB was a Canadian WWII Air Gunner. Pilot Officer Mynarski was the
mid-upper gunner of a Lancaster aircraft, detailed to attack a target at Cambrai in France, on the
night of 12th June 1944. The aircraft was attacked from below and astern by an enemy fighter and
ultimately came down in flames.
As an immediate result of the attack, both port engines failed. Fire broke out between the mid-upper turret and the rear turret, as well as in the port wing. The flames soon became fierce and the captain ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft.
Pilot Officer Mynarski left his turret and went towards the escape hatch. He then saw that the rear gunner was still in his turret and apparently unable to leave it. The turret was, in fact, immovable, since the hydraulic gear had been put out of action when the port engines failed, and the manual gear had been broken by the gunner in his attempts to escape. Without hesitation, Pilot Officer Mynarski made his way through the flames in an endeavour to reach the rear turret and release the gunner. Whilst so doing, his parachute and his clothing, up to the waist, were set on fire. All his efforts to move the turret and free the gunner were in vain. Eventually the rear gunner clearly indicated to him that there was nothing more he could do and that he should try to save his own life. Pilot Officer Mynarski reluctantly went back through the flames to the escape hatch. There, as a last gesture to the trapped gunner, he turned towards him, stood to attention in his flaming clothing and saluted, before he jumped out of the aircraft. Pilot Officer Mynarski's descent was seen by French people on the ground. Both his parachute and his clothing were on fire. He was found eventually by the French, but was so severely burned that he died from his injuries.
He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973. His biography is available at Canadian Air Aces and Heroes web site. 573 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron of Winnipeg, MB is named in his honour.
Note: The asterisk, when used in conjunction with a particular award, illustrates how many times it was won. For example, MC* indicates that the Military Cross was won twice, MC** indicates that the Military Cross was won three times.
On May 24, 1998, the officers and cadets of No. 176 Squadron were on exercise near Tulabi Falls, Manitoba, for the purpose of aircrew survival training. At approximately 1210 hours, as the squadron was packing to leave, two senior cadets went to the observation platform overlooking Tulabi Falls. While there they noticed a girl standing in the water at the mouth of the falls.
Tess Furtado, age 12, was washing her feet in the lake when she slipped and fell into the water. The intense current carried her over the falls. Flight Sergeants Nathan Fredrickson and Aaron Arnason ran from the observation deck down a trail beside the water and came to the last section of the falls. Fredrickson jumped into the water and swam out to Furtado. He grabbed onto her and kept her head above the turbulent water. Arnason called to a nearby fishing boat for assistance and arranged for more help from bystanders. The boat brought Tess and Fredrickson to shore.
While shaken up and injured, Furtado received no injuries to her head, neck or back and she had no broken bones or internal injuries.
"When I jumped onto the rocks I thought she was going to die," Fredrickson recalled. "Tess was in hysterics and bleeding. I had to get her to focus, so I gave her my watch and then she climbed toward me and I was able to get her to safety," said Fredrickson, who received cuts on his feet and slight hypothermia. "Most people in the same situation would do the same thing I did," he said. He noted that the happiest part of receiving the Air Cadet Medal of Bravery was that Furtado was the one who presented Fredrickson his medal and Arnason's Certificate of Commendation For Bravery.
If you have an article that may be of interest to cadets, pass it on to us for inclusion on this page.
