Shearwater Aviation Museum Foundation
34 Bonaventure Ave N0J3A0 Halifax, NS, Canada

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Trans-Canada 100 14 October 1920 - Another Weather Intervention. Yesterday’s about face decision had been forced on the DH9A crew when they lost visual refere...nce to the ground. Their engine throb could be heard by the citizens of Vernon BC as the aircraft banked around for the almost blind flight return to Revelstoke. Today remains dismal as storm clouds encircle the valley in which their host community lies. There is no getting airborne but as has happened at other Trans-Canada stops, planned or unintentional, Tylee and Thompson are well looked after and the aircraft a spectacle of high interest. Air Commodore Arthur Kellam Tylee, OBE, was born in Lennoxville, Quebec, and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A lieutenant in the Canadian Militia, he joined the Royal Flying Corps in August 1915. By 1917 he was made a squadron commander, given the temporary rank of major and sent back to Canada to command the flying training scheme at Camp Borden, Ontario. Created a Lieutenant Colonel in the new Royal Air Force on April 1st, 1918, he served as the Inspector of Training in Canada and was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for valuable war service. With his command and staff experience, Tylee was selected to be the first Air Officer Commanding the Canadian Air Force. Overseen by the Air Board he set up a small headquarters at Ottawa. Here, both budget and recruiting posed certain problems. The Air Board wanted men not only as aviators but as administrators. This was not a dual qualification that most military pilots held. It was the Imperial War Gift of aircraft that assisted the budget and moved a decision to form a non-permanent ‘militia’ air service. Former officers and airmen were invited to enlist for active duty of no more that five weeks in any two years. Costs were thus lowered and employable flying skills somewhat maintained. Constituted in June 1919, the Air Board’s main task in these early post war years was to market aviation through public relations; persuading Canadians of the variety of ways in which aircraft are practical. The operation of a Coast to Coast flight was seen as an ultimate test of potential. To be continued...

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. For 75 years the UN has been committed to maintaining international peace and security among nations as ...well as promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. This anniversary comes in a time of an unprecedented global health crisis with severe impacts. More than ever, it is important that Canadians are reminded of what we can achieve when the world comes together to meet these challenging times. Today, we’d like to thank all #CAF women and men who have and continue to serve in peacekeeping operations around the world.

21 October 1920 to 21 October 2020 To celebrate the successful culmination of the First Trans-Canada Flight on the 100th Anniversary of its arrival in Victoria,... a small ceremony was held in the British Columbia Aviation Museum. Director Dave Jackson of BCAM, together with his Volunteers & Staff at their Sydney Airport hangar hosted the event. Team Trans-Canada Committee Member Captain(N) Kevin M. Carlé, RCN Ret’d, was the Master of Ceremony. Distinguished Guest, Captain(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt, spoke to the importance of the remarkable flight a century ago. Kevin thanked both he and Chief Petty Officer First Class Darragh for all the assistance that was so forthcoming from the Esquimalt Naval Base: the Fleet Mail Office, the Base Public Affairs Team, and the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre. Major Rob McMullen, 443 MH Squadron, Crew Commander of the Shearwater to Sydney RCAF CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter flight gave a travelogue speech. He described the majesty of the various parts of Canada at this time of year and then linked back to reflecting on those fore-fathers of 100 years ago. He observed that like so many Canadians and people around the world these days, the intrepid aviators in 1920 would also have had a pandemic very much on their minds.

The Canadian Air Board carried out the first trans-Canada flight from #Halifax to #Vancouver between October 7-17, 1920. The aircrew who piloted the six aircraf...t used in the flight carried mail from mayors across the country, including the mayor of Halifax to the mayor of Vancouver, to showcase air mail capability. To emulate the mail delivery aspect, an #RCAF CH-148 Cyclone that needed to be ferried from Shearwater to Esquimalt recently carried a commemorative postcard signed by the Mayor of Halifax.

Prints are going fast since we launched them last week. Get yours today! Call 902-720-1083 or email: [email protected]

Celebration of the First trans-Canada Flight

The Stalker 22 Memorial painting prints by Peter Robichaud are now on sale at the Shearwater Aviation Museum Gift Shop. Call 902-720-1083, [email protected] Proceeds go to the Stalker 22 Memorial Fund -unframed 11x17" $25 (HST incl) -unframed 8 1/2 x 11" $15 (HST incl) Cash / Visa / Mastercard $3 for shipping or pick up 9am -12pm. See more

2020 We Will Remember Them Project #69 of 100: The Miles Family, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps: Commodore George (Gus) R. Miles, ...DSO, OBE, joined the RCN in 1919. He had a distinguished career during the Second World War, being awarded the Distinguished Service Order and an Order of the British Empire. He commanded two ships, HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Athebaskan. In 1948 he was given command of the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent. Commodore Miles died in 1951 and his remains were committed to the sea from aboard HMCS Ontario. His sister Major (Principal Matron) Sarah Miles, RRC, MiD, served in Canada and overseas during the war. Sarah was a graduate of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, and before the war she was the nurse in charge of the Infirmary at the Avon Old Farms School at Hartford, Connecticut. Sarah served with No. 12 Canadian General Hospital, a 1200 bed hospital in Horley, Surrey, England. In late 1945 Sarah was awarded a Mentioned-in-Dispatches award for her gallant and distinguished service at this hospital. Sarah was made a member of the Royal Red Cross (first class) in the King’s Birthday Honors List in June 1946. This was in recognition for her work overseas. In August 1946 she was appointed to the staff of the DVA Tuberculosis Hospital at the former military camp hospital in Sussex. Sarah was transferred to the DVA hospital in Saint John by the middle of 1949. Sarah was the Matron-in-Charge at the DVA Hospital on Prince Street. She retired from the DVA in the early 1960s. She was President of the Saint John Unit of the Nursing Sisters Association of Canada. She was also the Secretary-Treasurer of the Edgehill Old Girls Association of Nova Scotia. Sarah was also the President of the Kennebecasis Garden Club. In 1968 she was given a Life Membership in the N.B. Nurses Association. She died in 1983. Her father Walter had been Vice-President of the T.H. Estabrooks tea company. He began work there as a tea-taster. She had a sister, Major Barbara Miles, who was the officer commanding a Canadian Women’s Army Corps Company in Vancouver. The 2020 We Will Remember Them Project marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and the 100-day countdown leading to Remembrance Day on 11 November. This years project recognizes 100+ Saint John area veterans who served during that war. If several members of the same family served, their stories will be all told in one post. The daily post, until 11 November 2020, is a joint initiative of Lt. (ret.) Bernard J. Cormier and Saint John historian Harold E. Wright.