Boy! Some winter we're having
– Heck, it actually SNOWED in Port Hardy! Yechh!! We should've joined our president and headed for Arizona. But
there was work to be done.
Our recent big event was the
memorial for Stranraer 935 which took place on November 19th, 2011 in Alliford Bay on Haida Gwaii. Bud Wilds did an excellent
job of reporting on the ceremony in the last issue of Contrails so I won't go into much detail on it other than to say how
grateful we are for the continued support of 19 Wing on these missions. Thanks
also goes to the Canadian Rangers Detachment in Haida Gwaii, who did most of the bull work and arranged transport to the ceremony
site from the airport at Sandspit. Thanks also goes to the first responders with
the ambulance service, who provided quick and caring help for one of our members, who, half way through the ceremony, decided
he didn't want to be on the Colour Party anymore. (See the photo on the next
page to see why). Fortunately the medical crisis passed quickly and after a ferry
ride to the hospital in Queen Charlotte City and back again, Jim was able to join us in time for the flight back to Port Hardy. Let it be said that 101 Squadron doesn't leave their buddies behind (unless they really
screw up!).
Earlier in November,
on an invite from the local High School, Lou and Russ visited PHSS to help explain the meaning of Remembrance Day to students. They set up various displays from the Second World War, which the students seemed to appreciate. 101 joined with the Legion and Ladies Auxiliary to place a full-page Remembrance Day ad in the Gazette,
commemorating Canada's fallen in Afghanistan. The turnout at Remembrance Day
was excellent – it is especially good to see the youth paying respects to the men and women who have kept Canada free.
After the ceremony 101 members went up to the senior's care facility at the hospital and shared a few brews with an old warrior
who can no longer make it to the Cenotaph. Christmas and New Years were quiet for the Squadron
with a decision being made to pass on any formal activities, each of us retiring with our bottles of scotch to contemplate
the year's accomplishment in blissful solitude.
After a suitable period of
R&R we jumped back into the fray with a recent visit to Port Alice to replace the Ensign at the Norseman memorial. The arctic temperatures and extreme windchill prompted the crew to complete the task
in record time. A quick advance to the rear was made in the direction of the
Port Alice Legion where our hypothermic spirits were soon revived.
Planning is under way on our
next two projects: Mitchell HD 319 which crashed on Brooks Peninsula, and Dakota 966 which crashed at the Port Hardy airport,
both in 1944. The Mitchell lies in difficult mountainous terrain with no nearby
roads and 101 will be relying heavily on the Canadian Rangers to accomplish the mission.
We hope to complete that commemoration in early spring. The Dakota is
a little easier, with the obelisk possibly being erected inside the airport terminal.
We anticipate that ceremony being part of our usual Battle of Britain weekend.
We'll keep you posted on developments.
Several of our members are
planning to attend the upcoming Birth of the Airforce Mess Dinner at the Wing (we promise to maintain our usual excellent
behaviour). See you there!
