Colonel (Ret) Leonard N. Baldock, OStJ, CD, APA, CGA

(1924 – 1991)

Born and educated in Windsor, Colonel Baldock once served as the General Manager of Naylor Lumber Company Limited (The Naylor Group), in Essex, Ontario. He joined the RCAF in 1942, and served in Eastern Air Command on anti-submarine and convoy patrols with No. 162 Squadron based from Reykjavik, Iceland as an Air Observer (Navigator-Bombardier). On cessation of hostilities, he became a charter member of the “Air Force Club of Windsor” in September 1945, which became Branch No. 364 of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1946, and also Wing No. 412 of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association in 1949. Mr. Baldock was active on the executive of that organization since its inception and was President (Wing) in 1953. He was Ontario Group President, of the RCAF Association in 1954-55, and was a member of the National Executive Council and Advisory Council, being its National President in the years 1960-’62.

On completi.on of his executive duties with the Association, he was appointed Senior RCAF representative for the Windsor area with the rank of Group Captain. On February 1st, 1968 he became Senior Air Representative and later Senior Reserve Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Operations and Reserves, Ottawa, for the Windsor area with the rank of Colonel. Mr. Baldock was interested in Royal Can­adian Air Cadet work, having been an instructor and adjutant for No. 310 RCAC Squadron until 1953, which squadron, along with No. 13 and 332, was sponsored by Wing No. 412· (Air Force Club of Windsor) RCAF Association. For many years he was a member of the sponsoring committee and responsible for the organization of its financial campaigns. From 1959-62 he was a director of the Ontario Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League of Canada, He was also the Windsor chairman for the RCAF Benevolent Fund. He was instrumental in the establishment of No. 2451 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, RCAF (Reserve) in Windsor in 1954.
Colonel Baldock organized and was Windsor Area Chairman for the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Powered Flight in Canada. This entailed a program of 22 events which were held during 1959 by a committee representing 25 different organizations with aviation interests. These events were held to commemorate the first powered flight by the late Honourable J.A.D. McCurdy from Baddeck, N.S. on February 23, 1909.

He was a licensed public accountant in the Province of Ontario, and was entitled to use the designation APA – Accredited Public Accountant. He was a Commissioner of Oaths in and for the Province of Ontario, and a member of the Detroit Chapter of the American Management Society and of the Windsor Chapter of the Society of Industrial Accountants of Ontario. Among other interests, he served as an elected representative on the corporation of Canterbury College, and was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Windsor Branch. He was Area Superintendent, Ambulance, St. John Ambulance, responsible for training the Brigade in the Southwestern Area and was also Finance Chairman for St. John Ambulance, Windsor Branch. He was a member of the Protocol Committee for the City of Windsor, and the proposed Windsor Military Institute Branch, Vice-Chairman.

Colonel Baldock was a lecturer at the University of Windsor in Industrial Organization and Management, and was a Past President of Branch No. 364 Royal Canadian Legion, and the War Birds of the RAF Hangar No. 1, Windsor/Detroit Area.

Air Vice Marshal F.G. Wait, CBE, CD

Air Vice Marshal Kenneth MacGregor  Guthrie, CB, CBE, CD

Air Vice Marshal G.E. Brookes, CB, OBE (22 October 1894 – 8 September 1982)

Air Vice Marshal A.L. Morfee, CB, CBE (27 May 1897 – 19 March 1986). For more on Arthur Lawrence Morfee, visit this web-site here. Morfee is believed to be the first pilot operating an aircraft on which a woman gave birth in-flight.

Air Chief Marshal L.S. Breadner, CB, DSC (July 14, 1894 – March 14, 1952). Breadner served as Dominion National President until 25 May 1951. He had helped to conceive of the RCAF Association in 1944, and was there to witness the Order in Council that created the organization in 1948. For more on his career, please visit this Wikipedia link.

P. F. CONNELL, DFM, a native of Saint John, N.B., had an outstanding record during the Second World War. Completing two tours of operational duty as an air gunner, he was a Charter Member of the Pathfinders Group. Mr. Connell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal and commissioned in 1943. Phil returned from overseas in 1944 to take part in the Victory Loan Speaking Tour. A Charter Member of 250 (Saint John) Wing, he has progressively held executive positions at Wing, Group and National levels. He has served as a member of the Saint John City Council and has been a director of several Civic improvement organizations. These credentials bear elegant testimony to his election as National President of the RCAF Association at the 12th Annual Convention. The President’s Message DELEGATES to the Twelfth Annual Convention have done me great honour by electing me National President. I am pleased to have this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the confidence and trust placed in me. I wish to assure you of my desire to further, at all times, the aims and objectives of the Association. I expect that all members have now been advised as to the outcome of our national meeting in Halifax. This meeting must go down as one of the most successful, in all respects, that we have held to date. Never before has our Association attained such a lofty plane with respect to pagentry and conduct of business. All members of the Association will take pride in the manner in which their affairs were conducted on this occasion. It is my intention that all Wings be provided with a resume of the Halifax meeting so that all our resolutions and other matters of major concern can be communicated to Wing committees and members. The most urgent problem that faces us at the moment is our membership. This was brought to our attention forcibly at Halifax when we learned of the substantial deficit we are budgeting for this year. In order to defray our overhead costs we must boost our membership immediately to 15,000 members and eventually to 20,000 or 25,000 members. I hope that every Wing will make November, which is proclaimed as Membership Month, a success and a preliminary step to strengthening the fibre of our organization. It is a source of great pride to every member of our Association to hear, and see, the continuing activities of our Wings and Groups. Every phase of community endeavour is covered: sponsorship of Air Cadet Squadrons, foster children programmes, bon voyage and to many other projects so essential to our success as an Association. I commend you all for your interest and concern in these worthwhile community affairs. On behalf of all members of the National Executive Council, I wish to pledge to you all that sincere and earnest efforts will be directed to the conduct of the affairs of our Association during the coming year. CONNELL, PHILIP F. – The death of Philip Frederick Connell, DFM of Saint John, husband of Mary Kathleen (Daley) Connell, occurred on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Saint John on July 7, 1923, he was the son of the late George and Jean (Alexander) Connell. Mr. Connell was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Bomber Command 83 Squadron of the R.C.A.F. He was a founding member of the Path Finder Force in 1942 and was wounded in action in 1943. He received the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) from King George VI at Buckingham Palace on February 29, 1944. In 1945 Philip joined F.J. Brennan Co. Ltd. Investment Finance, from where he began his long career as an Investment banker working with Nesbitt Thompson in various capacities, retiring as President in 1995 from McDermid Miller McDermid. Mr. Connell was National President of the R.C.A.F. Association, past member of Saint John City Council, past manager of Saint John Board of Trade, allied member of the New York Stock Exchange and member of the Vancouver Stock Exchange. He worked with the Founding Committee of UNBSJ, the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority, Halifax/Dartmouth Bridge Authority, Quebec Hydro, the Province of New Brunswick, Alberta Telephone the City of Edmonton and assisted in founding the BC Municipal Finance Authority. Besides his wife, he is survived by his seven children, Mary Kathleen Ablett (Richard) of Ottawa, ON, Colleen Ablett (David) of Toronto, ON, Michael Connell of Halifax, NS, Susan Witiuk (James) of Winnipeg, MN, Anne Yatkowsky (Lawrence) of Vancouver, BC, Mary Raper of Peterborough, ON and Ellen Connell (Peter Johnson) of Victoria, BC, two sisters, Noreen Bennett of Montreal, QC and Eileen Duffley of Saint John, 20 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by son-in-law, Douglas Raper, brother, Raymond, sister, Jean Cooke and an infant sister, Mary. Resting at Brenan’s Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424), with visiting on Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Church, Clarendon Street, Saint John on Monday, February 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Remembrances to the Poppy Fund, Alzheimer’s Research or the charity of the donors’ choice would be appreciated. The Royal Canadian Legion will hold a tribute to a Veteran service on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. www.brenansfh.com. CONNELL, FS Phillip Frederick (R126312) – Distinguished Flying Medal – No.83 Squadron – Award effective 1 July 1943 as per London Gazette dated 9 July 1943 and AFRO 1724/43 dated 27 August 1943. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, 7 July 1923. Home there. Enlisted Moncton, 4 September 1941. To No.1 Manning Depot, 23 September 1941. To No.7 BGS, 16 January 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 16 February 1942. To \”Y\” Depot, 17 February 1942. To RAF overseas, 12 March 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 5 January 1943. Promoted WO2, 5 July 1943. Commissioned on 17 October 1943 (J19001). Wounded in 1943. Repatriated 12 March 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 17 April 1944. To No.10 BGS, 22 April 1944. To No.9 BGS, 20 May 1944. To Pennfield Ridge, 18 July 1944. To Release Centre, 15 September 1945. Retired 22 September 1945. Award presented by King George VI 29 February 1944. Joined F.J. Brennan Co. Ltd. Investment Finance, from where he began his long career as an Investment banker working with Nesbitt Thompson in various capacities, retiring as President in 1995 from McDermid Miller McDermid. Died in Saint John, New Brunswick, 11 February 2007. For detailed account of sortie of 21/22 December 1942, see entry for P/O Alfred Dale Bouschard. This airman has completed a large number of operational sorties. He has taken part in attacks on targets at Essen, Dusseldorf and Munich. In December 1942, while employed as mid-upper gunner, Flight Sergeant Connell greatly assisted his captain to evade an enemy night fighter which attacked their aircraft five times on the outward journey to Munich and later when the enemy fighter eventually gave up assisted in putting out the fire caused by the enemy. On all occasions this airman has displayed great courage and helped to maintain a very high standard of morale. NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/8964 has recommendation drafted 17 May 1943 when he had flown 39 sorties (201 hours five minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows: 13 July 1942 – GARDENING, Frisian Islands 25 July 1942 – GARDENING, Bordeaux 28 July 1942 – Saarbrucken 31 July 1942 – Dusseldorf 5 August 1942 -GARDENING, Bordeaux 6 August 1942 -Duisburg 24 August 1942 – Frankfurt 27 August 1942 – Kassel 28 August 1942 – Nuremberg 8 September 1942 – Frankfurt 10 September 1942 – Dusseldorf 13 September 1942 – Bremen 14 September 1942 – Wilhelmshaven 16 September 1942 – Essen 19 September 1942 – Munich 2 October 1942 – Krefeld 5 October 1942 – Aachen 6 October 1942 – Osnabruck 13 October 1942 – Kiel 6 November 1942 – Genoa 9 November 1942 – Hamburg 13 November 1942 – Genoa 15 November 1942 – Genoa 18 November 1942 – Turin 20 December 1942 – Duisburg 21 December 1942 – Munich 27 January 1943 – Dusseldorf 2 February 1942 – Cologne 3 February 1942 – Hamburg 7 February 1942 – Lorient 11 February 1943 – Wilhelmshaven 13 February 1943 – Lorient 14 February 1943 – Milan 16 February 1943 – Lorient 18 February 1943 – Wilhelmshaven 19 February 1943 – Wilhelmshaven 21 February 1943 – Bremen 25 February 1943 – Nuremberg 26 February 1943 – Cologne 11 March 1943 – Stuttgart 12 March 1943 – Essen This Non-Commissioned Officer has completed 39 operational sorties, of which 27 have been with the Pathfinder Force. He has taken part in two attaacks on Essen, three on Dusseldorf and two on Munich. In December 1942, as mid-upper gunner he greatly assisted his captain to evade an enemy night fighter which attacked five times on the outward journey to Munich. Cooperating with the rear gunner they maintained a running commentary during the whole time which the enemy fighter sought to engage them, and when the enemy aircraft eventually gave up the chase, Flight Sergeant Connell assisted in putting out the fire caused by the bullets of the enemy. Flight Sergeant Connell has displayed high courage and helped to maintain the highest standard of morale so essential in this kind of work. He is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Air Marshal Hugh Lester Campbell, CBE, CD, former Chief of the Air Staff and ninth national president of the Royal Canadian Air Force Associa­tion, died 25 May 1987. He was 78 years old. In a glowing tribute to AM Campbell, the London Daily Telegraph said he “did much of the spade work which resulted in the successful introduction of the British Empire Training Plan. “Later known as the British Common­wealth Air Training Plan, this scheme supplied 1939-45 war operational squad­rons with a steady flow of pilots and other aircrew from Canada. “Appointed director of Training Plans in Canada in 1939 Campbell developed the network of flying schools in which air crew were trained in the clear and safe skies of Canada. Afterward they were trooped back across the Atlantic to replace casualties and also to form new squadrons in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, prompting the late Sir Maurice Dean, a former permanent under secretary of the Air Ministry, to say it was ‘one of the most important pieces of imaginative organizations ever con­ceived’,” the Telegraph reported.

Before heading overseas himself, the future air marshal commanded one of those training centres, No 15 SFTS at Claresholm, Alta. Born in 1;903 at Salisbury, NB, and educated at’ schools in Salisbury and Moncton, Hugh Lester Campbell gradu­ated in 1930 from the University of New Brunswick in electrical engineering and joined the Canadian General Electric Co. In 1928 while still at university he flew his first solo in a biplane Avro 504N – “a bundle of sticks and canvas” as he described it. In 1932 he left industry and was commissioned in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a pilot officer. After Claresholm, Hugh Campbell went to Britain to join the RCAF HQ Overseas as director of Air Staff. He travel led extensively for the next two years visiting operational areas in North Africa, India, Sicily, Malta and Italy. He was injured while visiting the Desert Air Force in North Africa when a land mine blew up his jeep.

Hugh Campbell returned to Canada in Jan 1944, where he was appointed assistant to the chief of the air staff becoming air member for personnel in the Air Council in 1945.
Following a course at the Imperial Defence College in 1948 he returned to Canada to head Northwest Air Command. After being appointed chairman of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington in 1949 he was the first Canadian Chiefs of Staff representative there to participate in the work of the military committee of NATO. In 1952 he returned to Europe to build the 1st Canadian Air Division which eventually comprised Nos 1,2,3 and 4 Fighter Wings, totalling 12 squadrons. In 1955 he was appointed deputy chief of staff responsible for operations at Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces Europe (SHAPE). Together with five other RCAF officers Hugh Campbell was injured when the ale in which they were flying to Paris crashed in West Germany.
While in Europe he initiated the Chadburn Trophy annual competition for gunnery proficiency in 1 Air Div in honor of WIC Lloyd C. Chadburn, a wartime RCAF fighter leader. Air Marshal Campbell became chief of the air staff in:1957. After retiring in 1962 he served· as commissioner of the Northwest Territories and was a member of the board of Canadian Aviation Electronics. He was appointed CBE in 1945 and was a commander of the United States Legion of Merit. He also held the CD.
Air Marshal Campbell is survived by his wife Helen. The military funeral at CFB Ottawa South (Uplands) was attended by hundreds of military and civilian dignitar­ies as well as those who knew the Air Ma’rshal only as a friend. The eulogy was delivered by A/VIM Max M. Hendricks, OBE, CD, (Ret).

Air Marshal Hugh Campbell was born in Salisbury in 1908 and educated in both Salisbury and Moncion schools. He graduated as an electrical engineer from the University of New Brunswick in 1930 and became employed with the Canadian General Electric Co. In 1932, he became a Commissioned Officer in the RCAF. He proceeded to Great Britain to join the RCAF Headquarters overseas, becoming the Director of the Air Staff there. During this role, he was injured when a land mine blew up his jeep. In 1939, Air Marshal Campbell was appointed Director of Training Plans in Canada and proceeded to develop a network of flying schools to train British pilots in the clear and safe skies of Canada. lh 1944 he was appointed to the Chief of the Air Staff and after a stint with the joint NATO staff in Washington, returned to Europe to develop the 1st Canadian Air Division. In 1955, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff at Supreme HQ Allied Forces Europe. He was again injured when he and five senior officers flying to Paris crashed in West Germany. In 1957, Air Marshal Hugh Campbell received his final appointment when he became Chief of the Air Staff which extended until his retirement in 1962. Following retirement, he served as commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and became the ninth national president of the RCAF Association. In his honor, the local Salisbury Air Cadet Unit renamed their squadron to become forever known as the 580 Air Marshal Hugh Campbell Squadron.
He passed away May 25, 1987.

Air Marshal Hugh Campbell was born on July 13, 1908, at Salisbury, N.B. He received his ear,iy education in the public and high schools of Salisbury and Moncton, entering the University of New Brunswick in 1926. He was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1930.
Joining the RCAF in 1931, A/M Campbell occupied many and varied positions in the early part of his career. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, he was appointed Director of Training Plans at Air Force Headquarters, in which capacity he assumed heavy responsibilities for the eventual success of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1942, he was posted to RCAF Overseas Headquarters in England and duty as Director of Air Staff. This position involved him in the RCAF’s operational activities throughout North Africa, India, Sicily, Egypt, Malta and Italy, as well as those in the United Kingdom.
A/M Campbell returned to Canada in January 1944 and was appointed Assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff. He relinquished this position in April 1945 on his appointment as Air Member for Personnel, a post he held until selected to attend the Imperial Defence College in 1948. On completion of the course he returned to Canada to become Air Officer Commanding the former Northwest Air Command with headquarters at Edmonton, Alta.
In October 1949 he was appointed the first representative of the Canadian Chiefs• of Staff at the Canadian Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., his duties involving him in the early work of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In December 1952, A/M Campbell became Air Officer Commanding the RCAF’s Air Division in Europe and held this position during the time the Air Division was being built up to full strength. In August 1955, he was named Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). He was appointed Chief of the Air Staff in August 1957. He retired from the RCAF in September 1962.
For distinguished service rendered throughout the Second World War, A/M Campbell was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1945. The Government of the United States also recognized his services by awarding him the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander). In October 1946, President Benes of Czechoslovakia awarded him the Order of the White Lion and the Czechoslovakian War Cross 1939.

Air Marshal Hugh Lester. Campbell, CBE, CD. CAMPBELL, A/C Hugh Lester (C132) – Commander, Order of the British Empire – Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, AFHQ – Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date, Canada Gazette dated 6 January 1945 and AFRO 89/45 dated 19 January 1945. See Canadian Who?s Who, 1968. Born 13 July 1908 in Salisbury, New Brunswick. Educated there and Moncton. COTC Cadet while attending University of New Brunswick; appointed Provisional Pilot Officer, 4 June 1928 for first term training; to 31 August 1928. Appointed P/P/O for second term of training, 4 June to 31 August 1929; appointed P/P/O for third term of training, 2 June to 31 August 1930; awarded wings, 27 August 1930. Confirmed as Pilot Officer on Permanent List, 6 July 1931. Transferred from Camp Borden to Trenton, 19 October 1931. Promoted Flying Officer, 6 July 1932. Transferred from Trenton to Camp Borden, 14 November 1932. Returned to Trenton, 31 May 1933. To AFHQ, 30 November 1934. To be Assistant Staff Officer, Personnel, 28 December 1934. To Camp Borden, 12 November 1935. Subsequently, Air Commodore Hull advised Campbell that he should return to flying instead of being tied to a staff job, advice which Campbell described as \”the turning point in his career\” (notes by Fred Hitchins, RCAF Historian, in Campbell file). Transferred from Training Group, Camp Borden to command No.11 Detachment, 31 May 1936. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 July 1936. Promoted Squadron Leader, 1 April 1939. Transferred from No.111 Detachment to Trenton, 15 April 1939. Commanded No,15 SFTS, Claresholm, Alberta. Next proceeded overseas to be Director of Air Staff, RCAF Overseas Headquarters; during an inspection he was injured when his jeep drove over a mine (North Africa). Returned to Canada in January 1944 as Assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff. Appointed Air Member for Personal in April 1945 (promoted Air Vice-Marshal). Took a course at Imperial Defence College, then appointed Air Officer Commanding of Northwest Air Command (1948); Chairman of Canadian Joint Staff in Washington (1949-1950); Canadian Member of NATO Military Representatives (1950-1952); awarded Queens Coronation Medal, 23 October 1953 while Air Vice Marshal and AOC No.1 Air Division (post held 1952-1955); Vice Air Deputy at SHAPE (1955-1957); Chief of the Air Staff (1957-1962); retired 14 September 1962. Award presented 27 June 1945. Died in Ottawa, 25 May 1987. This officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force (Regular) was attached to the Training Division of Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters in the early years of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In the discharge of his duties he exhibited an outstanding grasp of service requirements and organizing ability much beyond the average of his rank. Subsequently he commanded a training unit in Western Canada with equal distinction, after which he proceeded to Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters Overseas where his work was highly commended. Since then he has been employed as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff and, once again, his outstanding organizing ability has been amply demonstrated. Apart from these qualities, however, this officer possesses a fine service spirit. His capacity for hard work and his example to the service is outstanding and beyond the ordinary calls of duty. By his outstanding devotion to duty and his exceptional ability he has rendered highly meritorious service to the Royal Canadian Air Force. CAMPBELL, A/V/M Hugh Lester, CBE (C132) – Order of the White Lion, Class III (Czechoslovakia) – Award effective 5 October 1946 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 991/46 dated 18 October 1946. CAMPBELL, A/V/M Hugh Lester, CBE (C132) – AFHQ – War Cross, 1939 (Czechoslovakia) – awarded November 2nd, 1946 as per Canada Gazette of that dated and AFRO 1075/46 dated November 15th, 1946. CAMPBELL, A/V/M Hugh Lester, CBE – (C132) – AFHQ – United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) – awarded 22 November 1946 as per Canada Gazette dated November 23rd, 1946 and AFRO 1083/46 dated November 22nd, 1946; although not officially reported in American publications until War Department General Order No.14 dated 30 January 1947. Colonel R.E.S. Williamson, Military Attache in Ottawa, writing to AFHQ, 30 October 1946, provided citation: Air Vice Marshal Hugh Lester Campbell, Royal Canadian Air Force, performed exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States from December 1943 to August 1945. Serving in the capacities of Assistant Chief of Air Staff and Air Member for Personnel at Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa, Air Vice Marshal Campbell was untiring in his efforts and in every way went beyond the call of ordinary duty to further and maintain liaison and cooperation with the United States Armed Forces, and to strengthen the ties of friendship and mutual understanding between Canada and the United States in the prosecution of the war.

George Penfold. George E. Penfold, of 26 Moccasin Trail, Don Mills, Ont., a member and charter president of No. 437 York Wing, Toronto, was elected president of the association for the 1964-65 year. He has been a vice president of the National Executive Council since 1962 and has participated actively in association work since he joined the association in 1951 as member of 404 Kitchener-Waterloo Wing. Prior to helping found No.437 York Wing in Toronto he was a member for a short while of No. 412 Wing in Windsor, Ontario. During the war George served in the RCAF, having enlisted in 1942 and served as an observer on Coastal Command and in India with No. 435 Squadron which was engaged in trans­port activities, which unit he was with until the end of the war. During his very active career since joining the association in 1951 he has held the following additional offices: Secretary of the Ontario Group Exe­cutive, 1955; vice president, Ontario Group, 1956; president, Ontario Group, 1957-59; membership chairman, National Executive Council, 1957-58 and 1961-62; chairman, National Executive Council 1959-61; vice president, National Execuitve Council, 1961-62; vice president, National Executive Council, 1962-64. George has also been a member of the Ontario Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League of Canada. His business career for many years has been with Household Finance Corp., Toronto, with whom he is a merchant representative.

The George Penfold Memorial Prize

Commencement, 2006 was the 100th year for the presentation of the George Penfold Prize. Awarded to Holly Quach by Bob Hohenadel, President of the GCVI Alumni Association.

BIOGRAPHY of  GEORGE PENFOLD

The George Penfold Memorial Prize was established in 1906 and was given to the student with the highest aggregate in Ontario Academic Credit courses.  It was originally set up by George Penfold, a co-owner of the then very well-known local hardware store–Penfold Hardware. Mr. Penfold was quite anxious to encourage students to continue their education so he set up this prize which was initially worth five dollars.  Five dollars then was, of course, worth a great deal more than it is now. After Mr. George Penfold’s death his grandson, also George Penfold, born in 1916 and a graduate of the G.C.V.I. class of 1933, wished to see his grandfather’s prize continued for by now it has been presented for the longest unbroken string of years of any award at the school.  He changed the amount of the prize, of course, and the award continues to be presented every year. Grandson George Penfold was a very active G.C.V.I. student. Among other activities he was an outstanding football player.  He also participated in the Drama Club, where interestingly, he was coached by Olive Freeman who later became the wife of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.  After attending the University of Toronto, he worked at Household Finance Corporation but after World War II broke out he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force where he became an observer-navigator and spent much of his time in India, transporting supplies in support of Allied Forces in Burma. After the war he returned to Household Finance Corporation.  He was also prominent in the Royal Canadian Air Force Association and took leading roles at both the local and national levels.  He was elected National President of the organization in 1964.  He was chosen to accompany the Minister of Veteran Affairs Hon. George Hees on a commemorative trip to Canadian cemeteries in Singapore, Rangoon, Hong Kong and Yokohama to pay honour to Canadian war casualties in the war against Japan.  He was also active in civic affairs locally.

RCAF Headquarters, Middle East, left to right, Wing Commander George A. Ault, QC; Group Captain Hugh Lester Campbell; and, Air Vice Marshal W.A. Curtis, deputy Air-Officer-Commanding, RCAF Overseas. (RCAF Photo, Roundel, September 1962).

George A. Ault (1912-1989). Wing Commander George A. Ault, QC appears to have been a lawyer in the service of the RCAF and the strategic bombing campaign of the Second World War. The home address information in the clipping (below) confirms the identity of this former national president of the RCAF Association. His brother Arthur Wellington Ault was a flying instructor/student pilot, killed in a training accident while flying a Harvard trainer near Calabogie, never having managed to go overseas and fight.

March 16, 1914 December 14, 2008. Alex, M. Jardine was born in Vancouver, and lived and went to school in Victoria, In 1935 he joined the !loyal Air Force and flew with No, 205 Flying Boat Squadron in the Far East between 1937 and 1942, He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1942, In that same year he was taken prisoner and was in a Prisoner of War camp until 1945. In 1946 he attended the IlCAF Staff College, Between 1947 and 1948 he commanded the HCAF Unit at i\rnprior, Ontario,
Between 1948 and 1950 he was the head of the Department of Military Studies at the Hoyal Military College. From 1950 to 1953 he was Staff Officer Organization at Training Command Headquarters, From 1953 to 1954 he was in the Directorate of Organization and Establishments in Air Force Headquarters. lie was promoted to Group Captain in 1954 and became Commanding Officer of RCAF Station Rockcliffe, In December of that year he was appointed Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the then Governor General of Canada, the Right Honorable Vincent Massey.
Group Captain Jardine commanded llCAF Station St, Hubert between 1955 and 1959 and from 1960 to 1963 he was the Air and Military Attache
in Prague, Czechoslovakia, His last tour in the IlCAF was as Commanding Officer, llCAF Station Penhold., Alberta from 1963 to 1965 in which year
he retired, Alex. Jardine is an Associate of the Royal Aeronautical Society and an Associate of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. He
is Editor of “Air Cushion Vehicle Review”, a supplement to the Aviation magazine ”Canadian Wings”, and is a resident of Victoria, B.C. In July 1967 Group Captain Jardine was appointed Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor General, the !light Honourable Roland Mitchener, and in October of the same year was elected President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, Independent to the very end, with Ursula and family close beside him, Alex lived a full and vibrant life. Predeceased by his beloved wife Ann, sisters Marjorie and Theo, Alex is survived by his daughters Marjory and Louisa (Peder), grandchildren Jens and Claire, partner Ursula, sisters June, Ruth and Deirdre, many nieces, nephews and friends all who loved him dearly. From a Bridge Messenger on the RMS Empress of Canada in 1930 to a short service commission in the RAF in 1935, Alex became a flying boat pilot and was posted to 205 Squadron Singapore. The Squadron was in Java in March 1942 when the Allies capitulated and Alex became a prisoner of war of the Japanese. His characteristic courage, determination and leadership served him well through this ordeal. After the war, Alex returned to Canada and joined the RCAF where he commanded stations including Rockcliffe, St. Hubert and Penhold. He attained the rank of Group Captain and served as Canada’s Air and Military attache in Prague. After he retired from the RCAF, Alex’s life touched so many people through his involvement with organizations such as Project North, Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, Glendale Gardens, the Mustard Seed, the Arion Male Voice Choir, the RCAF & Air Crew Associations. For many years, his love of sailing, hiking, kayaking, gardening, travelling, singing, reading and painting kept him active. Who else but Alex would hike to Garibaldi Lake at age 77 or go on a llama trek in his 80’s? His girls and his grandchildren meant the world to him and he to them. His love and care for his family and friends will be sorely missed we were so lucky to have you, Alex.