Page 7 - RCAF Centenary

When the war ended on Monday May 8, 1945, many, many more families would grieve the loss of loved ones.
LAC Theodore Scribner ‘Ted’ Bates (1913-1940)
When war broke out in Europe Ted like so many others came forward and enlisted to serve his country. But unlike most who joined the RCAF, Ted was a little older, married and already had a commercial pilots license when he joined. He also gave up his job as an accomplished musician in the Len Hopkins Chateau Laurier Orchestra which entertained audiences across southern Ontario, even performing before the King and Queen in Vancouver. On a technical side, as a hobby he built and operated radios.
Once enlisted, he was
assigned to the No. 1 Service
Flying Training at Camp Borden where he graduated as an instructor on December 12, 1940. He had earned his wings and was to be formally certified in a presentation ceremony the following day when the unit received
notice that a fellow student, Clayton Hopton, had
failed to return to base from formation practice.
A search got underway with Ted and Brit Peter
Campbell in A-17 Nomad #3512, teaming up with
Nomad #3521 to search a sector around Lake
Muskoka. Late into their first flight and running low
on fuel, they vectored toward the Muskoka Airfield.
But while executing a turn in close formation, the
two Nomads made contact and both plummeted
into the lake near Browning Island, killing all four
airmen. Although two trappers witnessed the collision, the aircraft with Ted and his
observer still onboard was never found as the lake froze over. Ted’s mother Grace was presented the Memorial Cross also referred to as the Silver or Mother’s Cross in recognition for her and her family’s loss. Ted at age 27 was mourned by his parents, wife Ruth Shultis, brother Tom and two sisters – and his many friends.
Ted’s aircraft remained missing until 2005 when CHAA members led by marine geophysicist Ken McMillan imaged the Nomad with side scan sonar. Five years later the Ontario police marine unit were able to re-discover that image. In 2012, assisted by DND divers the aircraft was moved to shallow water, personal
items of both Bates and
Campbell were found
and the aircraft was
removed from its watery
grave. The following year
a modest ceremony was
held in Ted’s hometown
of Guelph and his brother Tom who was 14 years old when Ted died, was able to close that chapter on the Bate’s family history. One promising soul lost and one family grieving.