Page 18 - March2020

I was very lucky in my flying career. After wings I was a We were part of the 45th Battalion, which also
flight commander of Liaison Flight, then to helicopter had an Otter Company (16) and a Mojave (H37)
conversion, again with Vern Taskey under the tutelage of company, (16) of the big twin engined R2800
John Barton and Nick Nichols, and a short summer at smoke belching helicopters. Again a great time
Wainwright with an H13 and off to Camp Wolters at for fellowship and many a happy hour at the
Mineral Wells Texas to the Hiller program. Quite a “Blade and Wing” Great times incl a trip to Ft Bliss
change from Rivers, with 2 Bells and 4 S 51s. There were (Juarez) to fly the King of Belgium.. We were only
about 300 Hillers at Wolters, and each training flight at Ft Sill for a few weeks when the unit received a
consisted of about 24 a/c. The departure and arrival PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to Fort
scene at the main heliport was something to behold-a Campbell Kentucky, home of the 101st
loose gaggle of 20 or so H 23s followed by 4 or 5 more Airborne.(Commanded by M Gen Westmoreland)
flights all arriving at the same time, landing and then We were a Corps troops addition to the 101 Div
shutting down at the same time! I was the first Canadian Aviation Bn which also incl 20 H 34s. They
after the initial 4 direct helicopter trainees of Fred Zeggil, incidentally received the first US Army Huey Hu 1
Dave Guy, Neil Overend and Hal Swain. I was joined for op eval. This was pre Viet Nam.
shortly by Ted Crosbie, Dave Giffin, on another course, Service at Ft Campbell was exciting-major troop
and Bud Carr, Dan Stovel ,Colin Gillis and Buck McBride
lifts with up to 20 H 34s in formation at night was
on a direct helicopter pilot course, and eventually a host
good for the blood pressure, but we never had
of other Canadians as part of the rapidly expanding any major accidents in my tour. One of the more
training program, now including Royal Canadian Armored
interesting deployments was to take 4 H 34s to Ft
Corps (RCAC) , Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (RCIC) and
Bliss to participate in the Airborne/airportability
others. (Bert Casselman,Murray McDonald incl)
trials for the Lacrosse missile. There was a
I went to Fort Rucker for 6 weeks to await the arrival of Canadian Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) Maj
Crosbie and Giffin for an H 34 course and was employed Mickey Bru as OC of the test group and myself as
in Base Ops (thru arrangements made by Sam Pinkerton Officer in Charge (OIC) of the helicopter support.
the Liaison Officer) worked on the relocation of the Ozark On our return to Ft Campbell, we had
Non Directional Beacon (NDB) and approval of an transmission problems and landed in a corn field
Instrument (IFR) let down. My boss was Capt Jim Peck, a near Memphis Naval Air Station.(Tennessee) On
very good pilot, who gave me intro rides in some of the visiting the Officer’s club that night was surprised
a/c at Rucker to include H 21, H19, Beaver , L 19 D, and to be informed we had over 20 Canadian Navy
others, not a qualification, but good fun. Bill Binney and pilots under training with the USN at this one
Jim Brubaker did the same favor from their positions at station. We were truly in the golden era of
the Test Board. Jim Peck took me up in an H 21 one night Military Aviation and all branches of the service
o
to do 180 autorotations, he said if you can do this you were having a great time.
can do anything in an H21. Nothing like jumping into the
When the posting was over I was extremely
deep end of the pool!
pleased to be reassigned to CJATC, initially to LAS,
On our first day of the course, the Flight Commander but transferred over to BHTU (Basic Helicopter
asked what a/c were we supposed to be flying. We knew Trainig Unit) as a replacement for Nick Nicholls to
we were slated for H 34 in the States, but if there were work for John Barton. Great experience, with my
some doubts, why not opt for the H21, and let somebody first student, one Terrance Stanley Reginald Jones.
find the error. In any event we would get a little extra Terry is a true friend to this day who is still an
experience with the H 21. This lasted for a week or so active pilot (owner operator) and one of the most
and the people in charge re-coursed us on to H 34 s. experienced well known and respected pilots in
the helicopter industry.
Ted, Dave and I graduated with Ted going to Fort Knox
Kentucky and Dave and I to Fort Sill Oklahoma to replace
Harry Reid and Gord Walker in the 91st Transportation

Company. 21 H-34s and 2 H 13s.