Page 7 - June2018

Most of their leaders, however, were combat veterans
of the Second World War, typified by the CO, W/C E.G.
"Irish" Ireland, DFC and a fine leader. Their
professionalism masked a cool cockiness traditional of
fighter pilots. recalled the rookie Lyons (who had trained
on the sharp-nosed Mark 3 version of the CF-100)
remembers reporting to the unit, being given the pilot's
notes for the Mark 4 version (there being no dual-
control versions) and told, "You're going flying in two
hours!"

The mid-1950s were what many commentators called
"the golden years" of the RCAF. Money and aircraft
were plentiful, and there was a job to do, specifically
protecting the West from the Red menace. To do this, After the Red Baron's death 100 years ago, the allies
the RCAF's Air Defence Command had nine squadrons of ordered all of his aircraft destroyed but there was
CF-100s plus an OTU and later a weapons practice unit. one very special aircraft that they didn't know about.
Backing up the CF-100s were 12 squadrons of reservists, Contrary to their efforts, this one aircraft was
10 with Mustang or Vampire fighters and two with B-25 secretly hidden and has survived to this day. There
bombers. Overseas were 12 squadrons of Sabres. There were rumors that one aircraft survived but this idea
were also new tactics to learn: the CF-100 Mark 3s on was disregarded by most people since the aircraft
which Lyons and his buddies had trained were equipped had never been seen.
with a radar system designed for a traditional "pursuit" I assure you that this aircraft does exist and it is the
attack from directly behind a target aircraft. The new one that the Red Baron scored most of his victories
"lead-collision" radar aboard the Mark 4s called for an in.
attack from 90 to port or starboard before firing, then
breaking off. "So we had to learn a new concept and it
was all fun".

Like any new aircraft, the "Clunk" had problems "and the
maintenance people were learning the aircraft as much
as we were learning the aircraft, " said Lyons, who once
found himself moving down North Bay's runway just
before rotation when he glanced at his instruments "and
they were nonfunctional". Wisely rejecting the idea of
aborting takeoff, he pressed on, unstuck and quickly
entered cloud. Fortunately, he was vectored by ground
control to another CF-100, with which he made a
formation approach and landed. "I didn't lose him that

time!"
Even though the Red Baron was killed while flying a
triplane the history books will show you that the
Thursday, June 14: Monthly meeting of the Regina majority of his victories while flying a special biplane
chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society at that he loved. This story gets even stranger because
the Eagles Club, 1600 Halifax St. Time: 7:30 p.m. some people say that "after the red baron was killed
Speaker: Roger Beebe on the history of air maintenance in battle, his spirit and skill remained in that
engineers (AMEs). airplane". 100 years later this is still true and anyone
For more information, who sits in this airplane is given the spirit and skill of
email cahsregina@hotmail.com the Red Baron.