Saturday, June 30, 2018

Article Sample: "Yukon Crews" - Omnibus



Ten years ago I wrote an article about the Canadair CC-106 "Yukon" transport aircraft -- a machine I flew on as a child -- and its service with the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force). My target publication was Air Force Magazine. The book's editor was very helpful, providing parameters and reviewing my initial submission.

After receiving vital assistance from the Public Relations Officer at DND (Department of National Defence) Headquarters in obtaining initial contacts, I interviewed many people who flew the Yukon, or were aircrew. In pursuit of the story I travelled to CFB Trenton and held a group interview at the RCAF Museum.

It has to be noted that 437 Squadron, main operator of the Yukon, was completely uncooperative. One of my helpful inside contacts eventually had to admit to me, "Simon, forget it". Wonderful.

Unfortunately my piece was "killed" before possible publication by Air Force Magazine after David Adamson, Squadron Commander of 437 Squadron during the majority of the Yukon's tenure, and someone I interviewed via telephone, decided to write an article on the machine himself. I, understandably, was grounded. (Adamson, like everybody I interviewed, without exception, was very pleasant and more than willing in contributing to my research.)

I have no plans to upload my entire "Yukon Crews" piece, but I thought I would post a few paragraphs. Enjoy!

***

The Canadair “North Star” flew with RCAF Air Transport Command for a number of years. This aircraft was essentially an upgraded Douglas DC-4 powered by Rolls Royce “Merlin” engines and it was a workhorse providing movement of people and cargo. Nearing the end of its service life in the late 1950s there were discussions as to what direction to take to replace the aging, and non-pressurized, North Star. The Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 jets were now beginning to enter civilian service, with cargo versions also hitting the market, but there was some pressure to have a Canadian company undertake development of a new transport aircraft. These details are beyond the scope of this article so I’ll cut to the chase: Canadair developed the Yukon by modifying the four-engine Bristol “Britannia” airframe and matching it to a new powerplant, the Rolls Royce "Tyne 2" (which was still under development at that time).

The first flight of a Yukon was made on November 15, 1959. Deliveries to 412 Squadron (VIP) began in mid-summer 1961. Veteran pilot Bill Cars explains the process of training pilots on the Yukon: “All the pilots that were selected to fly on the Yukon were all sent to Cartierville (Quebec) and we took the ground-school. Five of us were checked out by Canadair's test pilots. I was checked out by Scotty McLean, one of Canadair’s test pilots. As soon as we had been checked out then we came back down here (Trenton) with a couple of airplanes and checked out the rest of the guys . . . one guy ran OTU (Operational Training Unit) and three would work for him. I was going back up to 412 Squadron but we took all the rest of them and converted them on these airplanes." Once the pilots were converted onto the Yukon, then began an involved trial period. Cars elaborates: "We'd go on simulated trips, raising and lowering the landing gear five or six times, flaps five or six times, and so on. This was done to simulate multiple trips. We did a few long range trips here in Trenton. We took a couple of crews and flew over to Pisa, then from Pisa down to Leopoldville, and back up to Pisa and back home again just to see how it worked on long range trips. We took turns sleeping on the airplane and that kind of stuff. It was interesting work. It kept us going that summer."
___

Canadair completed twelve Yukons for the RCAF: Two aircraft went to 412 'VIP' Squadron and the balance to (reactivated) 437 Squadron.

However, the Rolls Royce Tyne 2 engines were to be troublesome for some time along with many teething problems with the Yukon itself, which only served to hinder the model from getting up to speed and providing regular service for the air force. Pilot James Lynch, who was to become the Squadron's Chief Safety Officer, remembers: “We had a couple of interesting things with the Yukon during the trial days. We had a case where Wing Commander Roly Lloyd (Commanding Officer of the training and development stage before the Squadron was formed) was coming back from a long-range flight and as they were approaching Montreal they had problems where they couldn't disengaged the 'auto pilot'. They tried to control the airplane and the ailerons wouldn't move at all. So the only way the aircraft could be maneuvered was rudder or powered back and forth. And they had no idea on Earth what had happened. The elevators were fine too. So they were able to jockey getting the airplane down with the reductions in power and rudder and so on." Once the Yukon had landed safely an inspection was undertaken and the culprit revealed. A large water tank located in the belly of the aircraft was used for various purposes, including providing drinking water. The tank's heater, needed for obvious reasons, failed on this flight and the liquid contents froze. Unfortunately some water had bled from its container and ran down and over the Yukon's control system. As Lynch explains, "The torque tubes got coated in ice; they couldn't turn. As it turned out, when they got to the lower altitudes to land, the things freed up and they were able to land the airplane fine".

Jack Maitland, then 437 Squadron Commander and pilot, found the process of getting the Yukon into a regular routine to be very trying: “We had a difficult first eighteen months just keeping them serviceable." Many of the early problems afflicting the Yukon were due to the Rolls Royce Tyne 2 engines. Maitland gives credit to the aircraft mechanics for getting hours out of the Tynes.

Once it was clear that the Yukon had successfully made the transition to full flying status Air Transport Command could do its job. Maitland adds dryly, “we started flying it in the summer of ’61 so by about Christmas of 1962, nearly eighteen months, we were able to more or less able to depart on time. Not always, but…." According to Maitland, the first official flight of a Yukon took place on January 2, 1962 (from Trenton to Marville) so there were many months of “official flying” before a degree of serviceability was obtained.


Pilot Jack Maitland poses with his "Yuke" in Moscow.

___

Operational flying accumulates many hours for the air crews concerned, and most of these hours would be quite uneventful. Naturally, with all these trips over the years there are bound to be stories,funny ones and otherwise. To start, and due to the intrinsic nature of the Yukon which would typically be loaded with heavy cargoes, there are a few stories of the Yukon's nose going up, and not due to any takeoff procedure. Larry Byrne remembers one such story: “East Pakistan had a typhoon go through so we flew some girders for electrical towers and a bunch of blankets and stuff and that was our load. We picked them up from Trenton. My mom and dad lived in Lachine [Quebec] and I went over to their place for lunch while they were loading the airplane. My dad drove me back to the airport at Dorval; I couldn't see the tail of the airplane over the AMU [Aviation Maintenance Unit] and I said to my dad, 'oh my God, they've left without me!' So we drove around the corner of the thing and there was the Yukon sitting on its tail. They had loaded the stuff in through the side loader and they intended to push it forward. And they put this one set of girders on there and down she went. The thing that saved the airplane was they had a big wooden tie-down box in the back of the airplane and when the girders slid back they hit the box instead of hitting the pressure hull of the airplane and so they put a bridle on the front of the airplane and then slowly offloaded then lowered the thing and reloaded it properly. The only thing that was damaged was the seal on the door; and so we flew it back to Trenton and they changed the seal and the next day we were on our way to East Pakistan, and that was my check-ride. The captain was on that was Bill Cars.“
___

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a frequent flier on 412 Squadron Yukons. He is also credited, by some, with helping dismantle the Canadian Armed Forces; the fallout, of course, is felt to this day. Burke opines: “(but) ironically he was probably one of the easiest persons to fly anywhere as a passenger, he really was.  He just did not have any use for a military." (Author’s note: Pardon me while I go and paint some machine guns onto my lawnmower.) Bill Cars remembers flying Trudeau out one night: “He stood up in the cockpit for the takeoff but it was night and there were lights all around….soon as the Yukon went out and because there was this weird climb he just went to the back.”
___

One thing that was obvious to me was the fact that the individuals I interviewed all had fond memories about flying on the Yukon – and a lot of fun was apparent in the rapport displayed during the group interview I did as part of my research in CFB Trenton. This really showed when I thought I would ask a seemingly innocent question –  one brought on after hearing of some of the trips to a few 'hot-spots'. My question came out as: “Were you guys ever armed?” This elicited an immediate reaction from [Navigator] Bob Burke: “We had security people. My god, I wouldn't give these guys guns!”  [Flight Engineer] Bernie Hazleton chimes in with, “It's bad enough giving them a screwdriver”.
 ___

[Pilot] Doug Scott remembers the final days, “the Yukon retired on the second of April, ’71, and I retired on the ninth of April. They threw me out at the same time as the Yukon”. [Pilot] Paul Aubin transferred to the new Boeing machines when they came into service: “Going to the 707 was an ego trip but the Yukon was a great airplane, to think back….it was a wonderful experience.”

[Pilot and 437 Squadron Commander] David Adamson negotiated the purchase of the Boeing 707 which came into service with the air force in 1970 and completely replaced the Yukon the following year. Adamson found the Yukon to be “a bit of a challenge to fly” -- he admitted to me that he was always happy to get back on the ground but is very proud of the aircraft's safety record. No Yukon was ever involved in any serious accident.
___

[Pilot] James Lynch sums up his feelings on the Yukon: “The aircraft was definitely a well designed aircraft. It was a very, very nice aircraft to fly. It really was a beautiful aircraft."

The Yukon and its implementation was a memorable chapter in Canadian aviation, certainly Canadian military aviation. It was an aircraft developed and flown to fulfill a requirement laid out by our armed forces and it performed admirably – as several people in this article have noted.  Unfortunately, because so few units were produced, coupled with the fact that Canadians seem to have a hard time 'caring' about most of what we do, especially regarding our military and the many successful and historically relevant exploits therein, this aircraft is destined to be all but forgotten by all but the most die-hard enthusiasts. 

For those of us who had the pleasure or honour of flying on her as either flight crew or passenger, it was a memorable chapter. To me, the Yukon was a beautiful aircraft.

***

As I stated at the beginning of the piece, I interviewed many people involved with the CC-106 "Yukon". They are:

Jack O. Maitland, Pilot and 437 Squadron Commander (Telephone)
David R. Adamson, Pilot and 437 Squadron Commander (Telephone)
Bill Cars, Pilot, Major Ret'd (In person, and Telephone)
James Lynch, Pilot (In Person)
Doug Scott, Pilot, Captain Ret'd (In Person)
Paul Aubin, Pilot, Major Ret'd (In Person)
Larry Byrne, Pilot (Telephone)
Bernie “Shorty” Hazelton, Flight Engineer, Chief WO Ret'd (In Person)
Geoff Brogden, Flight Engineer, Ret'd (In Person)
Bob Burke, Navigator, Captain Ret'd (In Person, and Telephone)
Don Bengert, Navigator, Major Ret'd (In Person)
Phyliss Sproul Gravelle, Flight Attendant, Master Corporal Ret'd (In Person)
Georgina “Andy” Andreanopolis, Flight Attendant, WO Ret'd (In Person)


Friday, June 29, 2018

A Pressed Release: In Production; Short Film

VEC 100: A Cerebration

I won't do a Peter Jackson and reveal everything about the film before it's even released, but, I'll keep you posted.

Target release date: September 1st.


Thursday, June 28, 2018

Harlan Ellison (1934 - 2018)

A friend emailed me the news this afternoon: Harlan Ellison died. I was not shocked -- he was 84 -- but immediately saddened. He was a real talent and someone who I had admired greatly.

A personal story: I once had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Ellison via telephone as part of research I was doing for a planned article. "Hi Simon, it's Harlan Ellison calling." Yep, that's Harlan Ellison's voice, all right.

The man who had a reputation for being 'difficult' at times, especially when being asked to talk about something that he'd made clear in the past he did not want to talk about anymore, was forthcoming and helpful. A professional and a gentleman.

I will collect my thoughts and post something within the next couple of days regarding a writer of inordinate talent, Harlan Ellison.


Re Open Letter to Canada from a U.S. Paper

A friend forwarded a link to me which I would like to pass-on: an open letter from Perry White of the Watertown Daily Times.

Good point, on top of many: After president Donald Trump is out of office Canada and the U.S. will continue to trade.


Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Germany Has Been Eliminated from 2018 World Cup

When I got home minutes ago I meant to go online and see if Germany won their game today against South Korea. Work took over and I forgot about the issue.

The radio is on: Two minutes ago I received the breaking news. "Germany has been eliminated from World Cup play."

That's not possible.

It is, especially since South Korea scored two goals and Germany got none.

I got hit by a reality check. One delivered by that Bob Gainey of life.


Notes from a Dependent Brat: Omnibus - Part One

From September 20, 2015:

Notes from a Dependent Brat: CF-104 "Starfighter"

Writing my recent piece (here) on the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Canadair CC-106 "Yukon" transport aircraft stirred up more memories regarding my "brat" past: Memories about RCAF Station/CFB Baden-Soellingen (4 Wing).

Back in those days, the mid-late 1960s and early 1970s, the RCAF's main front-line jet fighter/interceptor was the CF-104 "Starfighter". Built under license (from Lockheed) by Canadair at its Cartierville Airport plant in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Laurent, the "one-o-four" went on to enjoy a long life with Canada's Finest Service; eventually being replaced by the CF-18.

With such a high-performance aircraft, especially one originally designed for high-altitude interception but re-geared for a low-level strike and reconnaissance role, there were bound to be more than a few accidents. During the years I lived in Iffezheim, West Germany, 'we' lost several 104s from 4 Wing. The most memorable incident happened in July of 1969 when two collided over the countryside. I remember vividly my father darting off for two weeks as part of the recovery/investigation team and, upon his returning, with redundant bags of sugar and other such foodstuffs, him recounting the commotion at the crash scene when they arrived: "It (a farmer's field) was crawling with Polizei". Apparently the two jets "locked wings" which sealed their fate; one pilot managed to eject while the other went down with his machine -- some of what my dad described about the impact site was pretty gruesome.

There was another: Soon after I got to school one morning my teacher told the class that a Starfighter had crashed not long after we had been bused in. (My family and I lived off-base, and not in the local "PMQs" [Private Married Quarters]. I have long been thankful that my parents wanted to live with the Germans, and not in a semi-sheltered environment called "Kleinkanada". There were lots of Canadian kids in my neighbourhood -- offspring of other smart parents.) If I remember correctly, that pilot managed to eject safely from his aircraft, despite the fact that he was in "take-off" mode.

Perhaps my fondest memory regarding the CF-104 Starfighter is of the machine's sound; that sound. One would hear the roar of jets in formation, and look up to see whether they were Canadian or German -- the Luftwaffe, too, operated the Starfighter. One beautifully sunny day my Grade 2 school teacher walked us out to the airfield; why exactly I did not know -- I'm sure Mrs. Gunnery said something, but I could not have been paying attention (surprise?). Upon taking position at our stations my school mates and I looked off over the flatness of the strip to the horizon. Suddenly there were several descending trails of black smoke which, of course, I was familiar with; moments later I noticed a series of landing lights seemingly suspended over the field. Suffice to say the 104s were flying very low, just over the deck, as they raced past us: What a noise! I love jets, and the racket they make, but really!

Ah, yes. The blessedly interesting life of a brat....

Stay tuned, Brat Fans, for my next blog posting. Same Brat Time; same Brat Channel!



***


From April 9, 2016:

Hercules: Magnificent Transporter of the RCAF


For a Canadian Air Force Brat it is not an uncommon privilege to enjoy a trip on a transport aircraft like the Lockheed CC-130 "Hercules". This hitch-a-ride in the RCAF is referred to as a "flip". If there's space beside the cargo a serviceman/servicewoman and their dependents can hop on, but this cannot happen with just any flight, obviously: In the 1970s my dad escorted a cargo of explosives aboard a Herc on an overseas flight to England.

After many years my experiences flying on this machine are still vivid and memorable. "An Air Pocket Over Europe: film at eleven!" Soon.

This past Tuesday a CC-130E Hercules made its final trip after 50 years of service, leaving 8 Wing CFB Trenton for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. This story is described in County Live.

My father served with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force (and the Canadian Armed Forces), and my mother served with the Royal Air Force. I served with no air force. Great.

At least I was a brat.

***


From May 2, 2016:

A Nightmare on Elm Street (From a Dependent Brat)

The Astral Theatre in CFB Borden, Ontario, was a veritable movie funhouse of eclectic and varied flicks, old and new. In essence it was a rep cinema. Most new and big releases, and anything of prestige, were on the other side of the base at the mighty Terra Theatre.

One of many films I saw in or about my thirteen year had a very special trailer. A preview which ended up haunting me: Triple Avalanche of Terror

The hook was a certain sustained shot that was more important to me, ultimately, than the variety of quickly cut clips that followed. This affecting scene -- shot in a mental institution, apparently -- was the real keeper. While substantial image grain danced before our eyes, an ominous voice-over explained that 'this man watched Triple Avalanche of Terror and went insane'. (Really? Seriously.)

A straight-jacketed wretch squirmed as two attendants hovered over, comforting him as he did the bit of business taught in acting school when one wants to evoke "crazy". "No!...No!!..."

As advertised, in order to watch the film one had to accept an insurance policy before entering the theatre. Cool. It's not something I'd want to have to cash in, but cool.

I bought it, the preview, that is, so much so that I knew I had to see the film, even though it was to be a midnight presentation. Oh, no.

As we left the theatre after watching the now forgotten feature presentation, my friends and I discussed the trailer, that spooky trailer. One friend, Glen Scott, seemed to know that we'd been had:

"It's a publicity stunt!

"It's a publicity stunt!", he reiterated as the rest of us, in his eyes, were overly concerned that we too would go insane.

But, we all agreed: Must see movie.

This is where trouble followed.

The next day I raved enthusiastically to my mother about the nerve-splitting trailer I had seen, and in the process I let it out that the anticipated movie itself was to be shown as a late-late show. She wasted no time in saying "no". When the day got closer, I asked again:

MUM
No.

ME
Mum, I wanna see Triple Avalanche of Terror!

MUM
I told you, you're not seeing it.

ME
Why not?!

MUM
Because...I don't want you prancing about at all hours of the night.
Now that's final.

("I guess I'm not going to be seeing Triple Avalanche of Terror.")

I wish I had possessed the verbal wit of Family Guy's "Stewie": "How dare you deprive me of some devilishly gruesome entertainment. I shall be forever stunted by your absolute malicious disregard for my personal development!"

I didn't get my mother's reasoning. Geographically speaking, the Astral was not far from Elm Street, our street. The route consisted of a quick walk to School Street, then along Maple Drive; up a little further was the palace of dreams.

How was the Terrible Avalanche, you ask? The next day I asked Glen what he thought. After all, he and the gang were allowed to walk about at all hours of the previous night.

"It wasn't very good."

Of course, to a pre-teen, that was code for: "It was awesome!" Either that, or I was becoming concerned for Glen's sanity.

"Carry On Camping is on this Saturday?" I was allowed to see that one, however. Not a lot makes sense when you're a kid. (Those of you who have seen that British comedy classic, or just about any Carry On movie, for that matter, will know what I'm getting at.) Now I know why Camping was acceptable fare: It was shown during regular business hours. The prevailing issue wasn't so much one of content.

The Astral, along with all the PMQs (houses) on Elm, School, Hemlock, and Maple Drive, is now gone as that part of CFB Borden was razed a few years ago, but my memories of that special dream-maker always remain strong -- even if a certain title is missing.

***


From November 7, 2016:

Notes From a Brat: On and Off the Ice

Forty-two odd years later I must come clean:

Dyte Hall was our local hockey rink when my family lived at CFB Borden. Along with the Andy Anderson Arena, the Hall, a large brown-brick structure, one which may or may not have been a purpose-built building, was the place where my ice hockey career began and ended. It was there where I scored my few goals and let in more than a few goals (my team was a bad one). On weekends I would often saunter over and catch whatever ice hockey action was on tap; at times my favourite sport was not on the schedule ("Broomball? No!").

One of my strongest memories of the hall, besides Nancy Getty blowing a puck by me as we attempted to thwart a girls' team, is of schoolmate Mike Walker skating across the ice between the face off circles in front of my goal and delivering one of his wicked slap shots: I caught the puck in the fore of my right arm, right at the joint, effectively doing my job; unfortunately, the disc of smokin' rubber struck the seam in my protective equipment, rendering my catchers' mitt useless as it dangled beneath my now powerless arm. ("Systems Failure!") However, by shifting my hips I could get some life out of the glove. Thankfully the power loss lasted just a few seconds. A most memorable Sunday afternoon.

The most powerful memory for me of Dyte Hall did not happen on the ice:

The Base Borden Minor Hockey Association held a fundraiser one lovely weekend; one could buy a series pass in order to take in all the games, or single tickets. Since one of my friends had a pass, I decided there was an effective way to maximize its potential. My friends and I gathered in front of Dyte Hall and I, on the spot, hatched a plan:

"Okay guys, this is what we'll do.... (inaudible)."

Fade to black.

As 'author' I initiated the devious cycle. With pass in hand I somewhat apprehensively and self consciously approached the ticket table. There was no problem in executing my plan; the pleasant ladies smiled and said "thank you". Once safely through the checkpoint I made for the mens' room and passed the pass through the opened window to one of my waiting buddies outside.

Repeat once, then:

Norman was next in line; as per the by now perfected routine he entered the special transfer room and proceeded to hand off the pass. Guess who decided to relieve himself at that moment....you guessed it: Norm's dad! A man born and bred in England could only say one thing after quickly figuring out what sneaky and reprehensible act played out before him: (Something like) "You little bastard."

Needless to say I "heard" about it all afterwards, and Norm, being the son of a Brit in the Canadian Armed Forces, no doubt "got it" afterwards.

You must not forget, dear reader, that although the punchline did not involve me directly, I'm the fellow who drew up the plan. I was, as Wally Cleaver may have stated, the "little creep!".

***


From January 18, 2017:

Notes from a Brat: The TV Lunchbox Kids

When I was a child in the 1960s and early 1970s TV-themed "tie-in" lunchboxes were a big thing. The colour screen on the box's exterior was probably more important than any nutrients carried on the inside. The graphic was part of your identity: Perhaps you were a Bonanza fan, a "Bat-fan", or you gravitated towards the Irwin Allen fantasy shows such as Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea or Lost in Space. It did not matter whether or not these dramatic television programs were good (they were not) but the lunchboxes were a way of advertising our programming -- a statement as to what we little ones thought was cool on television.

I remember sitting on the school bus one day, waiting for the vehicle to finish loading up kids outside of the CFB Baden Elementary School (in West Germany). A fellow traveller in the seat immediately in front of mine had in his possession what must have looked to me like a pretty specimen of a lunchbox: It had a rich green trim; it showed some futuristic vehicle; it was adorned with the title Land of the Giants. (What's Land of the Giants? I learned something new and important.)

My favourite of the TV lunchboxes was the one for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. The artwork, lame on many themed boxes for some inexplicable reason, was absolutely dynamic here: The front-of-box illustration depicted the submarine "Seaview" approaching a giant (giant!) octopus that was resting, but looking mighty angry, with the Flying Sub in its tentacles, on the ocean floor.

I never did get that lunchbox, simply because I never asked for it. My own box was of no TV-theme. It had a tartan pattern with the thermos inside sharing the same pattern. For all its blandness, that lunchbox served me well. When we moved back to Canada there was no need for this piece of school equipment as my school, Frederick Campbell Elementary in CFB Borden, was a few minutes walk from the house. I'd go home, eat, and pop on CFTO and meet The Flintstones.

Also, by this time the television series' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants had been cancelled. Suddenly their tie-in lunchboxes had become worthless....



***


Check back here soon for Part Two....

Monday, June 25, 2018

"Notes from a Brat" Coming Back Soon

Ontario politics have distracted me here, as have certain U.S. politics (Hello, Mister Trump). It's time to get back to the plan. The last time I posted a "Notes from a Brat" (or a title with slight variations) piece was August 15th of last year: Those Magnificent Brats and Their Base Theatres is one of my favourite of my own brat-memories notes.

A friend of mine has told me a few times that his favourite pieces on this blog are the brat stories. Why does any writer need to be pushed?....

In the works....

Gone Fishin'!

Carry On Up the Rhine

Walking Distance to Iffezheim

Comics at Lunch

From Campbell to Barker

The Dune Sea

... and more!


Sunday, June 24, 2018

My Magnificent Obsession

Re: My screening of the classic 1954 feature film Magnificent Obsession - directed by Douglas Sirk (birth name: Hans Detlef Sierck).

LOL....in a good way.

Everything was eating Sugar Puffs cereal. While restrained, the acting was screaming passions; and obsessions.

The plotting almost convinced me I was watching an episode of General Hospital.

Frank Skinner's music perfectly compliments Russell Metty's colours. Sometimes the music will play against the melodramatics in films like this so as not to give Type-2. But it works here.

Nice touch: having the eye surgeons all conversing amongst themselves in their native German after they test Helen's eyes. Not the typical Hollywood treatment....especially at that time.

Next: All I Desire


Article Sample: "Yukon Crews" - Part Two



On the 8th of February of last year I posted samples of an article I researched and wrote on the Canadair CC-106 "Yukon" transport aircraft. Here are more samples; a part two of two:


Ten years ago I wrote an article about the Canadair CC-106 "Yukon" transport aircraft -- a machine I flew on as a child -- and its service with the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force). My target publication was Air Force Magazine. The book's editor was very helpful, providing parameters and reviewing my initial submission.

After receiving vital assistance from the Public Relations Officer at DND (Department of National Defence) Headquarters in obtaining initial contacts, I interviewed many people who flew the Yukon, or were aircrew. In pursuit of the story I travelled to CFB Trenton and held a group interview at the RCAF Museum.

It has to be noted that 437 Squadron, main operator of the Yukon, was completely uncooperative. One of my helpful inside contacts eventually had to admit to me, "Simon, forget it". Wonderful.

Unfortunately my piece was "killed" before possible publication by Air Force Magazine after David Adamson, Squadron Commander of 437 Squadron during the majority of the Yukon's tenure, and someone I interviewed via telephone, decided to write an article on the machine himself. I, understandably, was grounded. (Adamson, like everybody I interviewed, without exception, was very pleasant and more than willing in contributing to my research.)

I have no plans to upload my entire "Yukon Crews" piece, but I thought I would post a few paragraphs. Here is Part Two. Enjoy!


Operational flying accumulates many hours for the air crews concerned, and most of these hours would be quite uneventful. Naturally, with all these trips over the years there are bound to be stories, funny ones and otherwise. To start, and due to the intrinsic nature of the Yukon which would typically be loaded with heavy cargoes, there are a few stories of the Yukon's nose going up, and not due to any takeoff procedure. Larry Byrne remembers one such story, “East Pakistan had a typhoon go through so we flew some girders for electrical towers and a bunch of blankets and stuff and that was our load. We picked them up from Trenton. My mom and dad lived in Lachine [Quebec] and I went over to their place for lunch while they were loading the airplane. My dad drove me back to the airport at Dorval; I couldn't see the tail of the airplane over the AMU [Aviation Maintenance Unit] and I said to my dad, 'oh my God, they've left without me!' So we drove around the corner of the thing and there was the Yukon sitting on its tail. They had loaded the stuff in through the side loader and they intended to push it forward.  And they put this one set of girders on there and down she went. The thing that saved the airplane was they had a big wooden tie-down box in the back of the airplane and when the girders slid back they hit the box instead of hitting the pressure hull of the airplane and so they put a bridle on the front of the airplane and then slowly offloaded then lowered the thing and reloaded it properly. The only thing that was damaged was the seal on the door; and so we flew it back to Trenton and they changed the seal and the next day we were on our way to East Pakistan, and that was my check-ride. The captain on that was Bill Cars. “
___

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a frequent flier on 412 Squadron Yukons. He is also credited, by some, with helping dismantle the Canadian Armed Forces; the fallout, of course, is felt to this day. Burke opines, “(but) ironically he was probably one of the easiest persons to fly anywhere as a passenger, he really was. He just did not have any use for a military”. (Author’s note: Pardon me while I go and paint some machine guns onto my lawnmower.) Bill Cars remembers flying Trudeau out one night, “he stood up in the cockpit for the takeoff but it was night and there were lights all around….soon as the Yukon went out and because there was this weird climb he just went to the back”.
___

One thing that was obvious to me was the fact that the individuals I interviewed all had fond memories about flying on the Yukon – and a lot of fun was apparent in the rapport displayed during the group interview I did as part of my research in CFB Trenton. This really showed when I thought I would ask a seemingly innocent question –  one brought on after hearing of some of the trips to a few 'hot-spots'. My question came out as: “Were you guys ever armed?” This elicited an immediate reaction from [Navigator] Bob Burke: “We had security people. My god, I wouldn't give these guys guns!” [Flight Engineer] Bernie Hazleton chimed in with, “It's bad enough giving them a screwdriver”.
 ___

[Pilot] Doug Scott remembers the final days, “the Yukon retired on the second of April, ’71, and I retired on the ninth of April. They threw me out at the same time as the Yukon”. [Pilot] Paul Aubin transferred to the new Boeing machines when they came into service, “going to the 707 was an ego trip but the Yukon was a great airplane, to think back….it was a wonderful experience”.

[Pilot and 437 Squadron Commander] David Adamson negotiated the purchase of the Boeing 707 which came into service with the air force in 1970 and completely replaced the Yukon the following year. Adamson found the Yukon to be “a bit of a challenge to fly” -- he admitted to me that he was always happy to get back on the ground but is very proud of the aircraft's safety record. No Yukon was ever involved in any serious accident.
___

[Pilot] James Lynch sums up his feelings on the Yukon, “the aircraft was definitely a well designed aircraft.  It was a very, very nice aircraft to fly. It really was a beautiful aircraft".

The Yukon and its implementation was a memorable chapter in Canadian aviation, certainly Canadian military aviation. It was an aircraft developed and flown to fulfill a requirement laid out by our armed forces and it performed admirably – as several people have noted in this article. Unfortunately, because so few units were produced, coupled with the fact that Canadians seem to have a hard time 'caring' about most of what we do, especially regarding our military and the many successful and historically relevant exploits therein, this aircraft is destined to be all but forgotten by all but the most die-hard enthusiasts. 

For those of us who had the pleasure or honour of flying on her as either flight crew or passenger, it was a memorable chapter. To me, the Yukon was a beautiful aircraft.

***

As I stated at the beginning of the piece, I interviewed many people involved with the CC-106 "Yukon". They are:

Jack O. Maitland, Pilot and 437 Squadron Commander (Telephone)
David R. Adamson, Pilot and 437 Squadron Commander (Telephone)
Bill Cars, Pilot, Major Ret'd (In person, and Telephone)
James Lynch, Pilot (In Person)
Doug Scott, Pilot, Captain Ret'd (In Person)
Paul Aubin, Pilot, Major Ret'd (In Person)
Larry Byrne, Pilot (Telephone)
Bernie “Shorty” Hazelton, Flight Engineer, Chief WO Ret'd (In Person)
Geoff Brogden, Flight Engineer, Ret'd (In Person)
Bob Burke, Navigator, Captain Ret'd (In Person, and Telephone)
Don Bengert, Navigator, Major Ret'd (In Person)
Phyliss Sproul Gravelle, Flight Attendant, Master Corporal Ret'd (In Person)
Georgina “Andy” Andreanopolis, Flight Attendant, WO Ret'd (In Person)

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Canada Not a National Security Threat to the U.S.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross decided that Canada is not a national security threat, after all.

Well, that's good news. I hope it didn't hurt him too much to come to that conclusion. Gee, maybe he left the plastic slide rule in his desk drawer.

Trump's tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum should be dropped.

Nuts in a steel, or aluminum, bowl. (Canadian-made steel or aluminum.)


Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Donald Trump is Obsessed With Canada

U.S. president Donald J. Trump is now accusing Canadians, all Canadians, no doubt, of tripping down south, buying shoes and wearing them back in order to avoid the huge "tariffs". I saw the news vid of him ranting about the issue. He's positively obsessed with this country and its lowly inhabitants.

He'll really freak when this news gets out:

Canadians are venturing down to the States to buy underwear off all kinds. When they get back to the home country they execute a sneaky little wardrobe change; what had been worn in the usual position to pass customs is methodically moved: The underwear is now worn on the outside.


Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Marijuana Legalization Bill C-45 Passes Senate Vote

An important vote happened in Ottawa, Canada, just minutes ago:

The Senate has voted 52 to 29 in favour of accepting the federal Liberal's push to legalize marijuana.

Bill C-45 now needs royal assent before it can be passed into law. Expected time frame: about two to three months.

Align your bongs....


Monday, June 18, 2018

Space Force: From the Files of Donald J. Trump

U.S. president Donald J. Trump announced today that he wants to build a sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces. He calls it "Space Force". (No doubt he wants an exclamation mark as part of the name. "Space Force!")

Exclamation mark or not it sounds an awful lot to me like an old ZIV television program.

Space Force

A
ZIV
Television Production


... A touch of procedurals such as Highway Patrol and Sea Hunt, combined with the rocketship excitement of Men Into Space.

"Stories of the American men and women who face unknown enemy interstellar forces -- drawn from the top secret (but available on Twitter) files of Donald J. Trump!"

Back to Earth:

United States Space Force

the U.S.S.F.

Wait a minute....that won't fly.


Re Admitting My Secret Football Fan Past

With England scheduled to play Tunisia today in 2018 World Cup football action, I felt it time to re-admit something.

In February of 2016 I came clean regarding my 'misplaced' support....


An Admission 46 Years Later (Emotional Football)

Something has been bugging me lately: I've been prone to tossing and turning at two or three o'clock in the morning, unable to sleep, because I did a certain "bad" almost forty-six years ago.

In June of 1970 my family and I were visiting relatives in Bristol, UK; that month the 1970 FIFA World Cup was being played, or rather, resolved, in Mexico. On the 14th of June, England matched with West Germany as part of the quarter-finals round and I watched this contest on television, live and in colour, with my British cousins. (This was just the year after the Beeb switched to colour broadcasting). All is fine in my admissions thus far.

The problems start now: I was rooting for West Germany. Needless to say, appreciating the Brits' pride for their national football team, I kept my cheers a private matter. Even at such a young age I was hyper-aware that in the interest of self preservation it would be prudent of me to keep any elation to myself: I was contained in a room with British supporters; off-side behaviour of any colour could be bloody dangerous!

West Germany went on to win the match by a score of 3-2 and I was a happy young man.

Shortly after returning to West Germany, a German might have asked me: "Schadenfreude?"

"Me? No. For a reason of which I am not aware, known only to the recesses of my still-developing brain, I chose to support the Germans."

"Du bist ein guter Deutscher."

Perhaps.

Knowing the English football fans' predilection for being unwilling or unable to let certain histories "go", and having more than a few British relatives of my own, I decided to withhold this sensitive bit from my past. Only now am I able to come to terms with my Yellow Card.

I doubt – hope – they'll ever stumble upon this posting.


Sunday, June 17, 2018

2018 World Cup Action on CTV Today

At this moment: Costa Rica vs. Serbia. (The match is lacking a spark; thus far.)

The most important match of the day, for me, is Germany vs. Mexico. That one plays out starting at 11:00am, my time.

And at 2:00pm, Brazil vs. Switzerland. While clearly the underdogs, the Swiss squad will probably come out kicking.

Post Note: It's so nice watching a World Cup match and not having to listen to those infernal giant bees.


Saturday, June 16, 2018

Imagine a Professional Ice Hockey Team in Toronto

The Toronto Marlies of the AHL (American Hockey League) won the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs two nights ago. It was their first Calder Cup hoist. They won four games to the Texas Stars' three.

The Toronto Maple Leafs
continue to sputter and spin

without a Stanley Cup win;
not since 1967.

The Marlies are a Toronto-based professional ice hockey team. Congrats to them on their great victory, and for showing the lowly Leafs how it's done.


Friday, June 15, 2018

Twin Peaks - Watched Five Episodes

It's not grabbing me. While David Lynch's 1990 - 1991 television series Twin Peaks is held in high regard by some, including a friend of mine, it has all but lost me. It happened suddenly: episode four was my favourite; after I knocked off the fifth one I realized I was watching a soap opera. (This began to happen during the fourth episode, but I let it go.) Also, the atmosphere is beginning to wear thin. And the background music is starting to annoy me.

Who killed Laura Palmer? Do I care enough to finish all 30 episodes?

Admission: I've never been big on murder mysteries. I've never read an Agatha Christie novel, for instance. (Cut to the chase: Colonel Green did it with the hand-phaser on the bridge.)

I'm well aware it's the journey that matters; and there are some interesting characters that inhabit the town of Twin Peaks. Character is the most important part to me; which is why I like Richard Linklater's films, for instance.

I will stick with Twin Peaks. Give it a fair shake.


Wednesday, June 13, 2018

FIFA World Cup Will Come to the Northern Americas

An announcement was made at FIFA's 68th Congress in Moscow: A joint win by the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup.

It looks as though Toronto, my town, might get four matches out of the eighty in total. (It's no surprise that the U.S. will get to host the bulk: sixty.)

BMO Field will be my destination in the summer of 2026. (The stadium will probably be renamed by that time; to something like, "Toronto Sun Stadium".)

Football rocks!


Tuesday, June 12, 2018

You Know You're Getting Older When....

... you don safety goggles and a filter mask -- in order to do some machining -- for about ten minutes, and forty-five minutes after you finish, the indentations from the elastic bands are still showing on your face.


Monday, June 11, 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup Not On the CBC

Imagine this football fan, one without 'cable', finding out on the weekend that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) will not be presenting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The CTV Television Network will instead carry a few matches over-the-air; but, their dedicated sports channel, TSN, will take over from that point.

No, as much as I'm a fan of football, real football, I'm not going to call-up a cable service to watch the World Cup. After all, after the games are finished, TSN would go unwatched, and my cable left to decay. Until 2022.

No doubt these matches will be streamed online for free.

Go, Germany!


Bumping Into Journalism

Yesterday I bumped into an acquaintance who is a trained journalist. I had to ask him: "How do you feel about the (Ontario provincial) election result?"

"(Ford's) stupid! And he's mean."

That is not news to some people.

We Ontarians live in interesting times. And we will monitor Doug Ford's moves with great interest.



Saturday, June 9, 2018

Ant Action on Toronto Sidewalk?


At first I thought it was a big ant action scene; then I realized it's a drone's view of Doug Ford's swearing-in ceremony to be held on June the 29th.

"There were two million people at Queen's Park."

Friday, June 8, 2018

The Common Excuse is: All Politicians Are Bad

Today I had news-radio on as I worked: it was important that I hear the fallout from yesterday's Ontario provincial election.

People were asked via "streeters" if they voted, and if they did not, why not. I heard the old excuse: It wouldn't make a difference, anyway; they're all corrupt/useless/bad.

A few years ago I read Toronto-based author Nino Ricci's absorbing biography Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Trudeau Sr thought Ottawa (Canada's capital city) was staffed with useless and corrupt politicians and had no use for that town....until he began to work there in a minor capacity. He realized then that there were in fact a lot of good people trying to make a difference.

Ditto: London; Paris; Berlin; Washington, D.C.; and on....


Ontarians Have Voted for Change

Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario have been picked to helm this great province for the next four years.

While The Man of Slogans was not my first pick for the premiership, he has been given a mandate of "majority". Hopefully his more experienced party members will help him build a knowledge base as to how our system works. (How does a bill become a law?)

Mr Ford now has to grant interviews and reveal how he's going to pay for his slogans.

His late brother Rob would say "the voter is never wrong". (The "voter" has sent the Ontario Liberal Party to the dry dock.)

Congratulations too to the Washington Capitals: I just heard they won the Stanley Cup last night.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming....


Thursday, June 7, 2018

Ontario General Election - 2018

Today's the day: Citizens of voting age here in Ontario, Canada, get to pick a new premier.

Kathleen Wynne (Ontario Liberal Party, and sitting premier)
Mike Schreiner (Green Party of Ontario)
Doug Ford (Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario)
Andrea Horwath (Ontario New Democratic Party)


Voter turnout in the last Ontario general election (2014) was estimated to have been 52.1 percent. Let's see if we can beat that stellar example.


Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Remembering Don Shebib on The Edison Twins

On May the 10th of last year I wrote about wanting a cable channel dedicated to Canadian films and television programs. In the piece I talked of a conversation I had with an old friend which involved quizzing one another on what Canadian films we've seen.

The name Don Shebib came up. He was the director of Goin' Down the Road, one of the greatest films ever made in this great country.

Back in the summer of 1985 I was an extra in an episode of The Edison Twins, which was a fine youth-aimed half-hour television series produced here in Toronto. The episode, I looked it up, was called "The Fix" and it was directed by Mr. Shebib. That summer I had read a book on the filmmaker written by one Piers Handling, now the director of the Toronto International Film Festival. Shebib guided the cast and guest cast in a 'big scene': A high school basketball game; many extras were needed to fill out the school gym's bleachers. Of course I watched Shebib to see how he moved about and interacted with the actors. (The assistant directors were the production people who marshalled all us "background".)

The location was a high school -- the name of which I've long forgotten -- on Albemarle Avenue here in Toronto. A bonus for me was one of the guest actors was Reiner Schwartz. I was a bit of a fan: he had been the host of an outstanding OECA (Ontario Educational Communications Authority) series called Media 77 (1977 - 1978).

I can't remember ever seeing the completed episode. No doubt I stand right out.


Tuesday, June 5, 2018

My Major Post from May 2017

While searching for something on my blog today I came across a post I wrote on May 15th of last year.

Something about Film is my Minor; my Major is:

I had an interesting discussion recently with an old friend. He loves movies. So do I. But after chatting back and forth, some 'technical' issues regarding formats and screen ratios, I realized that while I love films ("movies", if you prefer) I don't obsess over them. They're just movies, after all. That's all.

There are more important and more interesting things in the world.

For me:

Aviation
Ships and Shipping (not Shops and Shopping)
Fine Art
Cats (animals in general)
History
Medicine
Philosophy
Engineering
Ice Hockey (not the NHL)
Football (not Gridiron Football)
Space Flight (especially that of the Soviet Union)
Writing
Reading (funny how this gets lost in our movies and television world)
Humour (it's out there and hopefully it's takin' over)
Music
Poetry
Crafts

I must be missing something.


Tom Swift and His Analytical Machine

"It's a plan driven by radical NDP activists."

- Doug Ford's take on the platform of the Ontario New Democratic Party.

An interesting observation, I think, from a man who has not released a costed election campaign platform. The election is in two days. Don't tell his Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

'Radical activists'? What, like the kind that don't release a plan?


Monday, June 4, 2018

The French Like Jerry Lewis and Science Fiction TV

Living two kilometers from the French border allowed me to see a series of television contrasts. In then 'West' Germany back in the late 1960s and early 1970s there were two German television networks, ZDF and ARD. The rabbit ears also brought in two French networks: four channels in all on our German-made black and white television set.

I remember watching Daktari on German television, along with a mix of other programming. However, French tastes, I'm assuming, allowed me to watch the following science fiction and fantasy dramatic shows:

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
(A childhood favourite....and back in Canada, too; cool submarine and great theme tune.)

The Invaders
(My friends and I would make a game of "The Invaders". We'd do the crooked pinky.)

The Prisoner
(I looked forward to this one every week: the "Rovers" scared me, in a good way.)


... All of the above because I watched a documentary last evening on The Prisoner. (Brilliant series; one of the best ever.)

As for the "Jerry Lewis" part of the title: I haven't seen The Geisha Boy in many years. (Maybe it's time again.)


Sunday, June 3, 2018

Shut Off and Say Something

Shane Koyczan is a Canadian spoken word artist. My introduction to his work happened last evening when I watched Shut Up And Say Something, a 2017 documentary from filmmakers Stuart Gillies and Melanie Wood.

I've been accused of being a cold fish (yeah, I know, I get it, you're in pain; aren't we all?....we're human, right?) but my cellophane bubble was burst by Mr Koyczan's poetic and passionate readings. His tumultuous experiences growing up give him so much to say. And leaves me with the realization that my background hasn't been so bad, after all. (But complain I will, still.)

What impressed me every bit as much as his honesty was his flawless delivery. I can't even remember two consecutive lines, or stanzas. I'd need a teleprompter.

The documentary reveals his life behind the scenes: conflict, emptiness, and frustration -- all crucial to his success as an artist. Koyczan is loaded with self doubt even when it's clear he commands a given talent. Several times we see people coming up to him on the street and gushing.

Something occurred to me after the end credits rolled on Shut Up: there was no discussion about Koyczan having a "significant other" -- or the issue of an other. My good friend Jean-Denis Rouette cut the picture (and cut it well). I should ask him if such material was shot but left on the cutting room floor.

Watching Shut Up And Say Something was sobering, but uplifting: For all my small-potato problems, I know I'm not alone.


Saturday, June 2, 2018

A Pick for Ontario Premier

Today, the Toronto Sun editorial board officially endorsed Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader Doug Ford for the premiership of Ontario.

The intelligentsia promotes an intellectual.

I say "excellent". I'm looking forward to that 20% personal income tax cut....

(Come to me, This Coming Thursday!)


Friday, June 1, 2018

Black and White

Conrad Black, the writer, former newspaper publisher, and a few other things of title, wrote a column for the National Post newspaper giving support to Conservative Party of Ontario leader Doug Ford -- the obvious choice for premier come June 7th.

My reaction was "does not compute". And: "Conrad Black?"

An intellectual recommends Doug Ford?

That would be akin to HAL 9000 endorsing....

("I am completely operational, and all my circuits are functioning perfectly.")


A Friend Departs

I just remembered!
How was the affair?

And just realized:
You're in the air!