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The Seaforth News, 1942-05-28, Page 6PA4E SIX The Story of Bombers to B itain (By D. W. Barclay in Canadian Business.) Building' a bridge of bombers ac- toss the Atlantic is one of the history making; feats of this war and to Can - adieu business leaders goes the ma- jor share of the credit for the suc- cess of the Atlantic ferry bomber service, snow known as the. IR,A.F. Ferry Command, It was back in midsummer of 1040 that the dream of a service to ferry bombers to Britain came out of the clouds and down to earth. Under that powerhouse of British plane produc- tion, Lord Beaverbrook, the "GO" signal was flashed. The next problem was to find somebody to do the job. At this point the British Govern-, Ment, through the Ministry of Air- craft Production, called on the Cana- dian Pacific to tackle this major war task. In August, 1940, a contract was signed calling upon the C.P,R, to organize and operate the ferry bomber service. Offices were set uP in the Windsor Station, but the ser- vice was regarded as an agency of the British Government and all the company's facilities were made avail- able free of charge, Sir Edward Beatty was named Chaairman of the newly -created Can- adian Pacific Air Services Depart, ment. G. E. Woods Humphrey, for- merly Managing Director of Imper- ial Airways, was listed as Vice Chair- man, and Colonel H. Burchall, also ex -Imperials Airways, was made General Manager of the Department, Pilots Needed Three things were required at once: an administrative staff, compe- tent pilots to fly the bombers, and proper base facilities. The staff to do the administrative work was recruit- ed almost entirely from Canadian Pacific employees, and thanks to pre- war preparations overseas, certain base facilities were available. They were helpful, but unequal to the new task. Plans had to be drawn to provide more adequate and complete facilities. To overcome the lack of phots, a "Trans _Atlantic Ferry Pilot.' School" was started in Canada in November, 1940. The nucleus of the ferry pilots was formed by roughly half a dozen British Overseas Airways pilots. Their names and brave exploits will go down in aviation history. They played almost as important a part in flying history as the original flyers of the Atlantic, Alcock and Brown. - To join this original small group came pilots .of every type. The Air Transport Auxiliary ferrying planes in Britain loaned some of their ex- perienced pilots for Atlantic cross- ing. Soon a steady stream of Ameri- cans crossed the border. Canadians came out of the north country to try their hand at the new job, while from far away Australia and South Africa pilots found their way to Montreal. In addition Free French- men, Dutchmen, Egyptians and even commercial pilots who used to fly over the jungles of South America, were on hand. But pilots without radio, men were helpless. A call then went out for civilian radio pilots and many young men from the outlying areas of Can- ada, serving in the Radio Branch of the Department of Transport, quick- ly responded. Steady Growth The first flight was made on Nov- ember 11th, 1940, when seven large American -built Hudson bombers lin- ed up on the "apron" ready for the take -off at a Newfoundland airport. Engines were checked,last minute weather reports studied, and then the signal was given and bhe heavily -la- den bombers took off at one minute intervals, circled the field, joined in a wide formation and then turned eastward. About ten hours later they landed at a United Kingdom airport. In these ten hours history was made, and the Atlantic ferry bomber ser- vice became the shop talk of the av- iation world and a living testimony to the common war effort of the Em- pire and the United States. From this day forward the story is largely one of growth, Shaping the organization to meet the needs of the future, building quickly a large pool of experienced pilots and crews and erecting the physical plant, were the real achievements. At the same time operations carried on against terrific climatic odds and operating difficul- ties during the winter months and the spring of 1941. The record of. the Atlantic ferry organization under deliveries in the test period, even the litle of the R,A.F. Ferry Com - under unfavourable handicaps, prov- ed that nothing could now stop what started largely as an experiment tory of one of the most startling de - and turned otrb to he the world's velepments in the aviation industry. "greatest one-way air line" ---and the Naturally war secrecy prohibits the forerunner of military ferry service the world over, First sign of further changes came when on February 1., 1941, when C. H. "Punch" Dickins, well-known Canadian northern flyer, was called in by the Canadian Pacific to take fall operating control of the ferry serviee,.It was this 'same "Panel:" Dickins who'; exactly a year later, after he had 'chalked up a brilliant record With the Ferry Coiuruandti was in turn called buck by the Can- edian Paeiflc as Vice President and General Manager, to assist in organ- izing its own far-flung airlines and , the eompanv's part in the Common, wealth Air Training Scheme. "Atfero" Takes Over By March, 1941, plans had been made to expand deliveries fat' beyond • even the wildest dreams of the foun- ders. Because of the size and inter- national importance of the bomber delivery system, it was decided to bring the ferrying task directly und- er the control of the Ibliniebry of Air Craft Produetion, It was at this point that Morris W, Wilson, President of the Royal Bank of Canada and Bea- verbrook's personal representative in Canada and the United States, who had been associated with the ferry delivery system since its inception in connection with the movement of aircraft purchased under his orders, cane directly into the picture to as- sume control of the set-up and oper- ation of .the ferry organization, Under the Ministry of Aircraft Production there mushroomed up the organization which became known the world oyer as "Atfero." Headed by Canadians, with Morris W, Wil- son directing policy, and actively as- sisted by Montreal business execut- ive Harold M. Long,the new organ- ization entered a period of rapid and even sensational expansion. To look after "Atfero's" airport building requirements, (no small or- der when great hangars, rest houses, and administrative buildings had to be constructed at Newfoundland and Montreal), John H. Norris, promin- ent Montreal construction man, was appointed Director of Construction. To make sure that the growing army of employees was well fed and housed, and also that property run- ning into millions was protected, F. B. Walls, General Manager of the T. Eaton Company at Montreal, was named Director of Commissariat and Security. To make certain that the hard - worked administrative staff and fly- ing personnel were paid on time and to develop sound financial practices, Meredith Smith, C.A., Montreal ac- countant of the firm of P. 5. Ross & Sons, assumed the title of Financial Comptroller. To get plenty of equipment in a hurry, and without waste of money, B. W. Roberts, General Purchasing Agent of the Canadian Pacific, was called in to take over the position of Director of Purchases, while from far across the Pacific, at Bangkok in Sian:, R. B. Jackson, Canadian oper- ator of Thailand's airway system, hoped a Clipper and took over the duties of Traffic Manager of the new Atlantic air system. From south of the border came American Airline's ace maintenance manager H. W. Beals who was given the man-sized job of making sure all delivery planes were in top-notch condition before taking off on the hazardous Atlantic hop. At Ottawa, Lieut. Commander C. P. Edwards, Deputy Minister of Transport, made available the exten- sive air facilities of his department in the construction of landing fields for the Ferry Command and the pro- vision of navigational aids for this great undertaking. Plans were rushed for the comple- tion of giant new hangars and living quarters at Newfoundland. Improve- ments were made on the Bermuda base to spted up the delivery of fly- ing boats. A great new centralized administrative, maintenance, and op- erating department was built in re- cord time at Montreal's Dorval Air- port. United States Army Air Corps Ferry Command set up offices to tie in with their ships ferried to Mon- treal for delivery to Britain. Pers- onnel jumped from around 600 in April to over 1,000 in midsummer, which was a startling increase from the original handful of staff back in 1940. The R.A.F. Ferry Command In this organization of many changes there was to be yet another. The spread of the war over the globe, and the request of President Roosevelt to have lend-lease planes ferried from Canada to Britain und- er military control, resulted in Air Chief Marshall Sir Frederick Bow- hill, the former Chief of the Coastal Command and famous tracker -down of the Bismarck, assuming control of mond. Such is the ,short hut stirring his - release of any figures of the number of fighting planes shuttled across the Atlantic. However, by any yardstick, the ferry service has had a remark- able record. The loss for all types of aircraft on the Atlantic erossing has been under one per cent, confined to TFIF $I3 AFORTI3 NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1942 Girls Replacing Men In Machine Shop Play Big Part in T.C.A. Wartime Maintenance Trans -Canada Air Lines, is unique among commercial transport operators on this Continent with respect to the employment of women. They are replacing men who have joined the Armed Forces. No other operator carries as great a proportion of women on its payroll as does the T.C.A. Girls are now employed in the instrument, engine, acces- sories and propeller shops' and say they prefer this mechanical work to clerical occupations. In addition, they are making a very direct contribution to the war ef- fort since Trans -Canada Air Lines overhauls a great deal of R.C.A.F. equipment. The girls work a 48-hour week under the same conditions as the men. Their employment is only for, the dura- tion of the war. The pictures: tippet left—Miss Eva Grant is shown grinding a valve. Upper right—Miss Mary Goshlake assembles the ignition harness which carries the high voltage to spark T.C,A,'s power- ful aircraft engines. Lower right— Miss Mary Baverstock is putting the finishing touches to a course, setting bomb sight,the instrument being a part of the equipment which women help to overhaul at T.C.A. shops for the R.C.A.F. Hudsons, No losses at all have taken place in the delivery of flying boats or giant four -engine planes such as. the Flying Fortress and the Libera- tor. What the future holds in store for this famous Atlantic air adventure is anybody's guess. However, when vic• tory comes, the history book of avio- tion will have a long chapter devoted to those Canadians who so success- fully organized this vital war agency and indirectly laid the ground work for what will likely be the blue-rib- bon air route of the future. Nobody has done more to give these Canadian civilians their just due than Sir Frederick Bowhill who, in his many public references tothe fine organization which was handed over to him as a going concern, af- firms that "Canada has a lot for which to thank her native sons, "See here," exclaimed the stranger as he stumbled -into his twentieth puddle, "I thought you said you knew where all the bad places were on this road?" "Well," replied the native who had volunteered to guide him through the dark, "we're a-findin' of them, ain't we?" Tires Last Longer at Lower Speeds By operating a car or truck at 25 miles per hour instead of 70 miles per hour, the wear on the tires can be cut in half. At a speed of only 40 miles per hour, tire wear is 25 to 35 per cent more than at 25 miles per hour, says W. Kalbfleisch, Agri- cultural Engineering Section,Cen- tral Experimental Farm, Ottawa. Not only does a lower speed re- duce the surface wear on tires, but it also reduces tire breakage, accid- ents, gasoline consumption and wear on other parts of the machine. By driving at a moderately low, speed, one is not so likely to ruin a tire which goes flat or blows out when the ear is in operation.. Side wall suptures caused by, stones, broken pavement, curbs, or railway tracks can be eliminated by lower speeds and careful driving. The heavy use of brakes, quick acceleration and the fast turning of corners, which is associated with high speed driving, wastes gasoline or rubber. Want and For Sale Ads., 1 week 26c More Wool Urgently Needed in Canada Canada needs to produce more wool. With war developments now threatening the supplies from abroad, Canada faces a serious situ- ation. One million more sheep are required by 1943. Good ewes and ewe Iambs should be kept for breeding purposes. If Canada is to have one million more sheep by 1943, every useful ewe and . every good ewe Iamb, particul- arly the early ones, should be saved for the owner's flock or sold to someone who wishes to increase his holding or to start a new flock, says the Board. Before the time comes for mark- eting lambs and surplus aged stock, farmers should pick out the ewe lambs needed to increase their flocks. If there are still good ewe lambs or useful aged ewes that someone might want for foundation stock, get in touch with the repre- sentative of the provincial depart- ment of agriculture, etc., before de- ciding to send potential breeding stock to market. DUBLIN Zion Women's Association held their regular monthly meeting at the hone of Mrs. George Pepper. The meeting opened with a hymn, Miss Vera Barker read the minutes of the previous meeting and Mrs. Elmer Kleinfeldt called the roll. Mrs. Glenn Pepper read the Scripture lesson, followed by the ord's. Prayer. Following the business portion of the meeting a delicious lunch was served• by the hostess, assisted by her two daughters, Miss Auleen and Mrs. L. Barker, and Misses Vera Barker and Marjorie Moore. Among those who attended the nurses' graduation at the auditorium of Beal Technical School, for the graduating class of St. Joseph's Hospital, London, were Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McGrath, Miss Eleanor McGrath and Patrick McGrath Jr., and Mr, and Mrs. John McGrath, Mrs. Philip Kenny and Miss Mary Cinnamo. Mr. and Mrs. George Ghowen and daughter,. Mitchell, with Mr. and Mrs. Irvine Aikens, Miss Edith Ron- ey, Seaforth, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Roney; Mr. and. Mrs. James Malcolm and daughter Mar- ion, Mrs. George Pepper and dau- ghter Auleen, in London. D. McConnell attended the grad- uation exercises at St. Mary's Hosp- ital, ,Kitchener. Miss Frances Fort- une and Miss Lucille McGrath are two of the graduating nurses. Gounter Check Books We /Are Selling Quality Books Books are Well Made, Carbon is Clean and Copies Readily. All styles, Carbon Leaf and Black Back. Prices as Low as You Can Get Anywhere. Get our Quotation on Your Next Order. • The Seaforth News SEAFORTH, ONTARIO,