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High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds
of earth Up,
up the long delirious burning blue by John Gillespie Magee Many of our CF-100 comrades listed alphabetically here show merely a name, with
little or no details of their post-416 life or passing. If you can supply additional data about anyone - obituaries,
biographical notes, photographs, memorials, etc - we would love to receive it for inclusion here.
Contact: ** Please see latest News note regarding Bob Eley's passing and future
updates to the website. **
_____________________________________
Serge Alain
(Died May 15th,
1975)
Serge was a pilot in the
original reactivated 416, and in 1958 flew with Barry Smeeth as his navigator. Married to Therese Lambert Alain, Serge
was a family man with six youngsters when he died tragically young of a heart attack while still in his thirties.
(Thanks to Jacques and Lise, who recently met
Serge's sister and supplied this information.)
___________________________________
E.
John Allison
21 February 1933 - 6
November 2004
Aged 71, after
a long illness, passed peacefully away on November 6, 2004 at Westside Care home in Westbank, B.C. John was born in Bournemouth,
England, moving to Canada in 1955. A Captain in the Air Force, John retired in 1988 in Winnipeg, MB, and moved to B.C. in
2004. John served with 416 from 1958 until its disbandment in '61.
____________________________________
Clarence F. Atter
1934 - September 3rd 2012
"Clarry"
flew as a Nav with pilot Doug Crocker from early 1958 until sometime in 1960, before becoming a systems analyst and project
manager with Sun Life Insurance.
____________________________________
J.H. "Jim" Barker Jim joined 416 with navigator Steve Wright in early ’57. The nephew of WWI ace Billy Barker, he’d previously done a tour with the US Marines and, after leaving the RCAF, joined the RCN and flew Banshees! Last contact with Jim may have been when Pete de Smedt met up with him in Dauphin, Manitoba, around 1992.
____________________________________ L.L. Bastie (19xx - 29th May 1969) Died in a midair collision while
in a four plane formation rehearsal out of CFB
Comox. ____________________________________
William "Bill"
Bland (Dec
7th, 1934 - Nov 5th, 2018) Bill was a navigator with Ray Amey in his 416 days. Bill was predeceased by son Darren William, survived by daughter
Susan Karlyn, son Steven David, wife Pam, brother Jack and sister-in-law Geri.
____________________________________ R.G. "Bob" Bolton
(date
and circumstances of death unknown)
____________________________________ W/C (BGen) John Buzza
1923 - 22 June 2004
On Tuesday June 22nd, 2004 age 81 years.
A life well lived, claimed so quickly by the cancer he faced with his usual unrelenting courage and humour. Wife K. Ruth Buzza,
who loved him for 57 years; cherished children, Julie Murphy (Paul), Paul Buzza (Emi), one sister, two brothers and many wonderful
friends, especially from his military days, share a sense of loss, but celebrate that he lived so well with such drive, and
interest in everyone and everything. A family to love dearly, friends to laugh with, and a military career that saw him rise
from a boy airman in 1939 to a distinguished general in the Canadian Armed Forces. He spent much of WWII as an air gunner,
but was promoted and trained as a fighter pilot, his greatest love. General Buzza led by example and was a wonderful mentor
to many. In the CF-100 years, the then Wing Commander Buzza commanded 416 (February-December 1960) and 423 (August 1961-May
1962) AW(F) squadrons, where he helped develop younger officers who went on to become leaders in the Canadian forces.
___________________________
S.C. Cassels
Stu was one of the first
postwar AI types, as he trained with the USAF in Waco Texas. He had apparently been an air gunner in WW2, and had incredible
vision. Stu joined 416 at the start, flying with pilot Ralph Lince.
___________________________
 William M. "Bill"
Cole Died 15th September 2010
William “Bill” Cole Bill was a navigator with 416 from its initial 1957 reactivation until sometime in early 1959. He is said to have been a quiet guy, but left the squadron some great photos from those first years. After leaving 416 he joined Air Canada to become a flight dispatcher with TCA/Air Canada. Robbie Robinson remembers being briefed by Bill, and said he always did a good job.
(Thanks to Robbie and Trom for their input.) ____________________________________
S.D. "Stu" Cooper
_________________________
T.D.Crocker
Pilot Doug flew with navigator Clancy Atter;
see the Crewpics
page for their photo.
__________________________ Peter Cumberbirch (Died summer of 2013) Pete was with 416 at its rebirth in 1957. ___________________________
Arnold “Arn” Dagenais (21 Dec 1934 – 9 January 2016) A graduate of Concordia University in Montreal, Arn and pilot Jack Oickle were with 423 Squadron when it shared St. Hubert with 425. They then became original members of 416’s new life, when it moved from Sabres to CF-100s in February 1957.
After leaving the RCAF, he worked for a while at Marconi, then entered the education sector, first as a secondary physics teacher and then as faculty and administrator in the CEGEP system in the province of Quebec. His last position after 40+ years at Vanier College, where he was part of the founding faculty, was as Dean of Science and General Studies.
With his curiosity about the world around him, a passion
for languages, love of sailing, outgoing personality and sense of humour, and
his determination to stay fit in the face of his many health challenges, Arnold was a lifelong learner, traveller and friend
of many.
John Dardier (Died May 22nd, 2014) John,
like his B Flight navigator, John Allison, left England to join the RCAF. After 416 disbanded,
he commenced a colourful series of postings. First a short course in Winnipeg, then back to Montreal to manage
the installation of flight simulators for CF104 bases in Europe. From ’64 to ’66 he served at
the Pentagon in Washington, then attended the CAF Staff School in Toronto. In 1967 he started a
four year tour in Germany which he spent investigating the numerous “flying coffins”
accidents, then home to 447 Bomarc Squadron at La Macaza. John’s last flying tour was at Summerside,
where he commanded 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. They conducted survival and scientific missions on the
Georges River (Northern Quebec), and facilitated the first parachute jump at the North Pole.
In 1974-78 he was the military attache at the Canadian Embassy in Paris, then finished his Air Force
career working on SAR projects for the General Staff in Ottawa. In 1983-84 John applied his SAR knowledge
in the investigation of the sinking of the Ocean Ranger oil rig. After this, John and wife Francoise –
who he met while at St. Hubert - settled in Rosemont, in the shadow of the Vosges Mountains
in France. There he joined local church choirs, and indulged his love of music, with special emphasis on
Bach! ___________________________________________
Jack Deakin 10 April 1932 – 26 November 2008
Don Doyle
died 6 July 2008
_____________________________
  Ron Ehrne was born and raised in Mission, B. C. He joined the RCAF in 1956 and following pilot training and CF-100 OTU at
Cold Lake, was posted with his navigator Denis Rogers to 416 Squadron,St. Hubert. Completing his tour in 1961, he served with 401 Air Reserve
Squadron. Ron was killed in an Otter aircraft crash on 2 May 1971 at Petersville,New Brunswick. Pictured below is a memorial cairn which was erected
at the sight of the crash.
Ron's gravesite, Mission B.C.
____________________________________________________
Robert "Bob" Eley 24th Oct 1933 - 13th May 2017 Born in Bexley Heath near London, England, Bob’s family moved to the small historic town of Watchet in the West Country, at the outbreak of World War II. There he joined the Air Cadets and began a lifelong love of everything concerning aeroplanes. On leaving school, he pursued this passion by turning the mandatory National Service into a commitment with the RAF. In the mid 1950s his adventurous spirit brought him to Canada. He joined the RCAF and eventually landed in the Lynx Squadron where he flew with Lorne “Sparky” Sparks as "Punchbowl 16", widening his flying experiences and falling in love with both his favourite aircraft, the CF100, and this vast country. Along the way he got married and had a son, Brian, and daughter, Gillian in whom he instilled not only the same adventurous spirit, but also his special sense of humour and love of books, music and especially movies. When his flying days came to an end he left the Air Force, moved to Toronto, and began a new career in the burgeoning field of computers where he was a specialist in many areas and technologies. Outside work, Bob led a full life that included traveling, competitive running, orienteering (always a navigator), cycling and wine making. Mid-career saw him back in England where he found love again with his childhood sweetheart, Margaret and they soon returned to Canada. In retirement, Bob & Margaret moved to a home overlooking the river in Campbellford, ON. Here, Bob continued his many interests and also used his computer expertise to maintain this squadron website along with his own, as well as make movies of his various adventures in life. His love of planes and flying never diminished. __________________________________
____________________________
D.J.
"Dan" Gagnon
(Died 17th February, 2016)
Squadron Leader Daniel (Dan
or Danny) J. Gagnon was 416’s last Commanding Officer in the CF-100 era. He took over from Ron West and led us until
the fateful disbandment in 1961. Details of Danny’s life after this are somewhat sketchy, but they read something like
this: For some time he was the Commandant of the Quebec City Citadel. He became CF-101 qualified and was the CO of RCAF - oops, sorry! - CF Bagotville. In later days he served on the B & B (Bilingualism and Biculturalism) Commission as it applied to the Canadian Forces. With his military days over, Dan retired to Ottawa; his last “parade” with 416 was in 2010, at the Edmonton reunion, which he attended with his partner Olga Vanier.
_________________________________
P.B.
"Pat" Gillette
(1961, Chipmunk crash, Centralia)
__________________________________________
Joe Gulyes
Left us Sunday, 9th November, 2008
Suddenly, while enjoying his
last drink with a buddy.
Joe and navigator Bert Legg were part of the 425 “splinter group” that formed the original 416 on its reactivation as a CF-100 squadron. (While they were on course at 3 OTU they had a double flameout and did a nylon recovery.) From early '57 until he left the RCAF in March '59, he and Pete DeSmedt were the squadron Simulator Crew. He then joined TCA, only to be made redundant in 1961 when the airline dumped 102 pilots. (Willy Milne was also one of them.) After seeing the world flying with the RAF and Quantas, Joe rejoined TCA in 1966 and ended his career as a 747 captain. One of Joe's final contributions to 416 Sqdn was the commissioning of a painting of 18759 for himself and the squadron. Joe died before its completion, so he never saw it. For the full story, go to the link above, and to the painting's full story. ________________________________
Lyle B. Hall
__________________________________
Frank R. Hamill
__________________________________
 Jack “Jake” Haycock
September 6th 2009, aged 73 Jack served in the RCAF from 1954 to 1966, then with Air Canada from 1966 to retirement in June
of 1996. A highly regarded pilot, Jake was a staunch member of 416, for whom he
flew (with nav Dave Lennox) from 1959 until the fall of ’61 disbandment.
Jake's passion in retirement was golf and the camaraderie he shared with all his golfing buddies, especially in competition for the Punchbowl Open Golf trophy, which he proudly won in the last week of his time with us. ____________________________________
Bill "Red" Henderson
____________________________________ Stewart Anderson "Stubby" Holmes d. September 26th 2013 in Kelowna B.C.
A lynx pilot from early '58, and a stalwart member of the HU rugger team, Stubby slipped the surly bonds at the age of 86. ____________________________________
Andy Hartford (he was Andy Horoshko on 416) Died March 4th, 2015, aged 75 Andy came on board as Danny Gagnon's Nav/AI sometime in 1960, and
stayed until the bitter end. After leaving the Air Force, he tried his hand at a number of professions,
finally becoming a family dentist in Edmonton. A life well lived. __________________________________
Clive Loubser
d. 2000
After leaving 416 in 1961, Clive converted to CF104 Starfighters
and served at air bases in West Germany. He retired to his native South Africa in 1987, after receiving a trophy from Lockheed
celebrating 3000 hrs on type (CF104).
______________________________
C.J. MacGillivary
______________________________
David "Tex"
McCheyne December 8th, 1936 - October
10th, 2010 ... after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Dave, together with pilot and long time friend Trom Tremblay, was an early member of the new 416, and later on he and Trom ran
the flight simulator. Following his air force career, Tex was an Air Canada pilot for 30 years. _______________________________________
Brian McKay
1935 - 2018
Captain Brian B McKay "flew west" on October 13th 2018. He was 83 years old. Brian
was born in Calgary Canada where he was raised and educated. He joined the RCAF fulfilling his dream of flying.
Brian continued his life long passion for flying when he joined United Airlines, a job he held for 31 years.
He retired to his farm in Redmond WA in 1995. He leaves behind his wife Colleen, two brothers, two sisters-in-law,
a niece and six nephews.
_______________________________________
S. Ron Meek
15th July 1935 - 18th November
2015
Ron was born in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. He came on squadron sometime in 1958 with Pilot “Mac” MacGillivary, and later – after Mac’s leaving, flew with Ray Amey. After leaving the Air Force, Ron, a deeply spiritual man, served as a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A recent goal was to “golf his age” which he accomplished this summer just before the course closed. ______________________________
W.D. "Willie" Milne
Piper Comanche crash, 1st June 1971
A member of 416 from its reactivation in 1957, Willie followed Joe Gulyes to TCA in 1959 – then back out
in 1961! He made international headlines in October, 1963 when, after flying a light twin to Cuba from Florida, he was temporarily
detained at Castro’s invitation! The Cubans trumped up some sort of case, but after some diplomatic flurry Willie was
released. He died tragically in 1971 while checking out a student pilot. (Thanks to ex-419er Harry Kelly, one of Willie's drinking buddys, for some of the story.)
___________________________
Claude
Montour
21 May 1933 – 21
August 2007 Claude joined the RCAF on his 21st birthday, after getting his first taste of flying as an air cadet.  After the usual period of pilot training, he converted to
CF-100s and joined 425 Squadron at St. Hubert in August 0f ‘56. When 416 was formed six months later he joined it as
a Flight Commander under “Smokey” Drake’s leadership. Claude
left 416 in November of ’58 to become a test pilot with No. 129 Ferry Flight in Trenton, where he
flew a variety of aircraft (including Klunks!) in a maintenance and delivery role. Set to make the RCAF his lifetime career,
Claude became – like so many others – disillusioned by Black Friday (the Arrow cancellation, 1959); he decides to leave the service at the end of his present term of service. His last big ferry
operation was in the Colombo Plan initiative to deliver T-birds to the Turkish Air Force. Claude flew his last RCAF mission
on 4 March 1960. His gifts to our squadron? The first generation of this web site, built with loving care by Claude over many years, and a Pilot's Diary.
______________________________
Barrie Mootham 27th December, 1939 – 23rd May, 2011 After serving as a pilot with 416, Barry went on to a successful career in commercial aviation. He faced his final battle against cancer with dignity and courage. Following is Barrie’s last note to his friends, penned four days before his passing: “Do I get the last word? Dang!! Most people do not live their ‘dream come true’. I did. I became an aviator with the RCAF, flew all of TWA’s planes, and later Cessnas for Comstock Air Services. Love to all, Barrie.” ___________________________
Frank Neshine 6th March, 1925 – 7th March, 2019 After a full life well lived and filled with accomplishments, Frank passed away Thursday March 7th, 2019 just one day after his 94th birthday. Frank joined the RCAF in 1942 and proudly served in WWII as a pilot. Frank retired from the Airforce in 1972 with the rank of Major. During his career he was a fighter pilot, squadron leader and a crash investigator. After the Airforce, he became a Real Estate Appraiser until his full retirement in 1998. Frank is survived by his sister Florence and his three children, David, Linda and Robert, their spouses and six grandchildren. Frank was predeceased by his loving wife of 64 years, Joan (nee Bedoski) on April 30, 2016. Frank donated his body to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Calgary and at his request, there was no service. ___________________________
Thomas Gilbert "Gil" Phelan
3 March
1932 – 7 June 2008 Gil was born and raised in Montreal, where he attended D'Arcy McGee High School. He entered RMC in Sept. 1951
and specialized in Physics and Math, graduating in May 1956 and granted a BSc Degree in 1961. While at RMC he continued with
his hockey craze as a goalie for the junior and senior teams and at this time was nicknamed 'Tony'. Summer RCAF navigational
training took place in Summerside, PEI and Winnipeg.
Gil’s military career started in June 1956 with the Air Observer course at Winnipeg; he continued through Cold Lake, arriving at 416 Squadron, St.Hubert with pilot Clive Loubser in 1957. Gil remustered to Ground Crew in 1958 and went on to become an Armament Officers course instructor. He ended his RCAF career in July 1963, at which time he was Base Armament Officer at RCAF Centralia, and went into the high school teaching profession at Sydenham High School (SHS) in Sydenham, ON. 
Karl Robinson 21st May 2002 - Glider crash ___________________________________________
 Norman Smith 24th Apr 1920 - 23rd Sep 2004 Norman John Smith loved to fly... he preferred the seat of navigator to that of pilot
as it provided him with the opportunity to create and plot maps. One of his favourite aircraft was the Spitfire, of which
he kept a model in his home office. In WWII Norman was awarded both the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Pathfinder medal
(flew 33 missions). One of his happiest times was when he was based at the DEW line in 1957. Even
though this post took him away from his family for one year... he had the opportunity to design some of the first maps for
northern Canada. Latitude-longitude was a language Norman loved to delve into. When he and his wife Janet moved to Hawaii
in 1985, he could hardly wait to visit the independent large telescope observatories located at the Mauna Kea Observatory
summit on the Big Island. Norman
was also a lover of the ocean. His favourite time of the day was sitting on the lanai of his home, in Milolii, Hawaii, he
shared with Janet. Norman passed on September 23, 2004 in his Hawaii home. Per his request, his ashes were spread over
the Hawaiian ocean waters near the Kona pier. Norman was survived by his wife Janet (passed January 2017), his son Hugh John
Smith and daughter Virginia Clare Smith. ____________________________________ Roger Smith ___________________________________________
 Lorne Dale "Sparky" Sparks 9th March 2010, aged 74 A true son of the prairies, Lorne was born in Sedgewick,
Alberta in September of 1935. As
“Punchbowl 16”, he flew with 416 from February ’59 to May ’61, after which he was spirited away to
serve out his time at RCAF Holberg, the Western end of the Pine Tree Line. Back in Edmonton, Lorne became a teacher, in which
capacity his laid back, cheerful ways earned him both respect and popularity. He spent his last years in Chemainus, BC, where
he skippered his own boat for fishing and sightseeing cruises. _______________________________ 
  Jacques Turcotte
3 February 1938 - 25 January 2014
As Punchbowl 5, Jacques flew
with pilot Robbie Robinson on 416's B Flight from late 1957 to 1960. He then served in Germany
during the Berlin Wall crisis before leaving the air force in 1964. In 1967 he set up his own company, Solac Tubes in St.
Jerome, which produced steel tubing. After retiring in 1987 he and wife Lise successfully raised show rabbits. In 1992 they
re-met airline pilot Vern Matheuzik, and so reconnected with 416. After 3 heart surgeries and other problems, Jacques
passed away peacefully of heart failure.
________________________________
H.R. "Bob" Wanless
d. 1995 ________________________________
Alvin H. "Al" Wardstrom Apr 17th 1938 - Nov 15th 2018
___________________________
Squadron Leader Roland
B "Ron" West, DFC, AFC, CD 1919 – July 2001 Roland B. (Ron) West was
born at Medford, Nova Scotia on 25 January, 1919 and was educated there and in Kentville. He was a Bay of Fundy boat pilot
before joining the RCAF in 1941. Awarded his pilot's wings in April of 1942, he served for a period as an instructor at 111
OTU in Nassau and then flew anti-submarine patrols with 117 Bomber Reconnaissance (BR) Squadron. In 1945 he was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for outstanding service and devotion to duty.
Postwar, Ron attended
Staff College then was posted to 101 Composite Flight in Dartmouth engaged in Search and Rescue Operations. When 103 Rescue Unit formed, he became
one of its first pilots and later moved with the unit to RCAF Station Greenwood. It
was while at this location that he performed two outstanding rescue operations with a Canso aircraft that demanded his utmost
skill as a pilot. The first was to Harrington Bay under severe weather conditions. After effecting the rescue, the patient
was transported to Goose Bay, Labrador. While at Goose Bay, another call was made on him to carry out a second rescue at Mutton
Bay, where a seriously ill woman required hospital treatment. Again severe weather prevailed as did extremely rough water
conditions in the Bay. Despite the weather and rough water damage to the aircraft, Ron made a near miraculous take-off and
delivered the patient to Halifax. For these actions he was awarded the Air Force Cross. Later that same year,
1948, Ron West became the third RCAF recipient of the Trans Canada (McKee) Trophy as the outstanding aviator of that year.
This was in recognition of his more than 2000 hours on rescue operations and for his participation in the first large-scale
rain-making operation that relieved the drought conditions then existing in the area of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Subsequently Ron served
as an instructor, as OC Flying at the Navigation School in Summerside, and as Operations Officer at Goose Bay. He then underwent
conversion training to jet aircraft and flew CF-100 aircraft with 416 All-Weather Fighter Squadron, becoming
Commanding Officer in August 1959. Next, at the Canadian
Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE) he flew extensively on the testing of airborne infrared detection
devices. During this period he also commanded the CARDE CF-100 Detachment at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, assisting
the Americans in tracking the re-entry of intercontinental missiles. He completed his service in charge of all RCAF aircraft
ferry operations and retired in 1966. Ron was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1974 for noteworthy contributions
to aviation in Canada. Ron died in July 2001,
and is buried in his hometown of Medford, Nova Scotia.
________________________
 Jan, or Zura as many knew him, was born in Russia and fled with his parents to Poland after the Russian Revolution. He became a
fighter pilot, fought with the Polish Air Force when the Nazis attacked Poland, and ended up in England flying with
the RAF. Jan was credited with six kills as a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, for which he was decorated.
After the war, he was a test pilot in Britain as well as an accomplished air show performer. Jan Zurakowski joined Avro Canada
on 22 April 1952, the day after he moved to Canada. He became chief experimental pilot and led the flight testing of the CF-100
and later the CF-105. Zura became the first person to break the speed of sound barrier in a straight wing aircraft, without
rocket power, in a CF-100 - in a dive! As the chief test pilot of the Avro CF-105 Arrow, he took it for its maiden flight
on 25 March 1958. He retired from flying in 1959 and built a thriving resort business in Barry's Bay. Awarded the McKee Trophy
in 1958, appointed to the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973 and many other honours including the Zurakowski Park in Barry's
Bay dedicated in 2003. Through all the awards and fame he remained a very quiet, unassuming gentleman. ____________________________________
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