The Canadian Aviation Moments were submitted by Dennis Casper from the Roland Groome (Regina) Chapter of the CAHS. The questions and the answers are now being published together in the same e-newsletter, rather than questions one month and the answers the next. We are hoping this instant gratification might encourage more interest and research by our readers. Spoiler alert - if you read any further than each question, you will find the answer to April's questions directly below. Good luck and have fun!
The Canadian Aviation Moments questions and answers for May are:
Question: What aircraft, initially known as the “Trainer”, was purchased from the Ottawa Car Company by the RCAF when it already had three other trainers in service?
Answer: “The Avro Model 621 was initially known as the Trainer. It was a light initial pilot trainer, which originated as a private venture of the Avro Company in England. The type was eventually adopted as the standard trainer of the RAF under the service name of Avro Tutor. Standard model 621s were supplied to the Ottawa Car Co. Ltd for sale to the RCAF. Why the aircraft were ordered remains somewhat of a mystery. The RCAF already had three other trainers in service including the Hawker Tomtit, Gipsy Moth and Fleet Fawn. The Tutor aircraft were not as suitable as these other types in the basic training role and were converted instead to army co-operation training. The aircraft were modified with wireless sets and vertical cameras to facilitate this latter role. The type survived into the Second World War as ground instructional airframes.” “TOS: 1931 SOS: 1945 No: 13”
Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft – A Military Compendium – T.F.J. Leversedge – Page 60
Question: How many hours were flown in the two final years of RCAF forestry work? What was the peak year for the number of aircraft used by the RCAF in forestry work and what was the number used?
Answer: “Due largely to the addition of spring patrols and the use of far-flung detachments, the two final years of RCAF forestry work were also the most active. In 1929, the force flew 5,819 hours on these operations, and the figure for 1930 was 5,316 hours. In terms of aircraft, 1929 also represented a peak, with 23 aircraft dedicated to the work from Alberta to Manitoba. That year the airmen detected 368 fires.”
Source: Legion Magazine – Sep-Oct 2009 – The Forest Watchers by Hugh A. Halliday – Page 35
Question: What reciprocal agreement was established between the Royal Flying Corps and the U.S. Army’s Signal Corps in 1917?
Answer: “With the United State’s entry into the war in April 1917, a reciprocal agreement was established between the RFC and the U.S. Army’s Signal Corps. This agreement brought Americans to Canada for training, and in turn it allowed the RFC to train in a snow-free environment. Fort Worth Texas was selected as the training centre and the school of aerial gunnery and the wings from Camp Borden and Deseroto ceased training in Canada in November 1917 and moved to the Fort Worth area. RFC Station North Toronto remained open in Canada to test the feasibility of training personnel in a Canadian winter. This test was so successful it was decided that the training for the winter of 1918-19 was to be in Canada. Meanwhile, the other RFC training units proceeded on their 1600-mile rail trip to Texas for the winter of 1917-1918.
Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft – A Military Compendium – T.F.J. Leversedge – Page 22