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The Canadian Aviation Moments were submitted by Dennis Casper from the Roland Groome (Regina) Chapter of the CAHS. Spoiler alert - if you read any further than each question, you will find the answer to the questions directly below. Good luck and have fun!

The Canadian Aviation Moments questions and answers for January are:

Question: What was the number of the squadron (Bomber) (Auxiliary) authorized at Regina in 1935? When did it commence flying training? When was it renumbered and what was was it renumbered to?

Answer: “Authorized as No. 20 (Bomber) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Regina, Saskatchewan on 1 June 1935, the unit commenced flying training in April 1937 when it received four Moth aircraft. It was renumbered No. 120 Squadron on 15 November 1937. Called out on voluntary full-time duty in September 1939, and re-designated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Delta, Hudson, Stranraer, Canso A and Catalina aircraft on West Coast anti–submarine duty until disbanded at Coal Harbour, British Columbia on 1 May 1944. ”

Source: www.rcaf.com (site is now defunct)


Question: Who was officially credited with bringing down the Red Baron?

 

  1. Billy Bishop
  2. W.R. (WOP) May
  3. Flight Commander Roy Brown
  4. Two soldiers on the ground
  5. None of the above

Answer: “Nobody will ever know for sure who shot down the Red Baron. Many have claimed to be the one, however only three contenders are “in the running”. Flight Commander Roy Brown had a good chance in the air and two soldiers on the ground. Nobody was officially credited with bringing down the Red Baron”

Source: Website – The Chronicles of W.R. (WOP) May


Question: What was the name of the airfield in Alberta in 1943 that held the record as the busiest airfield in North America?

  1. Namao
  2. Grande Prairie
  3. Edmonton City Centre Airport
  4. Calgary
  5. None of the above

Answer: “Under the federal government, Blatchford Field, lengthened and improved runways and increased construction of taxiways. Larger hangars were constructed, and a new administration building was built. Air traffic increased considerably between 1939 and 1945, as the British Commonwealth Air Training Schools, defence activities, and the Northwest Staging Route brought increasing demands on the airport. In March and April of 1942, there was an additional demand made on Blatchford Field when the American government pressed ahead with the construction of the Alaska Highway, which added a land-based transportation route north. Air transport of personnel and supplies was a factor in the rapid building of the Alaska Highway, allowing work to take place at several places at the same time. Airfields at Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray also saw significant increases in air traffic during this time. Another development that added to the air traffic in Edmonton, Peace River, Embarras, Grande Prairie and Calgary was the construction of the Canol Pipeline which would run from Norman Wells to Whitehorse. Crude oil from Norman Wells was to be sent to a new refinery at Whitehorse and then moved by additional pipelines to where it could be used on the Northwest Staging Route and the Alaska Highway. During a 24-hour period at the Blatchford Field in June 1942, there were 500 landing aircraft reported. One of the busiest days, 29 September 1942, saw over 850 arrivals and departures. In 1943, Blatchford Field held the record as the busiest airfield in North America. Before the summer of 1943, the demand had increased so much at the Edmonton airport that a new airfield known as Namao was built 11 kilometers north of Edmonton, and was operated by the Americans until the end of the war.”

Source: Alberta Heritage Website