Ferry Command Pilot

Words on Wings Press is excited to announce new editions of ALL NINE of Don McVicar’s exciting aviation memoirs as sleek and easy-to-read Kindle e-books.

This is the FIRST TIME these volumes are all available in the same format, known as the Streamlined Edition.

Fun fact about e-books; they are also searchable databases! Better than an index, simply type in the name of an airplane, person or place for the full value of the content to be revealed. This is a real boon to aviation historians and other aficionados of the numerous types of now-classic aircraft McVicar flew and wrote of so brilliantly.

TO PURCHASE, PLEASE VISIT OUR “BUY NOW” PAGE!

November, 1940: after Hitler’s Blitzkreig devastated Europe, Britain held out alone against the Nazis. North American factories were producing badly-needed warplanes in quantity, but how to get them over there? Nazi U-boats were decimating freighter convoys with great loss of life and cargo, including aircraft. Why not fly them across? It’s hard for those of us in the 21st century to believe it, but the stormy North Atlantic had rarely been flown in winter. It was considered suicidal to even try. Yet desperate times call for desperate measures. Ferry Command Pilot honors the unique but little known group which, beginning in November 1940, delivered almost 10,000 warplanes across the uncharted oceans, suffering losses comparable to losses in combat. Why did this brave group not become famous? Well, it had several names over the war years; it was comprised of both military and civilian personnel from several countries and military organizations. Best known as the Royal Air Force Ferry Command based in Montreal, Quebec, it evolved into No. 45 Group RAF Transport Command with headquarters in England.

The most important reason? This was a secret mission. So for almost 40 years, the story of Ferry Command was unknown to the public.

Ferry Command Pilot is told firsthand from the pilot’s seat by then-26-year-old Ferry Command Captain Don McVicar. A Canadian civilian pilot, he was unusual in that he was also a crack navigator and radio operator, skills that brought him and his crews back from many dangerous missions. He received the King’s Commendation and the Order of the British Empire for his valuable services in the air.

After a long turbulent career in Canadian aviation, Don McVicar gathered together his many logbooks, photographs, memories, and those of survivors with whom he had remained in touch, and wrote the first real book about the Royal Air Force Ferry Command. In 1981 Airlife published Ferry Command in hardcover, followed by North Atlantic Cat, A Change of Wings, Mosquito Racer and More Than A Pilot. His self-published A Railroad from the Sky, Distant Early Warning, and Through Cuba to Oblivion completed his acclaimed autobiographical aviation series. As of February, 2024, his entire series has been returned to the world!

In 1990, with Ferry Command sold out, no longer in print but in demand by his readers worldwide, he split it into its two natural halves, Ferry Command Pilot and South Atlantic Safari, which he self-published, printed-on-demand: revolutionary ideas in 1990! After writing hundreds of thousands of well-received words, he had the confidence to make these versions a bit juicier, truer to the wide-open spirit of a bush pilot from the Canadian West. He’s not afraid to tell a corny joke or to tell the truth about some of his rougher landings!

Most photos on this page are contained within Ferry Command Pilot. Please do not use any of them without permission.

The names below are the men who served in some aspect of the RAF Ferry Command and are who are mentioned in Ferry Command Pilot. The RAFFC was a secret organization, and somewhat ad hoc in its first year or so; some aircrew were “one-trippers” who were part of the crew delivering the aircraft to the U.K. but stayed to serve in their designated units. After the war, some records were lost or even destroyed. Consequently, Don McVicar’s books may be the only records of the service of many of these brave men. Since Ferry Command Pilot was republished in 2011, the descendants of some of them have reached out to us, hoping for some clues as to what they did in the war. The names below have been extracted from the book to honor their bravery.

Lest we forget.

Abbott, First Officer E.E.

Adams, Capt. Ralph

Affleck, Flight Engineer John

Alden, M.A.

Allen, Capt. R.

Allison, J.W.

Anderson, Donald

Andrew, A.

Ayre, Radio Officer Charles

Baillie, F.W.

Baillik, Sgt. (Czech) fighter pilot, “one-tripper”

Baker, Flight Engineer, A.W. “Bill”

Baughn, Capt. Charley

Bennett, Capt. D.C.T. “Don”

Bisson, Capt. Louis, KC

Bledsoe, J.D.

Blockley, Capt. Ted

Bowhill, Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick

Brown, copilot

Burke, Capt. Andy

Byars, G.J.

Byers, Capt.

Campbell, R.F.

Carveth H.

Charmoz, Capt. Jules

Chatel, Capt. Andre (Free French)

Clausewitz, E.F.

Colato, First Officer A.

Collins, Radio Officer Bill

Cornish, F.C.

Coughlin, F.W.

Cripps, S.T.B.

 

 

Dalton, Capt. Jack

Davidson, Capt. Walt

Dekantzow, S.H.

Dickins, “Punch” OBE, DFC

Ditton, Capt. Ted

Dixon, Bill

Dugan, Capt. D.J. “Jim”

Dunford, Eric

Evans, Capt. George P. OBE

Farley, Flight Lieutenant H.J.

Finch, A.

Fraser, J.R.

Garden, K.

Gentry, Capt. D.L.

Giles, J.E.

Gilhousen, A.

Godfrey, F.G.

Graham, F.L.

Gray, J.W.

Grey, Capt. Scotty

Griffiths, Sgt.

Gunn, Sgt. Bob

Herndon, Capt. Hugh

Hightower, Capt. Ed

Howard, J.

Hubacek, Sgt. (Czech), fighter pilot, “one-tripper”

Hunter, J.A.S.

Hunt, W.C.

Huston, Capt. Herb

Hutchison, G.R.

Jarvis, D.B.

Jedlund, Capt. Russ (Australia)

Johnsen, Radio-Navigator G.R. “Fred”

Jones, Squadron Leader, L.L. “Slim” RCAF

Jubb, N.

Jude, R.C.

 

King, A.M.

King, W.M.

Lange, Capt. Carl

Leeward, Capt. Al

Leroy, Capt. Bob

Leroy, R.S.

Lewis, copilot, “one-tripper”

Lilly, Capt. Al

Lockenbauer, Radio Officer “Locky”

Longhurst, Flight Lieutenant William “Bill”

Loughridge, A.M. “Al”

Lyons, W.B.

Mackay, D.

Mackay, Capt. J.C.

McGrail, Radio-Navigator John

McIntyre, J.D.

McVicar, Capt. Donald, KC, OBE

Meagher, Radio Officer C.P.

Mellor, W.T.

Merrill, Capt. Bud

Meyers, H.G.

Mitchell, F.

Moody, Capt. Humphrey

Moody, Capt. Hunter

O’Neill, Capt. John

Page, R.H.

Pangborn, Capt. Clyde

Parker, Capt. King

Parker, H.F.

Parkinson, Capt. J.T. “Jack”

Pearce, F.

Phoenix, Capt. Merrill

Pollock, Radio-Navigator Gerry

Powell, Group Captain Griffith “Taffy”

Pringle, Capt. 

Raine, D.

Rector, Capt. Charlie

Reeves (aircrew)

Rennie, D.N.

Rodgers, W.C.

Ross, Capt. Carl

Ross, W.C.

Ross, Wing Commander Don, Senior Air Staff Officer

Rowe, Capt. Gene

Ruggles, Capt. Jack

Rush, Radio Officer Eric

Ryan, Flight Engineer Art

Schafer, Capt. Les

Schiller, Capt. Clarence A. “Duke”

Sharpe, Capt. Jack

Siple, Capt. Wallace “Wally”

Smith, Capt. Ian

Smith, Capt. T.G.

Smith, N.E.

Snailham

Spry, Radio Officer

Steen, N.

Store, A.G.

Swaney, Flight Engineer Gayle

Sweet, H.A.

Teel, Capt. Don

Tobin, Capt. Gilbert

Torrey, Capt. Al

Tripp, C.M.

VanDerKloot, Capt. William “Bill” CBE

Wakeman, Squadron Leader

Webber, J.A.

West, R.L.

Wilson, J.N.

Wheeler, Radio Officer Lloyd

Wightman, Radio Officer “Gordy”

Ferry Command Pilot came out in 2011 as an Amazon Kindle e-book; in 2015 as a paperback, also published on the Amazon Print-on-Demand platform. Due to the rich content of the book, an index was obviously needed. This was painstakingly prepared by editor Donna McVicar Kazo. We have decided to share this index online to facilitate searches by relatives and historians, many of whom have contacted us over the years, seeking any scrap of information on their father/grandfather/brother/uncle, etc.

It’s a bit tricky to place an index on a web page! But the information is too valuable not to give it a try, so please bear with how it might load and display on your device.

ANNOUNCEMENT, FEBRUARY 2024: With the publication of ALL NINE of Capt. McVicar’s books in the new Kindle Streamlined Edition, readers can now follow the careers of many of the aircrew on this page. As specified above, simply use the search function within each Kindle e-book. To purchase, please visit the Buy Now Page.

Index of paperback edition

(numbers in bold are illustrations or photographs)

A

Abbott, First Officer E.E., RAFFC: 120

Accra, Ghana, Africa: 145, 146

Adams, Captain Ralph: 10, 36

Adams, Wing Commander John (New Zealand) RAFFC: 180

Adcock radio range: 30 (See also navigation, radio range system)

Addeman, Spence, No. 2 Air Observer School: 8

Aden, Colony of (now Yemen): 145

aerodrome (see airfields)

Affleck, F/E John RAFFC: 150

Africa: 50, 146, 167, 174, 180

Air Force Cross/AFC: 154

Air Navigation, British Empire Edition: D.C.T. Bennett, author: 39

Air Almanac: 49

Airlife: 12, 14

Air Observer Schools (AOS): No. 1 AOS, Toronto, Ontario: 15; No. 2  AOS, Edmonton, Alberta: 7, 8, 16, 39, 40, 47, 171; No. 5 AOS, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 6

aircraft, American: (see Beech Aircraft Company; Bellanca; Boeing; Consolidated; Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company; Douglas Aircraft Company; Fokker; Ford; Lockheed; Martin Company; North American; Piper Aircraft Corporation; Taylorcraft Aviation; Rearwin Airplanes)

aircraft, British: (see Airspeed Ltd., Avro; Bristol Aeroplane Company; deHavilland; Hawker Aircraft Ltd.; Short Brothers; Supermarine Aviation Works)

aircraft, Canadian: (see Bristol Fairchild; Fleet Aircraft; Handley-Page; Noorduyn)

aircraft, German: (see Junkers)

airfields/airports/air bases/aerodromes: Abbotsinch airfield, England: 167; Aldergrove, Northern Ireland: 11, 139; Anacostia Naval Air Base, Washington, D.C.: 132, 139; Aston Down airfield, England: 172, 173; Ayr airfield, Scotland: 137; Bandung military airport, Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies: 50; Blatchford Field, Edmonton: 51; Brooks Field, Texas: 147; Canton Island Airport: 148, 149; Dorval, Quebec (see Dorval airport); Foynes, Republic of Ireland: 44, 177; Gander, Newfoundland (see Gander); Goose Bay, Labrador (see Goose); Hamilton Field, San Rafael, California: 147; Hickam Field, Honolulu, Hawaii: 148; Keflavik air base, Iceland: 137, 161; LaGuardia airport, New York City: 178; McClelland Field, California: 147; Prestwick, Scotland (see Prestwick); Renfrew airfield, England: 167; Reykjavik, Iceland: 118, 119, 126, 127, 137, 161; St. Hubert, Quebec: 6, 10, 12, 106, 166; Washington National Airport: 132; West Palm Beach, Florida: 50, 144; White Waltham airfield, England: 166. (See also Bluie, Crystal bases)

Airport Inn, Dorval: 14, 17, 18

Airspeed Ltd., Oxford, specific aircraft mentioned: DF340: 139; No. T1320: 167; EB690: 167

Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA): 164, 165-168, 172

Alberta, Blatchford Field, Edmonton: 51; Cheecham: 5; Edmonton: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 39, 51, 116

Alcock and Brown: 43 (refers to Capt. John Alcock and Lieut. Arthur W. Brown, who made the first nonstop aerial crossing of the Atlantic, 1919)

Alden, M.A. RAFFC: 10

Aldis lamp: 113

Allen, Capt. R. RAFFC: 10

Allison, J.W. RAFFC: 10

American Flyers Flying School: 5

American Navy (see United States Navy)

Amundsen, Roald: 57

Anderson, Donald RAFFC: 9

Andrew, A.: 10

Anson (see Avro Aircraft)

Antarctic: 54

anti-sub patrols: 118

Anzacs: 174

Arctic (see also Baffin Island, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Greenland, Hudson Strait): 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 79, 81, 82, 85, 86, 90, 91, 94, 102, 104, 115, 117, 127, 129, 148, 152

Arctic High: 127

Army Air Services: 170

Arnold, Gen. H.H. “Hap,” USAAC: 53

astro-navigation (See navigation, astro/celestial)

ATA (See Air Transport Auxiliary)

Atlantic Ferrying Organization  (ATFERO) (See Ferry Command)

Atlantic Ocean: 63, 102, 139, 140 (See also North Atlantic, South Atlantic)

Australia: 43, 145, 150; Cities: Brisbane: 150; Canberra: 150; Sydney: 150

aurora borealist, Northern Lights: 82, 115

automatic pilot: 111, 113, 116

“Automatic Rough:” 73, 96

Avro Aircraft (A.V. Roe & Company): Anson: 8, 12, 15, 17, 21, 23, 24, 59; Specific aircraft: Anson Mk 1 6048: 1, 2, 3, 8; Anson W1707: 167; Lancaster: 167; Lincoln: 167

Ayre, R/O Charles RAFFC: 148

Azores archipelago, North Atlantic: 44

B

B-17 Flying Fortress (See Boeing Company)

B-24 Liberator (See Consolidated Aircraft)

B-25 Mitchell (See North American Aircraft)

Baffin Island (See also Crystal weather stations): 52, 54, 70, 72, 73, 75, 94, 120, 128; Specific place names mentioned: Tessiquidudjak Lake: 92; Cumberland Mountains: 92; Cumberland Peninsula: 84, 85, 89, 128; Cumberland Sound: 76, 84, 92, 93; Frobisher Bay: 53, 54, 75, 81, 93, 95; Hall Peninsula: 84, 93; Kangeeak Point: 91; Kingnait Fjord: 92, 93; Kivitoo: 91; Lake Harbour: 72, 73; Padle Fjord: 92; Padloping Island: 53, 54, 81, 83, 85, 86, 90, 91; Pangnirtung: 54, 89, 90, 120, 127, 128; influenza epidemic: 89, 128; Penny Highlands: 90; Saddleback Island: 95

Baffinland (See Baffin Island)

Baillie, F. W. RAFFC: 56

Baillik, Sgt. (Czech) fighter pilot “one tripper:” 111

Baker, F/E Albert William “Bill” RAFFC: 55, 56, 59, 61-63, 67-69, 71-73, 76-81, 88, 89, 92, 93, 97, 98, 100, 109, 112, 113, 116-118, 125

Balchen, Col. Bernt, DFC USAAC: 37, 115, 127

Baltimore, Maryland: 132, 178

Bangalore, India: 50, 145

barnstormer: 19, 21, 147

barrage balloons: 173

Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies: 50

Battle of Britain: 45, 52

Battle of the Atlantic: 121

Battle of the Coral Sea: 168

Battle of the Eastern Solomons: 168

Baughn, Capt. Charley RAFFC: 144

Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean: 50

Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean: 102

BE2: (See Bluie East Two)

Bear-Paw skis: 60, 63, 67, 75

Beaufort night fighter/Beaufighter: 176

Beaverbrook, Lord, (Wm. Maxwell “Max” Aitken) Minister of Aircraft Production: 9, 45

Beech Aircraft Company: general, 21, 65; Staggerwing 147

Belem, Brazil: 146

Bellanca: 36, 145

Bendix radio equipment: TA-2J Liaison transmitter; RH1-B receiver: 110

Bennett, Capt., later Air Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall RAFFC: xvi, 10-12, 39, 43-45, 139, 175; Mercury and Maia Mayo composite mail plane program: 44-45; author, The Complete Air Navigator

Bermuda: 11

Birch, Ted, No. 2 AOS: 8

Bisson, Captain Louis: 42, 51, 52, 54-64, 66-68, 70, 72-78, 80-88, 98, 101-104, 111, 114, 115, 119, 122-134, 136, 137, 141

Black Horse Ale: 20

Bledsoe, J.D. RAFFC: 9

Blissville, New Brunswick: 42

Blitz, London, England: 174, 175

Blockley, Capt. Ted RAFFC: 156, 159, 161, 171

Bluie weather bases, Greenland: Bluie East Two (BE2): 53, 127; Bluie West Eight (BW8): 53, 86, 87, 111-114, 118, 119, 120, 122, 123, 126, 127, 158, 160; Bluie West One (BW1): 53, 66, 86, 87, 102, 111, 122, 123, 129, 137, 158, 163, 169

BOAC (British Overseas Airway Corporation): 35, 42, 44, 45, 123, 126, 134, 139, 140, 143, 168

BOAC Return Ferry Service: 14, 34, 35, 123, 126, 134, 139-141, 143, 168, 172

Board of Inquiry: 79

Boeing Aircraft Company: Model 247, 15; B-17 Flying Fortress: xvii, 11, 124, 135, 135, 147; specific aircraft: B-17 FK162: 135

Bollingbroke (See Bristol Aeroplane Company)

Bomber Command (See Royal Air Force Bomber Command)

Bombing and Gunnery School No. 4 at Fingal, Ontario: 46

Botwood, Newfoundland: 177

Bougainvillea, Solomon Islands: 150

Bowhill, Chief Air Marshal Sir Frederick RAF/FC: 12, 35, 45, 55, 101, 102, 102, 131

Brintnell, Leigh, Mackenzie Air Service: 6

Bristol Aeroplane Company: Beaufort night fighter (Beaufighter): 176; Fairchild Bolingbroke No. 9072: 46

British Air Ministry: 131, 143

British Columbia: 6; Cranbrook: 6; Vancouver: 148; Victoria: 6

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP): xvii, 7

British Overseas Airways: 11, 14

British Overseas Airways Return Ferry Service: 34

British Purchasing Commission: 22

Brown, copilot: 171, 172

Brown, Capt. Arthur Roy, DSC: 7

buckshee: 46

Burbidge, Maurice “Moss:” 5

Burke, Captain Andy RAFFC: 50, 147

Burns, Robbie (poet): 164

bush pilots: 54

Button Islands N.W.T. (now Nunavut): 129

Buxton, Capt. Sam, BOAC Return Ferry Service: 134, 139

BW1 (See Bluie West One)

BW8 (See Bluie West Eight)

Byars, G.J. RAFFC: 10

Byers, Capt. RAFFC: 151

Byrd, Admiral Richard: 57

C

C-47 (See Douglas Aircraft Company)

Cabot Strait, Newfoundland: 177

Cairo, Egypt: 180

California: 43, 45; Burbank: 22; Los Angeles: 5; Mines Field, Los Angeles: 5; San Diego: 37, 109, 147; San Francisco: 150, 171; San Rafael: 147

Campbell, R.F. RAFFC: 10

Canadian Airways: 7

Canadian National Railways Continental Limited: 8, 12

Canadian Pacific Air Services: xvii, 10

Canadian Prairies: 46

Cannon, Christianna: xv

Canso (See Consolidated Aircraft Corporation)

Captain-Navigator: 39, 41

Captain-Navigator rating, RAFFC: 39, 41

Care, Bob and Jan: xiv

Care, Capt. Fred RAFFC: xiv

Caribbean: 50

Carlisle, Capt.: 166

Carveth, H. RAFFC: 9

Cassiopeia, Short Empire flying boat G-ADUX: 44

Catalina: xi, xv, 112, 115

Catalina flying-boat (See Consolidated Aircraft Corporation)

Caterpillar: 81

Ceylon: 145

Charmoz, Capt. Andre (Free French) RAFFC: 144, 144

Churchill, Prime Minister Sir Winston: xv, 50, 121, 122

Civil Air Patrol: 147

Clausewitz, E.F. RAFFC: 10

Clayton Knight Committee: 11

Cloutier, Madame: 60, 62

Coastal Command (See Royal Air Force Coastal Command)

Cochrane, Jackie (Jacqueline): 166

Colato, F/O A. RAFFC: 120

Collins, R/O Bill: 42

Cologne, Germany: 176

Colonial Airlines: 168, 178

compass (See also navigation; magnetic compass): 59, 67, 72, 77, 96

compass swinging: 59, 111

Complete Air Navigator, The: D.C.T. Bennett, author: 39

cone of silence: 30

Congressional Medal of Honor: 171

Consolidated Aircraft Corporation: 147;  Catalina PBY-5/Canso: 11, 102, 103, 108-115, 129, 130, 132, 141, 154; Specific aircraft: Canso No. FP533 109-119; Coronado PBY-2: 151; B-24 Liberator, general: 11, 12, 14, 34, 35, 42, 47, 49, 108, 109, 114, 119, 121, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, 139, 140, 141, 143, 147, 156-161, 163, 164, 168, 177; Specific aircraft: AL504 Commando: xv; AL537: 42; No. 11906: 123; No. 11108: 132; AL528: 134; AE638: 136; AL962: 139, 143; AL514 The Swagman: 150; AL578 Marco Polo: 120: Marvellous Minnie: 150; AE57 (LB30, “Liberator-British”): 156-161, 158, 163

Continental engine: 21

Coote, Ginger, No. 2 AOS: 8

Cormack, Bill, No. 2 AOS: 8

Cormorant, US Navy vessel: 54

Cornish, F.C. RAFFC: 10

Cote de Liesse, Montreal: 147

Coughlin, F. W. RAFFC: 10

Coutinho, Admiral (Portugese Navy): 43

Coyne, Ab, No. 2 AOS: 8

cribbage: 91

Crimson Route/Crimson Route Project: 54, 109, 120, 130, 141, 143, 156

Cripps, Capt. Trevor: 141

Cripps, S.T.B. RAFFC: 10

Crowell, Maj. John T. USAAF: 54, 75, 76, 81, 84, 94

“Crystal Cure:” 80

“Crystal Minus One:” 70, 79

“Crystal Minus Two:” 74, 79

Crystal weather bases, general: 53, 54, 55, 64, 66, 67, 69, 72, 75-77; Crystal One: 54, 71, 94, 95, 96; Crystal Three: 54, 76, 81, 85, 90, 91, 128, 148; Crystal Two: 54, 72, 81, 92, 93, 95, 122, 128

“Crystal Zero:” 58.213N 64.26W: 69

Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company: NC-4: 43

D

Dalton, Capt. Jack RAFFC: 171, 172

Dalton flight computer: 19, 29

Davidson, Capt. Walt RAFFC: 144, 150

Davis, Lieutenant William V. Jr., navigator of Woolaroc: 43

Davis Strait: 54, 85, 93, 113, 123, 128

DC-3 (See Douglas Aircraft Company)

Debert, Nova Scotia: 42

Decatur, Illinois: 21

December 7, 1941: 142

deHavilland Aircraft Company: Moth: 5; Moth G-CYYG: 51

de-icing devices: 111, 113

Dekantzow, S.H. RAFFC: 10

de la Porte, Lieutenant Andre: 145

Denmark Strait: 117, 127

Dept. of Transport, Canadian (DOT): xvii, 11, 64, 65, 82, 111

Depression (Great): 5, 43

d’Erlanger, Gerard: 165

Detroit, Michigan: 42

Dickins, Clennell Haggerston “Punch” OBE, DFC RAFFC: xvi, xvii

Distinguished Flying Cross/DFC: 154

Distinguished Service Order/DSO: 175

Ditton, Capt. Ted RAFFC: 145, 148

Dixon, Bill RAFFC drift reader: 59

Doenitz, Admiral Karl: 121

Dole Race of 1927: 43

Doolittle, Lt.-Gen. James “Jimmy” USAAF: 171

Dorval airport, Montreal Quebec: 9, 12, 13, 13, 18, 22, 30, 31, 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 58, 59, 60, 76, 82, 83, 88, 98, 105, 106, 111, 112, 113, 120, 126, 130, 132, 133, 134, 135, 140, 146, 148, 150, 159, 162, 163, 168, 171, 178; runway 10: 31; runway 28: 24

DOT (See Department of Transportation, Canadian)

Douglas Aircraft Company: Boston: 131; C-47: 129; DC-3: 129, 178

Dugan, Capt. D.J. “Jim” RAFFC: 9, 150

Dunford, Eric RAFFC: 157

Dunn, Flt. Ltnt. RAF: 139

Durrell, W.H. “Bill:” 64, 65

Dutch, naval pilots: 47, 48, 49, 50; Dutch aircraft in Java: 145, 150

Dutch East Indies (See also Java): 47, 49

Dyck, Dave, No. 2 AOS: 8

Dyer, Capt. James Glenn, USAAC: 54, 86, 89, 90, 91

E

Edmonton and Northern Alberta Flying Club: 5

Egypt: 180

Elementary Flying Training School: 155

elevator trim tab: 26

engine checkout: 25

England: 1, 13, 44, 165; Abbotsinch airfield: 167; Aston Down airfield: 172, 173; Birmingham: 173; Blackpool: 139; Bournemouth: 45, 177; Bristol: 172; Cirencester: 172; Cotswold Hills: 173; Hawarden: 167; Isle of Man: 139; Leicester: 167; Lichfield: 166; London: 104, 121, 142, 172, 174, 177; Liverpool: 173; Manchester: 173; Poole seaplane base: 45, 177; Renfrew airfield: 167; Silloth: 139, 167; Stroud: 172

ersatz food: 165

Esler, R/O Donald: 42

Evans, Capt. George P. OBE RAFFC: 46, 56, 60, 66, 85, 86, 87, 88, 96, 97, 98, 101-104, 106, 108, 109, 111, 112, 114, 119, 120, 122, 123, 125, 127-129, 131, 132-134, 136, 137, 151, 165

Eves, Capt. G.P.M. “Pat” RAFFC: 9

 

F

Fairbanks, Douglas Jr.: 16, 36

Fairchild Aircraft Company: 24; HM: 167

Farley, F/Lt. H.J. RAFFC: 120

Ferry Command (Royal Air Force); 1940, organized by Canadian Pacific Air Services/Imperial Airways: xvii; 1941, May, British Ministry of Aircraft Production: xvii; 1941, May, Atlantic Ferrying Organization (ATFERO): 11, 12; 1941, July, RAF Ferry Command general: 4, 7, 11, 12, 13 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 46, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58, 64, 65, 87, 89, 100, 101, 103, 106, 107, 113, 119, 127, 129, 131, 132, 133, 136, 139, 140, 142, 147, 150, 152, 153, 154, 159, 162, 163, 175, 176, 178; 1943, April, No. 45 Group RAF Transport Command: xvii. Specific mentions: Dunford, Eric RAFFC Chief of Field Ops, Dorval: 157; Civilian Flight Training, Dorval: 21; Crew Assignments, Dorval: 143, 156, 170; Field Operations: 106; Flight Test: 179

Ferry Command, (1981) Don McVicar, author: xiii

Ferry Command Pilot, (1990), Don McVicar, author: xiii, xiv, xv, xvi

Fiji: 150

Finch, A. RAFFC: 9

First Class Air Navigators Certificate: 39

First World War (See World War One)

Fleet Aircraft Company; unspecified biplane, Kinner engine: 6

Fletcher, George, No. 2 AOS: 8

Florida: 50 (See also West Palm Beach)

“Flying Fortress” (See North American Aircraft, B-17)

Flying the Secret Sky, film by Wm. VanDerKloot III: xv

Fokker; Super-Universal: 5

Ford Hotel, Montreal: 153

Ford Aircraft; Trimotor: 5

Forrester, Norm: 4, 8

Foynes, Republic of Ireland: 44, 177

Frank, George No. 2 AOS: 8

Fraser, Admiral Sir Bruce, Commander of British Pacific Fleet: 149

Fraser, J.R. RAFFC: 9

Freetown, Sierra Leone: 50

Frigid Fires, painting by Donna McVicar Kazo of Capt. McVicar’s Canso FP533 over Greenland: cover, xv

Frobisher Bay (See Baffin Island)

Fry, Morris, No. 2 AOS: 8

G

Gander, Newfoundland: 9, 10, 11, 12, 45, 53, 53, 64, 65, 103, 113, 115, 129, 131, 132, 134, 157, 158

Garden, K. RAFFC: 10

Gatty (See Post and Gatty)

Gentry, Capt. D. L. RAFFC: 10, 151

Germany, at war with: 50, 53, 121, 146, 154, 156; breakthrough into France, 1940: 165; Battleships: Bismarck: 102; Ostfriesland: 170; Tirpitz: 175. (See also U-boats)

Gertrude L. Thebaud, schooner: 54

Gibraltar, Straits of: 167

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: 149

Giles, J.E. RAFFC: 10

Gilhousen, A. RAFFC: 9

Godfrey, F.G. RAFFC: 9

Golden Age of Aviation: xiii

Goose Bay, Labrador: 53, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65-66, 67, 68, 87, 94, 96, 97, 98, 103, 111, 112, 115, 118, 119, 120, 123, 126, 129, 131, 133, 134, 158, 172

Graham, F.G. RAFFC: 10

Gray, J.W. RAFFC: 10

Great Britain (See also England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland): 164, 165

Great Circle course: 43, 123, 160

Greenland (See also Bluie weather bases): cover; 53, 54, 55, 66, 76, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 94, 102, 103, 104, 111, 113, 114, 115, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 132, 158, 139, 162, 163, 168, 170; Specific place names: Angmagssalik: 53, 127; Narssarssuaq Fjord: 53, 87, 158; Simiutak Island: 158; Sondrestrom Fjord: 53, 114, 127

Grey, Capt. Scotty RAFFC: 151

Grieve, Kenneth Mackenzie: 43

Griffiths, Sgt. RAFFC: 80

Guam: 37

Gunn, Capt. Bob RAFFC: 144

H

Halifax bomber (See Handley-Page Limited)

Halifax, Nova Scotia: 13, 106, 154

Hamilton Standard propellers: 49

Hampden (See Handley-Page Limited)

ham (amateur) radio: 39

Handley-Page Limited: Halifax: 50, 165, 167, 175; Hampden, specific aircraft: AN148, 105; P5336, 106

Harvard (See North American Aircraft)

Harvard University: 66

Hawaii: 37, 147, 148 (See also Pearl Harbor, airfields, Hickam Field

Hawker Aircraft Ltd.: Hurricane: 113

Hawker and Grieve: 43; refers to Harry Hawker and navigator Kenneth Grieve’s failed transAtlantic attempt, 1919

HBC (See Hudson’s Bay Company)

“Hedgehog,” The, Short Sunderland flying boat: 177

Heering, Ed: 165

Herndon, Capt. Hugh RAFFC: 145

Hickam Field, Honolulu, Hawaii: 148

High-Tempered Member of Parliament Flaps His Gills and Gasses, Ugh: 166

Hightower, Capt. Ed RAFFC: 144

Hill, Ab, No. 2 AOS: 8

Hilton, James, author Lost Horizon: 171

Hindle (New Zealand): 136

Hitler, Adolf: 9, 121, 142

Hodgin, Bill, No. 2 AOS: 8

Hodgson, R/O: 17

Holdridge, Frank, No. 2 AOS: 8

Holley carburetor: 172

Hong Kong: 37

Howard, J. RAFFC: 9

Howe, C.D. “Minister of Everything:” 64

Hubacek, Sgt. (Czech), fighter pilot, “one-tripper:” 111

Hubbard, Lt.Col. Charles, USAAC: 54, 58, 66-68, 70-72, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 85-88, 98, 103, 130

Hudson (See Lockheed Aircraft Corporation)

Hudson River: 44

Hudson’s Bay: 82, 83

Hudson’s Bay Company: 60, 64, 71, 79, 89, 97

Hudson Strait: 72, 73, 82, 129

Hunter, J.A.S. RAFFC: 10

Hunt, W.C. RAFFC: 10

Hurricane (See Hawker Aircraft Ltd.)

Huston, Captain Herb RAFFC: 41, 42

Hutchison, G. R. RAFFC: 10

I

Iceland (See also Reykjavik, Kevlafik) 53, 54, 103, 104, 115, 117, 118, 119, 122, 126, 127, 137, 160, 161, 168, 172

Imperial Airways: xvii, xviii, 44

India: 50, 145, 147

Inuit “The People” called Eskimos during this time period: 94, 95

Ireland: 11, 43, 44, 45, 139, 177

Irish Sea: 177

Irwin, Art No. 2 AOS: 8

J

Jackson, Mississippi: 150

James, R/O George: 42

Jamieson, Don, No. 2 AOS: 14, 7, 8

Japan/Japanese: 36, 37, 47, 49, 50, 142, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150

Japan, Tokyo, B-25 Doolittle attack April 18, 1942: 170

Japanese Imperial Fleet: 148, 149

Jarvis, D.B. RAFFC:

Java, Dutch East Indies: 50, 51, 142, 144, 145, 151

Jedlund, Capt. Russ (Australia) RAFFC: 145

Jeffs, Wing Commander “Jimmy” RAF: 120, 121, 134, 161-165

Johanneson, George, No. 2 AOS: 8

Johnsen, Radio-Nav. G.R. “Fred” RAFFC: 56

Johnson Bar: 23, 24

Jones, Squadron Ldr. L.L. “Slim” RCAF RAFFC: 144, 153-155

Jubb, N. RAFFC: 10

Jude, R.C. RAFFC: 10

Junkers aircraft, general: 175; F-13: 51; Ju88: 173

K

Kazo, Donna McVicar: xv

KDKA Pittsburgh: 4

Kelly, Kevin RCAF: 35, 36, 50, 155, 156

Kennedy, Dave, No. 2 AOS: 8

Khartoum, Sudan: 145

King, A.M. RAFFC: 80

King, W.M. RAFFC: 9

King’s Commendation: 141

KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V., Royal Dutch Airlines): 145

Krauter, Al, pilot ATA: 165, 166

L

Labrador (See also Goose Bay, Gander, Newfoundland): 54, 63, 64, 65, 67, 131, 140; Grenfell Mission: 64; Hamilton River: 63; Lake Melville: 64, 66; Mealy Mountains: 63; Northwest River: 64

Lane, pilot, ATA: 167

Lange, Capt. Carl RAFFC: 31, 144

Latham, Gordon No. 2 AOS: 8

LB-30 “Liberator-British” (See Consolidated Aircraft Corporation)

Leeward, Capt. Al RAFFC: 106, 108, 132, 135

Lend-Lease: xvii

Leroy, Capt. Bob RAFFC: 144

Leroy, R.S. RAFFC: 10

Lewis, co-pilot, “one-tripper:” 133

Liberator B-24 (See Consolidated Aircraft Corporation)

“Liberator-British” (See Consolidated Aircraft Corporation)

Lilly, Capt. Al RAFFC: xviii, 17, 56, 136

Lindbergh, Anne Morrow: 43

Lindbergh, Charles: 43

Link Simulator Trainer/Ed Link: 15, 16, 27

Littlejohn, Doug No. 2 AOS: 8

Lockenbauer, R/O “Locky” RAFFC: 151

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation aircraft: general: 10, 12, 15, 22, 23, 29; factory, Burbank, California: 45; Hudson bomber: xvii, 9-14, 16, 22-31, 36, 37, 38, 39-42, 45, 46, 49, 55, 60, 64, 66, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 102, 106, 107, 108, 115, 120, 131-33, 135, 136, 138, 139, 141, 156, 165, 166, 167,175; Specific aircraft: Hudson AE566: 27; Hudson 477: 165; Hudson BW406: 42; Hudson BW410: 133; Hudson BW463: 46; Hudson FH342: 133; Hudson FH432: 167; Hudson FP388: 136; Hudson III 9223: 40-41; Lodestar: 145, 146; Model 14 airliner: 22; P-38 fighter: 130; Ventura AE738: 135

Longhurst, F/L William “Bill” RAFFC: 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 107

Lorenz blind landing beam course: 139

Lost Horizon, novel, James Hilton, author: 171

Loughridge, Radio-Nav. A. M. “Al” RAFFC: 10, 144, 145

Lyons, W. B. RAFFC: 10

M

MacArthur, Gen. Douglas: 150, 170

Macdonald, Capt. (Australian): 150

MacDonald, Malcolm, British High Commissioner to Canada: 140

Mackay, D. RAFFC: 80

Mackenzie Air Service: 6

Mackenzie River: 51

Mackey, Capt. Joseph C. RAFFC: 9

MacLeod, F/E: 157, 158, 161

Madame Gaby: 37

Madame Zee Zee’s: 146

magnetic compass (See navigation)

Maia, Short Empire flying boat: 44

Maiduguri, Nigeria: 145

Maintenance Units, Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA): 165

Malaysia: 145

Malta, Island of: 167, 168

Manila, Philippines: 37

Manitoba (See also Winnipeg): 3

Manning Pool (RCAF/RAF): 155

Marauder (See Martin Company)

Marconi Radio/radio: 11, 96, 106 (See also navigation, radio range)

Maritime Bar, Ritz Hotel: 153

Marix, Air Vice Marshal Reginald: 17

Martin Company (Glenn L. Martin): B-26 Marauder: 149, 179; specific aircraft: FK111, 179

Marvellous Minnie (B-24 Liberator): 150

Maryland: 178 (See also Baltimore)

Mayo composite aircraft program: 44

May, Wilfred R. “Wop” No. 2 AOS: 7, 8, 21

McClelland, Don: 129

McConachie, Grant: 5

McGrail, Radio-Nav John RAFFC: 150

McGrath, F/L Tim: 129

McHaffie, Roy No. 2 AOS: 8

McInnis Fish Company: 5

McIntyre, J. D. RAFFC: 10

McKee Trophy: 5

McLean, icebreaker: 64

McNamara Construction Company: 64

McTaggart-Cowan, P.D. “McFog” RAFFC: 129

McVicar, Captain Donald Moore, KC, OBE, RAFFC: xiii, xv, xvi, xvii, xviii; amateur radio call at 18, VE4PH: 5, 148; American Flyers Flight School, Mines Field, Los Angeles, job as line boy: 5-6; American private pilot’s license: 6; Airport Traffic Controller Licence No. 9, attended first course ever given, awarded March 26, 1940: 6; Arctic/Crimson Route exploration with Capt. L. Bisson, Col. Charles Hubbard, F/E Bill Baker, Capt. George Evans, Feb.-Mar. 1942: 51-100; B-25 Mitchell delivery, FL210, first to U.K. for RAF, April 1942: 171-174; Canadian Dept. of Transport radio operator, Trans-Canada Airway, based at Cranbrook B.C., 1938: 6; Canadian Private Pilot’s Licence, earned 1936 at Edmonton and Northern Alberta Flying Club: 5; Captain-Navigator, qualified as: 41; Chief of first aircraft traffic control tower in western Canada (Winnipeg): 6; Crimson Route East delivery of Canso FP533, first aircraft flight ever over the icecap from west Greenland to Iceland/UK, March 1942: 109-120; early life: 4-8; Limited Commercial Pilot Certificate No. C-1658, Dec. 4, 1939: 6, 15; Mackenzie Air Service, radio operator: 6; McInnis Fish Company, first job, radio operator at Cheecham, Alberta: 5; No. 2 Air Observer School, Edmonton, Alberta: 1-4, 8; Royal Air Force Ferry Command, arrived Dorval to join, Nov. 1941: 8-18; Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, Leading Telegraphist: 5, 6, 132, 148; Second Class and First Class Radiotelegraph Licences at Victoria, British Columbia, 1938: 6

McVicar, Gordon: iv

Meagher, R/O C.P. RAFFC: 120

Mediterranean: 168

Mellor, W.T. RAFFC: 10

Melville Sound (Canadian Arctic): 129

Memphis, Tennessee: 147

Mercury, float plane: 44

Merrill, Captain Bud RAFFC: 34, 144, 145

meteorology: 20, 112, 122-123

Meyers, H.G. RAFFC: 10

Michigan: 42

Midledge, Pete: 62

Midway Atoll/Island: 37

Millinocket, Maine: 40, 41, 42, 106

Mines Field, Los Angeles: 5

Ministry of Aircraft Production: xvii

Mississippi: 150

Missouri: 46

Mitchell B-25 twin-engine bomber (See North American Aircraft)

Mitchell, F. RAFFC: 10

Mitchell, Gen. W.L. “Billy:” 170, 173, 174

Moncton, New Brunswick: 108

Montreal, Quebec (See also Dorval, Mount Royal Hotel, Piccadilly Club): 7, 8, 10, 11, 20, 31, 33, 34, 37, 38, 41, 44, 46, 47, 48, 90, 98, 140, 153, 156, 158; Cote de Liesse: 147; Ford Hotel: 153; Tic-Toc nightclub: 153; Queen’s Hotel: 153; Ritz Hotel: 153; Royal Victoria Hospital: 120; Windsor Hotel: 153

Montreal Star, The: 33, 156

Moody, Capt. Humphrey RAFFC: 21, 21

Moody, Capt. Hunter RAFFC: xviii, 21, 21-31, 46, 105, 109, 110, 135, 179, 180, 181

Morse code: 59, 82 (See also navigation; radio range system)

Mosely, Capt. Zack: 147

Mount Everest: 146

Moth, de Havilland: 20, 21

Mount Royal Hotel: 20, 33, 34, 106, 142, 144, 152, 153 (See also Piccadilly Club)

Mullett, N.G. RAFFC: 10

mutiny: 71

 

N

Nandi, Fiji: 150

Natal, Brazil: 50, 145

navigation: 19, 29; astro/celestial: 17, 39, 40, 43, 110, 111, 113, 116, 122, 133, 134; dead reckoning: 113, 116; radio (low-frequency radio range system or LFR): Adcock, 30; 39-44, 106, 119, 131, 132, 139, 168; magnetic compass: 54, 59, 66, 67, 72, 84, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 111, 179

New Brunswick: 42, 108

Newfoundland: 9, 11, 177 (See also Goose Bay, Gander, Labrador)

Newkirk, Capt. Ed RAFFC: 145

New York/New York City: 11, 43, 44, 177

New Zealand: 180

Nicholls, Mr. & Mrs. Stewart, Hudson’s Bay Company factor, Ft. Chimo, Koksoak River: 71, 72, 97

No.1 Air Observer School, Toronto, Ontario: 15

No. 2 Air Observer School, Edmonton, Alberta: 7, 8, 39, 40, 47

No. 3 Air Observer School, Regina, Saskatchewan: 20

No. 4 Ferry Pool (ATA), Prestwick, Scotland: 165

No. 5 Air Observer School, Toronto, Ontario: 6

No. 14 Elementary Flying School, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 6

No. 31 Operational Training Unit, Debert, Nova Scotia: 42

No. 45 Group RAF Transport Command (See Ferry Command)

Noorduyn Aircraft Limited, Norseman: 52, 54-56, 58, 59, 61-64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 90, 92, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 115, 128, 130, 133, 155. Norseman 2477: 58,59, 81, 88, 97-100; Norseman 2478: 58, 59, 61, 62; crash, 77-79, 78, 79, 82, 88

Noorduyn, Robert: 77

Normandie Roof, Mount Royal Hotel: 34, 153

North American Aircraft: B-25 Mitchell: 49, 49, 51, 52, 108, 144-151, 153, 170, 173, 179; Doolittle raid on Tokyo: 170-171; Ferry Command delivery to Java: 49-50, 51, 144-151. Specific aircraft: FL210, first B-25 delivered to UK: 172-174; No. 112-440: 108; No. 112-442: 147; No. 112-472: 147. Harvard trainer (T-6): 166

North Atlantic: 9, 11, 23, 44, 45, 52, 121, 122, 129, 142, 146, 161 (See also Atlantic, South Atlantic)

Northeast Airlines: 129

Northern Alberta Railroad; 5

Northern Ireland: 165

Northern Lights (See aurora borealis)

Northwest Airlines: 6

Northwest Passage: 58, 72

Northwest Territories, Canada (now Nunavut): 82. (See also Arctic, Baffin Island)

Norway: 154, 175

Nottingham Island, Hudson Strait: 83

Nova Scotia: 42

Nunavut (See Northwest Territories, Baffin Island, Arctic)

N.W.T. Northwest Territories, Canada (now Nunavut) (See also Arctic, Baffin Island)

O

Oakes, Ralph No. 2 AOS: 8

Oberdorf, Capt. George, RAFFC: 144

Observer, The: 162

Odlum, Floyd: 166

Oliver, R/O: 46

O’Neill, Capt. John RAFFC: 19, 20, 21, 31, 33-37, 144, 147, 148

“one-tripper:” 111, 133,136

Ontario: 8. (See also Ottawa, Toronto)

Operational Training Unit, RAF/RCAF: 155

Orangefield Hotel, Prestwick airfield, Ayrshire, Scotland (see also Prestwick airfield): 119, 121, 137, 162, 167, 168

Orange River, South Africa: 44

Ottawa, Ontario: 29, 30, 40, 65

P

Pacific Ocean: 153

Paddington Station, London, England: 174

Page, R.H. RAFFC: 9

Pan American Airways (Pan Am, PAA): 145, 146; Pan Am Clipper: 37; Pan Am Ferries: 35

Pangborn, Captain Clyde RAFFC: 36, 37, 145, 154

Parker, Carol (Mrs. King): 34

Parker, H.F. RAFFC 9

Parker, Capt. King RAFFC: 34, 144

Parkinson, Capt. J.T. “Parky/”Indian Jack” RAFFC: 20-27, 23, 29-31, 35-37, 153-156, 154

PB-Y2 (See Consolidated Aircraft Corporation)

Peacock, Capt., pilot, Boeing Clipper G-AGCA: 177

Pearce, F. RAFFC: 9

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii: 37, 49, 91, 148 (See also airbases, Hickam Field)

Pennsylvania Central Airlines: 178

Per Ardua Ad Astra, A Story of the Atlantic Air Ferry narrative by Air Commodore Griffith Powell: xiv

Phoenix, Capt. Merrill RAFFC: 42, 145

Piccadilly Club, The “Pic” in the Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal: 20, 47-49, 125, 141, 142, 153, 163

Pilot’s Handling Notes, B-25: 172

Piper Aircraft Corporation: Cub: 110

Polaris: 134

Pollock, Radio-Nav. Gerry RAFFC: 56, 86, 96

Post and Gatty; refers to Wiley Post and his navigator, Harold Gatty and their around-the-world flight, 1930: 43

Potomac River, Washington D.C.: 132, 133

Powell, (later Air Commodore) Group Capt. Griffith J. “Taffy” RAF/FC: xiv, xvi, xvii, xviii, 52, 55, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 126, 131-134, 132, 136, 142, 143, 157, 158, 168, 179

Prairie Airways: 21, 55

Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines: 56, 98, 118

Presque Isle, Maine: 53, 98, 129

Prestwick airfield, Scotland: 4, 11, 34, 35, 103, 104, 119, 120, 123, 125, 126, 127, 131, 134, 137, 139, 156, 159, 160, 161, 165, 167, 170, 172

Prestwick Return Ferry Service Liberator crashes, 1941: 4, 147

Pringle, Capt. RAFFC: 31

Privencal, pilot, ATA: 167

Q

Quebec, Province of, general: 6, 61, 62, 140, 141 (see also Montreal; Dorval; Crystal One) Specific place names mentioned: Cape Hope’s Advance: 72, 95, 96; Cartierville: 58; Deception Bay: 72; Fort Chimo: 53, 54, 60, 71, 95, 96; George River: 70; Koksoak River: 54, 71, 95; Koroksuakh Brook: 70; Lac Rapide: 60; Leaf Lakes: 96; Natashquan River: 63; Seven Islands: 60, 63; Pointe Claire: 151; St. Hubert airport: 6, 10, 12, 106, 166; St. Lawrence River: 44, 60, 63, 140, 143; Three Rivers: 140; Ungava Bay: 54, 70, 71, 72, 95, 143

Quebecaire: 65

Quebec Airways: 62

Queen’s Hotel, Montreal: 153

R

RAAF (See Royal Australian Air Force)

radio-navigation (See navigation, radio range)

RAF (See Royal Air Force)

RAF Form 700: 23, 136

Raine, D. RAFFC: 9

RCAF (See Royal Canadian Air Force)

RDX (Torpex) secret explosive: 153, 162, 169

Rearwin Airplane Company: unspecified model of aircraft: 147

Rector, Capt. Charlie RAFFC: 151

Red Baron, The (German WWI ace Baron Manfred Von Richthofen): 7

Red Cross: 156

Reeves (aircrew) RAFFC: 56

Regia Aeronautica: 168

Reid, Squad. Ldr. “Windy” RCAF: 135

Rennie, D.N. RAFFC: 10

Repulse Bay, N.W.T. (now Nunavut): 72

Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island: 72

Resolution Island, N.W.T. (now Nunavut): 72, 82

Return Ferry Service (See BOAC Return Ferry Service)

Revie, Don: 6

Reykjavik, Iceland (See also Iceland): 118, 119, 126, 127, 137, 161

Ritz Hotel, Montreal: 153

River Shannon, Republic of Ireland: 177

Robinson, F/O Dennis (Australia) 180

Rocky Mountains: 6

Rodgers, W. C. RAFFC: 10

Rommel, General Erwin: 167, 168

Roosevelt, Col. Elliot: 53, 64, 65

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, American President: 12, 118, 121, 142, 168, 171

Ross, Capt. Carl RAFFC: 144

Ross, W.C. RAFFC: 80

Ross, Wing Commander “Don,” Senior Air Staff Officer RAFFC: 103

Rowe, Capt. Gene: 144

Royal Air Force (RAF): 115, 118, 119, 150; Bomber Command: 31, 121, 176; Coastal Command: 39, 101, 103, 104, 118, 121; Ferry Command (See Ferry Command); Service Flying School: 155

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF): 37, 150; No. 18 Squadron: 150

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF): 60, 64, 65, 106, 108, 177; Service Flight Training: 180, 181

Royal Canadian Corps of Signals: 82

Royal Canadian Mounted Police: 89

Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve: 5, 6, 132, 148

Royal Flying Corps: 21

Royal Navy: 102, 122, 154, 161; Ships: HMS Ark Royal: 102; HMS Eagle: 167, 168

Royal Netherlands Air Force: 145

Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal: 120

Ruggles, Gracey: 34

Ruggles, Capt. Jack RAFFC: 34, 144

Rush, R/O Eric RAFFC: 111, 113, 125, 129, 132, 133, 136, 157, 161, 171

Ryan, F/E Art RAFFC: 150

Ryan, Richard W. Prairie Airways: 21

S

Sacramento, California: 147

Saskatchewan: 55, 93, 153. Specific place names: Beaverhill Lake: 2; Cooking Lake: 2; Moose Jaw: 55; Peter Pond Lake: 5; Regina: 20

Sassenach: 168

Schaefer, Capt. Les RAFFC: 144

Schiller, Captain Clarence Alvin “Duke” RAFFC: 54, 71

Schlossback, Lt.-Comdr. “Ike” USN: 54, 71

Scotland: 11, 14, 44, 53, 119, 120, 161, 165, 167. Specific place names: Argyle: 161; Ayr: 164, 168; Carlisle: 173; Clyde, Firth of: 11, 161, 167; Dundee: 44; Glasgow: 161, 167; Isle of Skye: 161; Inverness: 161; Lossiemouth: 165; Prestwick (See Prestwick airfield); Solway Firth: 173; Stornoway: 119, 161

Scottish Aviation: 123, 126

Seaton, Stan, No. 2 AOS: 8

sextant: 39, 40, 43, 55, 58, 69 (See also navigation)

Shangri-La: 171

Sharpe, Capt. Jack RAFFC: 145

Shears, Les, No. 2 AOS: 8

Short Brothers (aircraft manufacturers); Empire flying boat Cassiopeia, G-ADUX: 44; Empire flying boat, Maia: 44; Sunderland flying boat: 154, 177

Sicily: 167

Signal Corps, World War One: 170

Silverthorne, J. RAFFC: 9

Singapore: 37

Siple, Capt. Wallace “Wally” RAFFC: xvii, 15, 16, 17, 17, 19, 50, 144, 145, 146

Smith, Capt. Ian RAFFC/BOAC: 42

Smith, Capt. T.G. RAFFC: 145

Smith, N.E. RAFFC: 10

Smith’s Falls, Ontario: 29

Snailham RAFFC: 9

South Africa: 44

South America: 146, 180

South Atlantic: 43, 50, 146

South Atlantic safari: 180

South Atlantic Safari, by Capt. Don McVicar: xiii, xiv

Spaatz, Gen. Carl: 53

Spitfire (See Supermarine Aviation Works)

Spry, R/O RAFFC: 106

Steen, N. RAFFC: 10

St. Elmo’s Fire: cover, xv, 117

Stewart, Capt. W.L. “Geordie: BOAC Return Ferry Service: 139-143, 168

St. Hubert airport (See airports/airfields)

St. John’s College School, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 62

St. Louis, Missouri: 46

Stockholm, Sweden: 175

Stoffee, pilot, ATA: 167

Store, A.G. RAFFC: 10

Strand Palace Hotel, London, England: 174

submarine (See also U-boat): 147

Sumatra, Indonesia: 50, 145

sunspots: 59

Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers Supermarine): Spitfire fighter plane: 113, 167-168

Swain, navigator: 171

Swaney, F/E Gayle RAFFC: 56, 86

Sweden: 175

Sweet, H.A. RAFFC: 9

T

Taylorcraft Aviation: 6, 21

Teel, Capt. Dill Mervin “Don” RAFFC: 34, 35, 42, 144, 146-151, 149, 153

Tennessee: 147

Thebaud, Gertrude L., schooner: 54

Third Reich: 156

Thompson, Tommy: 7

Tibet: 171

Tic-Toc nightclub, Montreal: 153

Tobin, Capt. Gilbert RAFFC: 144, 145

Tobruk, Libya: 176

Tokyo, Japan: 171

Toronto, Ontario: 171

Torpex (RDX super explosive): 162

Torrey, Capt. Al RAFFC: 145

Trans-Canada Air Lines: 6, 11,              14

Trans-Canada Airway: 6

Transoceanic Pilots Association: 34

Tripp, C. M. RAFFC: 10

Troup, Capt. C.R. “Peter” RAFFC: 15

turbo superchargers: 124, 127

U

USAAC (United States Army Air Corps): 70, 108, 147

USAAF (United States Army Air Forces): 159

U-boat, German submarine: 9, 11, 13, 52, 103, 121, 130, 141, 147, 178

USN (United States Navy): 37, 54, 110, 112, 118, 119; Ships: USS Arizona: 148; USS Hornet: 171; USS Lexington: 168; USS Wasp: 167, 168; USS Yorktown: 168

United States Army: 170

United States Army Corps of Engineers: 129

United States Congress: 170

University of Alberta: 4, 20

Uprichard, F/L Paddy: 46

V

VanDerKloot, Capt. William, Jr. RAFFC: xv, 144

VanDerKloot, William “Bill” III, film producer/director/writer: xv

VE Day: 12

Ventura AE708 (See Lockheed Ventura)

Very pistol: 92

Victoria Cross: 154

Visual Flight Rules (VFR): 166

W

Waagen, Len: 5

Wake Island, Micronesia: 37

Wakeman, S/L RAFFC: 106

War Bonds: 155

Washington, D.C.: xvii, 49, 54, 58, 76, 83, 103, 104, 130, 131, 132

Webber, J. A. RAFFC: 10

Weems, Lt.-Comdr. Philip Van Horn, author, Air Navigation, British Empire Edition: 42, 43

West, Capt. Russ: 21

Westergaard, A. “Westy” No. 2 AOS: 8, 8

West Palm Beach, Florida: 50, 144

West, R.L. RAFFC: 10

Wheeler, R/O Lloyd RAFFC: 55, 68, 78, 82, 83, 88, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98, 100

Wightman, R/O “Gordy” RAFFC: 148, 153

Williams, Lynn R.: xvi

Wilson, J.N. RAFFC: 10

Windsor Hotel, Montreal: 153

Winnipeg, Manitoba:6, 7, 62

Wittert, Capt. Rene: 145

Women’s Royal Naval Service (WREN): 176

Woods Brothers Outfitters: 55, 152

Woods-Humphreys, George: xvii

Woolaroc, Cessna Travel Air 5000, winner of 1927 Dole Race: 43

Woolett, Capt. Walter “Babe” OBE: 15

Words on Wings Press, LLC: xv

World War One: 7, 21, 36, 144

Wright aircraft engine:49, 172

Wright, F/E H.J.: 120

Wright, Orville: 170