Category: Websites

Canada’s C-130s to the Rescue – “Operation Preserve” August to December 1991

From Larry Milberry

Good day, Pierre, and here’s a heads-up for my new blog posting. The main item (seewww.canavbooks.wordpress.com) covers my 1991 adventures in the Horn of Africa. Based at Djibouti with Air Transport Group, I had a front row seat observing and photographing Canada’s humanitarian relief involvement during this period of Ethiopian drought – “Operation Preserve”. For several months from Djibouti, Canada’s C-130 Hercules were rushing food aid into desperate areas of Ethiopia. You’ll find some other interesting news today, including about the excellent tank and armour museum at Oshawa.

All the best … Larry

https://wp.me/ps4Tz-1n1

A comment on a post

Last night I got this comment made on a post I wrote on August 28, 2009.

My husband’s Uncle was William Donald McCrindle. He is one of the missing men from that fatal night. We are going to France next week and making our way to Roscoff, Isle de Batz and area by end of month. He will be the first of his family to go to Donald’s final resting place. Donald was very close to my husband’s mother and his last letter was to her. Overwhelming to finally have family go.

I was just starting to write about something I had never heard about. What made me write about the sinking of the Unlucky Lady was something my wife’s uncle told us at a family reunion in July 2009.

I just got curious…

Click here…

Excerpt

MCCRINDLE, William Donald, AB, V-1854, RCNVR, MPK – 29 Apr 1944 – MISSING: AB William Donald McCrindle, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. McCrindle, Nipawin, was reported missing after the sinking of the Athabaskan in a channel engagement last week. He was born at Codette, Sask., educated at Pontrilas, and enlisted in the navy at Saskatoon in 1942. About six months ago he was posted to the Athabaskan. Besides the parents there is a brother, Barry, at home; two sisters, Cora, at home, and Mrs. J. Clarke, at Choiceland, Sask. (The Regina Leader-Post 08 May 1944)

This is Post 1339 on Lest We Forget.

Interesting point 

The Battle Within the War
Canadianization

Excerpt

One of the things that irritated PM McKenzie King and many in Canada was the British belief was that Canada was just fulfilling an obligation. When in reality the Canadian effort was by pride a voluntary one. The British looked at the RCAF as a manpower bank for the RAF. The Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army had already kept their forces intact and not freely dispersed through out their British counterparts and Prime Minister King was bound and determined to have the RCAF a separate force on it’s own.
The government of Canada strongly insisted on what became known as “Canadianization” towards the RCAF. The formation of separate a bomber group for the RCAF was a high priority for the Canadian government and highly fought against by the RAF including the head of Bomber Command Air Chief Marshall Harris. He and his chiefs first regarded such an undertaking as a “colonial” venture doomed to failure. But Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King wouldn’t let go. The establishment of No. 6 Group would serve as an important symbol of a independent Canada. The feelings of the RAF brass towards what they looked on as a “colonial” idea was to last long into the war.

http://www.419squadron.com/CandB%2012.html

In Memoriam – John Leonard Greaves (1964-2017)

In my search for more information to use on my blog paying homage to VF(N)-101 I had found this Website earlier this week.

It was about the Battle of Midway.

This is the link…

http://www.midway42.org/Default.aspx

There was something that caught my attention.

A painting and the story behind it. I had to look and read the story.

“The Other Sole Survivors”Torpedo 8 TBF Avenger at Midway – June 4, 1942

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All paintings © John Greaves Art (used by permission)

Now the story behind the painting.

The only survivor of a flight of six TBF Avenger torpedo planes struggles to return home to Midway Atoll after attacking the Japanese fleet. Flown by ENS Albert Earnest with radioman Harry Ferrier RM3c and turret gunner Jay Manning Sea1c, the badly damaged TBF has hydraulics shot out causing the tail wheel to drop and the bomb bay doors to open. Without a working compass, Earnest flew east towards the sun and climbed above the cloud deck where he could see the column of smoke rising from Midway in the far distance. Earnest managed to bring back the TBF using only the elevator trim tab for altitude control and successfully landed. Manning died in his turret and Earnest and Ferrier were wounded.

earnest-ferrier

jay-manning

There is another story behind this story.

I wrote John Greaves to get his permission to use his painting on my blog.

But little did I know…

GREAVES, John Leonard

John Greaves died unexpectedly and peacefully at home on Monday, January 9, 2017 in Airdrie, AB at the age of 52 years. John is lovingly remembered by his wife Janet, and their 2 daughters; Emma and Katy of Airdrie, his parents; Len and Eleanor, brother; Stewart of Abbotsford, B.C., Janet’s sister; Sandra (Sam) Hamilton and family of Saskatoon, SK. John was born in Calgary, AB on September 1, 1964. John and his family moved to B.C. prior to John and his brother starting school, eventually settling in Abbotsford where John attended Abby Jr and Sr High School. John attended Fraser Valley College where he pursued his passion in Art, then went on to further study in graphic arts and business at BCIT. A Memorial Service will be held at Aridrie Alliance church, 1604 Summerfield Blvd, Airdrie, AB., on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 1:30, with a reception to follow. Sandy Isfeld and Nathan Kliewer will be officiating, please join us in Celebrating John’s Life In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 240, 2323 – 32 Ave. NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 6Z3.

Messages of condolence may be left for the family at http://www.myalternatives.ca.

The source is here

***

John Greaves’ artwork is being used on this blog by special permission of his wife Janet…

I give you permission to use his paintings in the two blogs you mentioned, with credit given to my beloved John, who had a passion for history and art.
Thanks.
Janet Greaves

In Memoriam of John Leonard Greaves (1964-2017)

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esdersnew

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othersoulsurvivors2016

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sb2u7new

sbd3dicnew

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tom-cheek-at-midway-x

All paintings © John Greaves Art (used by permission)

Housing, Hygiene, Laundry, and Food — IHRA

This excerpt comes from a memoir written by 1/Lt. Robert Mosely of the 89th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group. Given the mention of the Philippines, the events below would have taken place in late 1944 or 1945. As described earlier, our tent, up on a wooden floor, was a great improvement over out “housing” in […]

via Housing, Hygiene, Laundry, and Food — IHRA