Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Gerald Archambeau submits a vintage picture from his life and career -

I started with AC in 1967, and have seen many changes in Canadian passenger travel. I have worked for Canada’s two great railways, which gave me the opportunity to meet and greet Canadians from coast to coast.

I started as a Station Attendant and went on to become a Lead. I have been retired since 1993, and happily married to my dear wife Marion for 40 years. I have also written two books on my immigrant life to Canada from British Jamaica.

Life is good; as I have nothing to complain about in a country that helped me survive a tough world. I have been fortunate to have become a successful author in my 27 retirement years, with my last book in the works with Austin Macauley in the UK.

It has been a great ride in our great country for 73 years. All the best to the “Pionairs & The Net-Letter”.

Gerald A. Archambeau, author.

Click the image above for more information on Mr. Archambeau's book "A Struggle to Walk with Dignity".

Hugh MacCallum sends this information -

Air Post Stamps by Douglas Armstrong

I am a member of the Sidney Stamp Club which includes three Newfoundlanders who all collect that country’s, now province's, philatelic items.

Just by chance I had glanced over the whole Newsletter before attending the Club’s December Meeting which was two hours later! So I brought up the matter of the reprinted article which I cut & pasted to one member, his reply as follows which may be of interest to your other subscribers?

The triangle label shown was intended for use on flights between Newfoundland and St. Pierre. This service never happened and the label was never used; there were two triangles printed by Newfoundland.

In my opinion the differences in routes flown between the original article and the above from my collector friend could be attributed to the historical narrative since 1931?

Hugh.

Alan Evans from South Africa sent this comment -

I saw in the newsletter an article on Prestwick.

Quote from the newsletter, "in 1944, the USAAF established an evacuation hospital at Prestwick for the seriously wounded".

Please correct me if I am wrong but I did not believe the USA had an air force until 1947. It was the USA armed forces as the United States Army Air Corps before.

We, at the NetLetter checked this out -

The initials USAAF stand for United States Army Air Force was founded June 20, 1941.

The United States Army Air Forces was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army, and de facto aerial warfare service branch of the United States, during and immediately after World II. USAF - United States Air Force was formed September 18, 1947.

Sources:
www.google.com/search
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force

Agnes Jackson sent in her personal memory-

I was particularly interested in the history of Prestwick airport as I was born and partly raised in Scotland.

One of my memories is of a trip "home" to attend my cousin's wedding. My husband, Captain Ian Jackson, had just arrived from London and rushed home to change into his regular clothes which I had placed out on the bed and he and I managed to rush back to YVR and settled into seats on the flight to Scotland.

We were one of the first to disembark and made our way to the counter. I placed my passport on the counter and watched Ian pat down his suit and exclaim, "Oh no -  left my passport in my uniform!"

I had visions of him having to return to Canada and having to forget the wedding. The officer looked at Ian and then picked up my passport and said "Oh, you were born here - will you vouch for him?"

Of course I did, but can't imagine that happening today. You can't even get on a flight without showing your passport several times now. Returning to Canada however, was not quite that easy as we were taken aside and questioned before they let us leave the airport.

Agnes

From Dennis Bells 

Your article on the Vickers Viscount coming into service on April 1, 1955 reminds that I was working in Dorval Stores in the Customs Section when the first Viscount flew into Dorval.

I boarded the aircraft, was given the Customs documentation, then took the documents, along with the largest cheque I had ever seen - unfortunately I do not remember the amount - to Canada Customs Long Room, to clear the aircraft and its load of spare parts.

A memorable event that I will never forget.

Dennis