CNAG’ER OF THE YEAR – 2009/2010
Bud MacLean –
The Centennial Project Team is working to organize and coordinate events for the Naval Centennial beginning in the Summer of 2009 until 2010 in celebration of 100 years of Naval Service to Canada. For additional information click on the URL below: http://www.canadiannavy100.forces.gc.ca Photos of Hampton
Gray CNAG Chapter members enjoying the Naval Centennial Ball 2010 Halifax International Fleet Review
______________________________________________________
Air
show’s Corsair tells the story of Canada’s naval fighter pilots click here
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Remembering one of Our Own Cdr Roger Fink (Pilot) Red Deer has lost a quiet,
unassuming hero. Roger Fink died on Friday 12 Feb 2010 at age 88 after a battle
with cancer. He leaves behind a wife, five daughters and a son. Fink, one of
only 77 Canadians to receive the Commonwealth’s George Medal for exceptional
bravery, co-piloted a helicopter in a daring rescue of 21 crewmen off a
shipwreck below sheer 900-foot Cape Breton cliffs in 1955. “The only way they
could get on the ship, was they had to do a three-point landing, where you
kind of put a couple of wheels on the deck and the other wheels aren’t,” said
Michael Dawe, a longtime family friend to the Finks and curator of history at
Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery. “At some point the rotor blades of the
helicopter were only about two feet away from the cliff in the high wind. How
they didn’t smash against the cliff, I don’t know.” Fink never really spoke of
the incident with Dawe, even when questioned, other than joking that they
even got the ship’s dog and cat out of the wreck of the SS Kismet II, and
saying he was “just doing my job.” “I guess that’s what happens,” said Dawe.
“If you’re a true hero, generally you don’t feel the need to brag about it.” After the international media
publicized the rescue, Fink and the other pilot were given the non-wartime
George Medal by Queen Elizabeth II, when she visited Canada in 1959. Fink was
born in Menaik, near Ponoka, and served in the Second World War and in the
Korean War. After he left the navy, he flew mostly commercial helicopters in
the north. He then took a business administration degree from Red Deer
College and worked as an accountant and legal administrator for a local law
firm for about 10 years before retiring. Dawe said it’s important for Red
Deer residents to recognize individuals like Fink. “I think fortunately in
the last few years, we’ve become more and more aware of people who have
served their country and did really remarkable things. Here’s an unassuming
person from our community who did something of historical significance, and I
would hate to think that their passing would go without comment. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Welcome to the Canadian Naval Air
Group Internet site! This site is dedicated to the Men and Women who have
endeavored to perpetuate the traditions of the Royal Canadian Naval Air Arm:
While here, be sure to check out all CNAG chapter home pages to keep up to
date on the latest news. |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
NAVAL
AIR PERSONNEL DATABASE NAVAL AIR PERSONNEL DATABASE WEB
FORMAT Mail to: John Eden |
National Secretary 702 Clearcrest Cres VALIANTS DEDICATION
CEREMONY ATTENDED BY SEVERAL PREVIOUS STUDENTS OF HAMPTON GRAY SCHOOL |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
THE BONNIE
|
Compliments
of Paul Crawford Their blood ran
cold with horror Their faces paled
with anguish For seldom has
anybody suffered Seldom before have
humans There on the deck
before them And a steady stream
of crimson And they stood in
breathless silence For they had just
seen the Duty PO |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Henry Botterell inducted as
the newest Honorary Member of the Canadian Naval Air Group |
CNAG Web Site
Update History 07/04/010 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Commodore A.B.F. Fraser-Harris, RCN
(Ret) DSC & Bar Legionnaire of the Legion of Merit (USA) |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
THE MAPLE LEAF LEGACY PROJECT |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
CNAG was founded on January 23, 1970 at Edmonton, Alberta for the purposes of: perpetuating the traditions and ideals of the Royal Canadian Naval Air Arm; continuing the companionship of those who served with, or were associated with, Naval Air; and encouraging the formation of local chapters in order to create a nationwide organization. The CNAG idea was popular and with typical Naval Air alacrity and ingenuity the organization grew in size and can now boast of Chapters in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Ottawa, Trenton and, of course, the alma mater of Naval Air, Shearwater (Atlantic Chapter). Chapters previously located in Winnipeg and Toronto have been de-commissioned due to a lack of members. Among its many pursuits, CNAG actively supports the Shearwater Aviation Museum and CNAG members are continually on the lookout for artifacts and memorabilia associated with Naval Air for display in the museum. One of the more noteworthy achievements in this regard was accomplished by the Tracker Chapter, headquartered in Toronto, who located and took possession of a badly deteriorated Swordfish aircraft from a farmer’s field, and over several years managed top restore the aircraft to flying condition before seeing it placed in the museum. The CNAG Chapters hold regular meetings throughout the year from which minutes are recorded and distributed amongst each of the other Chapters (and National Headquarters). This enables our members to remain in touch with their far-flung comrades and, perhaps, in some small way, helps to keep intact, the ties that bind our members together. CNAG social
functions cover a wide
range of activities such as summer barbecues, wine & cheese parties,
dances or just old-fashioned gabfests over a cold one. But the most popular
event is our annual reunion which is traditionally held each year over the
Thanksgiving weekend. The last reunion, hosted by Swordfish Chapter,
Vancouver BC Oct 2008, was an outstanding success that was enjoyed by
hundreds of CNAG’ers from across Canada and beyond. Next years reunion (2009)
will be hosted by Sea King Chapter, Trenton Ont , 18, 19, 20 Sept. Membership in CNAG is not restricted to any particular service or element, but is open to all ranks and to all members, past or present, military or civilian, who are (or were) involved in naval aviation either directly or in a supporting role. There are three categories of members: Regular, Associate, and Honorary. Anyone interested in joining this unique organization and participating in our efforts to preserve the history and traditions of Canadian Naval Aviation is encouraged to complete an application and forward it to your nearest CNAG Chapter or to CNAG National Headquarters |