CNAG’ER OF THE YEAR – 2009/2010

Bud MacLean – HAMPTON GRAY VC CHAPTER

                              bud MacLean.jpg                              

Guestbook

VAC Ombudsman and the Legion’s position on the New Veterans Charter and troops sent to Afghanistan  (Click Here)

 

 

Canadian Naval Air Group Memorial Service

National War Memorial, 19 May 2010

Was a Tremendous Success

Read Review

                                                             Click here for Photos

Provided By

Richard Lawrence
3470 Paul Anka Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 9K6
613-523-4814

 

HMCS Sackville Ice Sculpture on display in Confederation Square Downtown Ottawa in celebration of 100 years of Naval Service to Canada. Click below to view a short video put together by Michel Richer Lafleche

   

Click Here

 

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

(Click Here)

 

2010 Halifax International Fleet Review

 

(click  here)

______________________________________________________

2010 Initiatives Focusing on Naval Air

The above Initiatives can be reviewed by clicking on the link below. This document has been prepared by Peter Milsom Capt (N) Ret. President of Hampton Gray VC Chapter of CNAG

Naval 2010 Centennial Celebrations

Great photos of Canadian carrier operations  (click here)

Bonaventure Operations from Roger Nantel  (click here)

 

Tour of Duty Gala

 

The Perley-Rideau Veteran’s Health Centre and Canada Aviation and Space Museum Foundations regret that the “Fifth Annual Tour of Duty Gala” scheduled for 06 November 2010 has been cancelled.  


This being the Canadian Naval Centennial, the foundations had planned to salute “Canadian Naval Aviation” with its proud history.  The Canadian Naval Air Group, Hampton Gray VC Chapter had partnered with the organizations to assure a naval flavour for the prestigious event.  However, personnel moves within the foundations coupled with projects of higher priority has caused a shortage of experienced staff to undertake this most important event and therefore necessitated a decision to cancel this years “Gala”.

 

Thanks to all CNAGers for your support.

 

 

Bud MacLean

CNAG/HGVC

Working Group

Chairman

 

 

 

Air show’s Corsair tells the story of Canada’s naval fighter pilots click here

 

To view a list of the CNAG members who have been selected as CNAG’er of the Year     click here

Veterans Affairs Commendations awarded to ex Naval Airmen

Stu Soward

Chuck Rolfe

John Eden

Carl Mills

Some of you may find the following web site to be of interest with regards to any potential health problems that you may have encountered as a result to exposure to asbestos while serving on board ships in the RCN

 

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center

http://www.maacenter.org/

 

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center, is a leading Internet resource for information about mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer. The MAA Center has been recognized by the Health on the Net Foundation as a reliable & trustworthy source of medical information on the web and is approved by Disability.gov as an excellent resource for veterans and all members of the military community.

 

As you may know, mesothelioma cancer is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Countless veterans were exposed to asbestos while aboard naval ships, while repairing military vehicles and aircraft, and while residing in aging military housing. Troops currently serving in Iraq are also at risk of asbestos exposure, making this a very timely health and safety issue for veterans and all members of the military community. In addition to featuring information about asbestos exposure and the health consequences for veterans, we also provide content on a number of other veteran issues, including PTSD, addiction, and more

 

 

 

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 
Update July 30, 2010

NAVAL AIR PERSONNEL DATABASE WEB FORMAT

UPDATE FORM

 

Mail to: John Eden

National Secretary
Paul Baiden

702 Clearcrest Cres
Orleans, ON K4A 3E6

pbadien@rogers.com

FOUNDING MEMBERS

CNAG  MEMBERS LIST

CNAG CONSTITUTION

NAVY LEAGUE OF CANADA

VALIANTS DEDICATION CEREMONY ATTENDED BY SEVERAL PREVIOUS STUDENTS OF HAMPTON GRAY SCHOOL

NAVAL AIR HYMN

(Fleet Air Arm Version)

DECEASED IN 2008

DECEASED IN 2009

DECEASED IN 2010

 

THE BONNIE
”And now this ship her course is run,
Her work for home and country done;
Of all the souls that in her sailed,
Let not one life in Thee have failed;
But hear from Heaven our Sailor’s cry,
And grant eternal life on high”


By Wm. L. Howie, On the occasion of the paying off of “Bonaventure”

Compliments of Paul Crawford

 

Their blood ran cold with horror
As they gazed on the awful scene

Their faces paled with anguish
And their gills turned faintly green

For seldom has anybody suffered
As they did that horrible day

Seldom before have humans
Beheld such a ghastly display

There on the deck before them
The shattered remnants flowed

And a steady stream of crimson
Sought it’s level on Burma road

And they stood in breathless silence
As men who were stricken dumb

For they had just seen the Duty PO
Drop a case of pusser’s rum

 

 

Henry Botterell inducted as the newest Honorary Member of the Canadian Naval Air Group

 Across the Flight Deck

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)

 

CNAG Chapter Information

 

Board of Directors

Reunions

NAVAL AVIATION  REUNION 2010 HOME PAGE

Atlantic Chapter (Shearwater)

SeaKing Chapter (Trenton)

Minutes of National Directors Meetings

Firefly Chapter (Calgary)

Founding Chapter (Edmonton)

THE MAPLE LEAF LEGACY PROJECT
(A project to collect photographs of Canadian War Graves)

Banshee Chapter (Victoria)

Hampton Gray Chapter (Ottawa)

 

LINKS

 

SOME FABULOUS PHOTOS

Swordfish Chapter (Vancouver)

 

 

Letter of Appreciation from
Mayor of Halifax

 

 

 

 

 

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