On Saturday, Nov. 18th,
a packed room at the Brampton Flying Club was the site of the 50th
Anniversary Gala of the Ninety-Nines, East Canada Section. In 1950,
the First Canadian Chapter was the first Canadian group to join the
Ninety-Nines, the International Organization of Women Pilots. The
Charter was delivered to the first Governor, Phyllis Klotz, at the
Ottawa Flying Club (CYOW).
In recognition of the special
people who helped shaped Canadian history, two amazing women were
invited to speak after the dinner. The silence of the audience was
testimony of the powerful eloquence of the speakers at the podium.
June Callwood, respected Canadian journalist/broadcaster/author, and
recipient of the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario, interviewed
her original flight instructor who taught her to fly in 1946! June’s
warmth and knowledge of her instructor Vi Milstead’s life enabled
her to draw out interesting stories and information from this modest
quiet woman.
In 1943 when
Vi Milstead
heard about an organization being formed called the Air Transport
Auxiliary (ATA), she called Marion Orr. They both applied and were
sent to England for training. Pilots, both male and female, from 22
countries joined the ATA to help in the war effort. Vi flew with
them for two years, gaining the rank of First Officer (Class IV) and
logging 700 hours on 29 different single-engine aircraft and 17
different twin-engine aircraft. Her favourite was the twin-engine
Mosquito [she referred to the Mosquito as being a lady’s twin-engine
Spitfire]. After the war, Vi returned to Canada, and went on to
become Canada’s first female bush pilot.
[Extracts from the "interview
follow] When asked if she had ever had an accident such as during
landing, Vi paused and responded "..Landing ..no, never." It was
obvious from her words that an accident had been encountered, but of
another type. She went on to describe another situation when during
a takeoff with a student, the Cub aircraft ended up going between
two trees, leaving the wings behind – the student had frozen at the
controls, including the rudder, which caused the aircraft to veer
off to one side. Fortunately no one was hurt. Interestingly, another
student who went flying with Vi the day after that accident was in
the audience today – Jim Doane [Anne Starret’s father]!
When asked by the audience how she
prepared for solo flight in a new aircraft type without any dual
instruction, Vi said that she "just did it". Each pilot is given a
book with some very basic performance information on each model and
type. Each pilot would normally fly solo using dead reckoning skills
only, minimal instrument flying skills, basic maps, no radios –
often in bad weather! Vi admitted that the weather in England was
the greatest problem for the pilots. A ferry pilot’s wartime job
included moving aircraft as quickly as possible from the factory to
an operational site, or ferrying a badly damaged aircraft to its
disposal site. A pilot might deliver a fighter aircraft to one site,
then would get in a four-engine bomber to fly it to another site.
At the end of the "interview", the
audience could be heard commenting about the comfortable, warm chat
which they had just witnessed, and the feeling of, however briefly,
having shared a piece of history. They were also in awe of these two
women, excellent role models of how well people can age – Vi
Milstead is 81, and June Callwood 77! In 1996, June Callwood also
celebrated a 50th anniversary of her own – she earned her
glider licence, 50 years after earning her power licence!
During the evening, the guests
viewed the new Historical
display, created through the hard work and research by Shirley
Allen and Nat McHaffie and their team. Their most treasured fine was
the "flight suit" of Eileen Vollick, Canada’s first licensed woman
pilot. Two key components "Pioneers" and "Competitors" have been
completed, with three other modules still to evolve.
Governor, Marilyn Dickson, spoke
of the numerous accomplishments of the women within East Canada
Section, and of the 5 Chapters spread out from Newfoundland to
Ontario.
First Canadian Chapter Chairman
Wendy Gluhushkin thanked her Chapter members for their support for
50th anniversary celebrations – organizing the June, 2000
Gold Cup Air Rally, a 1000-nm course from London - Toronto - Ottawa
- Trois Rivière - Fredericton - Dorval; organizing the 50th
Anniversary Banquet; and creating the History Display!
The guests slowly departed, still
savouring the memories of celebrating women in aviation.
50th Anniversary Photo
Gallery:
