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Forces: Land ~ Air ~ Sea ~ Home
A MILITARY TRIBUTE WEBZINE . . . AS YOU WERE . . .
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Compiled by Bill Hillman
FLASH. . . Editor and Webmaster: Bill Hillman: hillmans@wcgwave.ca

www.hillmanweb.com/rcaf/mag
OCTOBER 2004
 

August 10/45 - Halifax LW170 rested on the surface seven hours before it’s descent to the ocean floor off the North West coast of Ireland. (This might be the only picture of a “floating” Hally.) 

Halifax LW170 put in 24 Ops with 424 Squadron between May 27/44 and August 4/44. Particulars of dates, targets, and crewmembers, are listed on the 57 Rescue (Canada) Web site.      http://www,57rescuecanada.com

After the final operation with 424 Squadron LW170 was sent away for major maintenance and engine replacements. From here she was seconded to RAF Met squadron 518 and for the next year flew long distance meteorological patrols. On August 10, 1945 while on a Bismuth weather sortie LW170 experienced a major fuel leak and was unable to return to base. A text-book ditching was performed by her crew at 9am and she floated for 7 hours, sinking into the deep at 4 P.M. Her crew were safely rescued 1 hour later by a banana freighter, the Jamaica Producer. 



 
 
Karl Kjarsgaard, Project Manager, 57 Rescue (Canada) with a prop blade from RCAF Halifax LW682 which his recovery team saved from the bog in Belgium in 1997, along with the bodies of the 3 missing airmen which were given a full military funeral in Nov/1997. 
 

(The following is an abridged version of Karl’s report to those gathered at Nanton August 14, 2004, on the proposed recovery Halifax LW170)
 

57 RESCUE (CANADA) August 14, 2004

Progress Report by Karl Kjarsgaard, Project Manager

This is a special anniversary day for this is the last day of the combat career of RCAF Halifax LW170 sixty years ago today. On August 4, 1944 Halifax LW 170 of 424 Squadron RCAF participated in the bombing raid on Bois de Cassan and Trossy-St-Maxim, V-1 flying bomb sites. There were 291 aircraft on this raid and the majority of the heavy bombers involved were Halifaxes, 169 to be exact. Throughout all the major air battles and campaigns where Canadian Squadrons and Allied Squadrons fought the Halifax was always there.

Here we are setting out on a most historic quest to find and recover RCAF Halifax LW170 thanks to the sponsorship and partnership of the Nanton Lancaster Society. 

“Press on regardless….”

On to Business – These are the HALI-FACTS

To all of our member sand supporters of 57 Rescue (Canada) for this special project I can report good progress in certain areas and mediocre progress in others.

On the technical side I have received a full evaluation of the search and rescue data from the original LW170 ditching and crew rescue in August, 1945 which is critical to the locating of the Halifax in the deep waters of NW Ireland. This was done by Bob Kutzleb of Syracuse, New York, an exert in undersea location of aircraft. His record recovery of several deep water recoveries is an US Navy F-14 Tomcat from 9500 feet. Bob generously donated his time and energy to construct the best search box to find Halifax LW170 and was pleased with the historical positioning raw data provided to him by yours truly. We have his full report and are ready to utilize his search criteria to find LW170. 

On another positive technical development Dag Ammerud, the mastermind behind the lifting of Halifax NA337 from 750 feet in Lake Mjosa, Norway, has acquired new location technology which could reduce the number of days searching for LW170

I am disappointed in the progress on the financial end with regard to getting a corporate sponsor. There have been several applications by 57 Rescue (Canada) to major corporations in Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba, but all declined to help sponsor this historic project.

Our good neighbours and friends in the U.S.A. are rallying to our cause. I have had memberships and donations from them with the greatest support from Bob Bluford, a minister and B-24 Liberator pilot with the 8th Air Force. He pledged $1,000.00 in the name of Mel Compton, the American in the RCAF who flew LW170 in June 1944, and has challenged all new members and his fellow Americans to donate the same in the name of an American in the RCAF who was killed in action. He is well aware that these “American Patriots-Canadian Warriors” are not remembered and there are over 700 US citizens killed in the service of the RCAF. Reverend Bluford and I will be meeting soon in Richmond, Virginia to lobby for official political and corporate support for our Halifax LW170 Project in the United States. Will it be easier to find support for the RCAF Halifax Project in the States than in Canada? I hope both nations will answer our calls for help.

To all of you who have sent cheques from all over Canada and the U.S.A. for memberships and donations to our cause. Please be advised that I have NOT (as of August 14, 2004) cashed your cheques as we are waiting for our charitable status to be confirmed. I am presently paying for travel and promotional expenses from my own pocket. We have over 100 Members now and have had almost 5000 visitors to the 57 Rescue (Canada) website.  http://www.57rescuecanada.com


Ross Hamilton
Six Sacks of Potatoes


 Back L to R – Grandy, Biddle, Graham,
Front -  Neil,  Firestone, (George Deeth, 2nd pilot not in picture)

September 25, 2004 marks a special anniversary for a crew of 407 Squadron who crashed landed in Norway sixty years ago.

The Germans had moved their U-Boat operation from France to Norway. 407 Squadron whose crews had been monitoring submarines in the English Channel, moved its base to Wick, Scotland.

During an anti-U-Boat patrol over the North Sea one of their engines of the Leighlight-equipped Wellington failed leaving the pilot, F/O Gordon Biddle with the only option, to reach the nearest land-fall, German Occupied Norway.

As they approached the coast they had to pass over a small enemy convoy and, with only one engine, had little ability to take evasive action. The ships opened fire on the aircraft and Harvey Firestone, attempting to confuse the gunners, fired off Very lights hoping that they would think that they were a friendly aircraft. This worked for a moment but they were soon under fire again. By now the remaining engine had been hit and a final message was sent by the wireless operator, Warrant Officer George Grandy, and everybody got ready for a forced landing in their crash positions.

The pilot was attempting to make a wheels-up landing in what appeared to be the only spot possible. The Wellington hit some trees with its port wing and then Biddle brought the tail down first to slow them up and then he jammed the nose in. The aircraft slewed around and then came to a sudden stop - they had landed in 65 feet. Grandy and the radio fell on the top of George Deeth, Neil was thrown from his table and had a gash in his head, but Biddle was OK, having been strapped in. Harvey Firestone hit his head on the main spar. The crew were suddenly surrounded by Norwegian Resistance Fighters who hurried them away from the crash site. They had crashed close to a German garrison.

The Canadians were moved from one safe hiding spot to another in the mountain regions. Subsequently some of the Norwegian helpers were captured by the Germans and some were shot. During this period of evasion, these brave Resistance Fighters shared their meagre rations and faced death for their Canadian guests.

The Norwegian underground had clandestine radio contact with the British and they code named the 407 crew “Six Sacks of Potatoes”. After some weeks as evaders, the crew  made their escape under the close supervision of the Resistance Fighters. A rendezvous was established with great danger to all, with a British Motor Torpedo Boat in the North Sea, and the six Canadians were returned to England. After de-briefing at Air Force Head Quarters in London, five of the crew were returned home to Canada for security reasons and not permitted to return to flying duties in the UK. 

A Plaque commemorating this event and honouring the courage of the Resistance Fighters has been placed on the site of the crash.


Text on Plaque

1944: An Aircraft from Canadian Air Force 
with a crew of 6 crash landed here on the hill
the 26.9.
All uninjured.
12. 10 – to Shetland with KNM VIGGRA.
Rescued by people with courage and cunning, 
with the will to fight for freedom and peace.



Fred Burnyeat

I was remembering my latter days in the Air Force recently.  As part of Coastal Command I was stationed from the West Coast at Ukulet, to Shellborne, N. S. and in 1943 was transferred to #116 B & R which moved to Botwood, Newfoundland, then to Gander and again to a posting to Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Halifax.  There were three other WAGS from this region, and all 4 of us had to keep 24 hour watch over the Signal Department.  I was on duty one night when this unusual thing happened and I think it would be of interest to some of our group. 

One of the girls who were keeping watch on several frequencies, jumped up saying she had a MAY DAY, MAY DAY, MAY DAY!  I asked her if she had any other info and she said her contact had told her he was a USAF pilot flying out of Maine, U.S.A., that he was completely lost and had no idea where to head for.  I phoned to the Plotting Department and they said that they had also heard this and were plotting his flight. We were to keep him talking as much as possible and they would send directions for him to follow.  This we did for 2 or 3 directions with the last one ending up that he was now lined up with the main runway of Dartmouth airport. He was instructed to change to their frequency and call them to identify himself for further directions.  We also told him that they were expecting him and would see him down safely.  A short time later the airport reported to our plotters that he had landed OK. 

The sequel to this is that an hour or two later the Air Force guards on duty at the main doors of our building phoned up to say that there was an American pilot at the door saying we had saved his life and he would like to talk to the girl that kept him posted and guided him in.  I spoke to our girl and asked if she wanted to meet him and she was agreeable so I released her to go down to the front door.  She returned shortly and was so happy she had met him. He was so thankful for her help that he then handed her a box of chocolates he must have purchased on his trip from Dartmouth to Halifax.

Ed. It is not outside the realm of possibility that the above mentioned USAF pilot might read this article. If you are still out there my friend, drop me a line.  moyles@sasktel.net



Pictures from Nanton Musium August 14th

Nose of Lanc.


Rear Gunner’s office in tail of Lanc


Museum’s turret display. Tail turret second from
Right is equipped with hydraulics and is functional.


CLIFFORD CAMPBELL – Dunchurch, Ont.

A Rear Gunner looks back after Sixty years

During 1944 I made 37 trips over Germany, Belgium, and France, transportation being provided by the RCAF in what became known as “Halibags”, Halifax bombers operating out of Canadian Six Group and stationed at Tholthorpe, Yorkshire. Our crew were members of #420 “Snowy Owl” Squadron and shared the aerodrome with #425 Squadron better known as the “Alouettes”.

I write this piece in honour of Pilot Officer (then Sergeant) Bob “Whitey” White DFC, who was the designated mid-upper gunner in the crew in which I was the rear gunner, although at various times he and I would exchange positions. Our Captain was Warrant Officer Bill McAdam, DFC.

Bob White was very keen and very sharp. My recollections of him here begin with a part of his personal story, which he shared with me in answer to my question about some prominent scars on his left forearm. Bob lived in the West Midlands, and while still too young to join the RAF, endured an enemy bombing in which he sustained the injuries but, nonetheless, crawled under a shattered building to rescue, from the arms of her dead mother, a baby girl whom he kept track of for the rest of his life (Bob passed away in 1995.

On May 27, 1944, we were assigned to bomb Bourg Leopold in Belgium. On the way out to the target area the German fighters were both present and busy and I personally witnessed a total of nine of our aircraft go down. In one case, the fighter must have followed his victim’s descent, for I could see tracer bullets pouring out of the bomber’s rear turret right until the bomber hit the ground and disintegrated in a ball of flame.

About five minutes after we had made our drop and headed for home our mid-upper turret burst into action. My turret was facing directly to the rear and before I could swing to starboard it was all over, but I did manage a glimpse. It seems the JU 88 had made a 90 degree turn towards us on our starboard beam. The gunner’s response to that move is a “no deflection” shot. What I could not see, Whitey and the co-pilot (Bombardier) could. What they reported at the later debriefing was this. “The Junkers starboard engine burst into flame and then a piece of the tail section flew off.” I saw him wiz by behind us and that was it. How badly he was damaged we shall never know, but we escaped!

The following month on June 12/44, our target was Cambria in France, and the drop zone was lit up like a Christmas tree. On our way out of the target I clearly saw and reported the presence of a Focke-Wulf 190, whose nose was painted white. The fighter flew West to East right through the illuminated area. We subsequently altered course and headed North West for the English Channel. About half way there, the mid-upper turret once again came to life, and while I was again out of position I saw the tracer from Whitey’s guns over my left shoulder. The German had fired his first burst just above his target. Whitey’s response must have spooked him into making a steep bank to his port side . Since he had come in from the starboard beam his subsequent bank exposed his belly to a fusillade of ammo, and I could see our tracer actually bouncing off his underside! We had been told that the 190 had a protective lead shield and here was proof enough; but its effect was to make us feel as if we were fighting a war with popguns. However, I can imagine the German pilot could hear the multiple thuds in his cockpit, and if he reached home safely that night, I guarantee he had to change his underwear!

Bob White went on to join the Pathfinder Squadron after he completed his tour with us and finally did receive his well deserved Distinguished Flying Cross.

It is a matter of interest that the Cambria raid referred to above was the same raid during which Air Gunner Andrew Mynarski, VC, lost this life in a heroic attempt to save that of a fellow crew member, following an attack by a JU 88. I suppose every age has its heroes. We certainly had ours!

(Ed. Following the war Clifford Campbell became an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada retiring at Dunchurch, Ontario.)

Proposed Nanton Museum Memorial to Bomber Command

Letter from Ted Hackett

Good evening John. 
Here is the message I sent to Nanton and their reply. I guess you just have download the whole thing and put it in to the next Newsletter.  I went into the web site he gave us and the whole thing is laid out there...probably the one to print. Cheers Ted.



From Ted Hackett to Dave Birrell, Nanton Museum.
Good afternoon Dave. 
I was talking to my MLA the other day and the discussion got around to the humungous amount of money the government has to give away.  The subject of the Museum and the Lancaster came up, he said that he had never visited but he had heard of the Museum.  I suggested that the memorial to the  Canadians who died while serving with Bomber Command deserved some financial help.  It would make a nice birthday present.  He told me of the many programmes that are available for such things and that they were a 50-50 deal.  I contacted John Moyles, who puts together our newsletter "Short Bursts" each month and suggested that we start a campaign among our members to help raise money for that project.  He thinks that is a good idea and he wants me to write something up for inclusion in the October issue. Could you send me some information on the planned memorial and, if possible a copy of that drawing of the memorial. I believe there was a picture of the planned memorial in one of the latest issues of your newsletter but I believe it is the one I sent to a friend in New Zealand. Any assistance you can give me would be much appreciated. 
Thanks and have a nice day(it is miserable here!)
Ted.


From Dave Birrell to Ted Hackett

Hi Ted:

Thanks for your note and enthusiasm for the project.

A complete summary of the project is available on our website at http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/memorialgranite.html 
and of course you may copy the artist's rendering of the Memorial and anything else you'd like from there.

I've also attached an jpg of the Memorial rendering and a WORD file summarizing the project for your use. Any assistance with financing would be wonderful. You can tell people that the majority of the funding required has already been acquired through private donations.

Thanks for passing along your recent newsletter with the write up and photos of our "Salute to the Air Gunners." I'll pass them along to others here. It was a great day.

Please keep in touch and let me know if we can assist you in your efforts to assist us. . .

So long for now,
Dave.


Canada's Bomber Command Memorial 

Ten Thousand Names
[ from F/L Karl Aalborg to F/O James Zunti ] 

The Nanton Lancaster Air Museum is the only facility in Canada whose primary goal is to honour those who served with Bomber Command. To this end, the museum will create a Memorial that will list the name of every Canadian who was killed while serving with Bomber Command. The Memorial, with the 10,465 engraved names, will be unveiled at a special event during August, 2005, the year that will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the war.
Letter from Ted Hackett to Editor

John, I got to thinking (there's a first) after I sent you the message about the memorial that perhaps, instead of contributing to the memorial, we should aim for some individual item. I was thinking of a short path leading from in front of the memorial to a couple of nice benches with perhaps a planter in between and a small plaque to read  " These benches placed here by the ex-Air gunners and  Wireless air gunners Association of Canada in memory of etc., etc." It would be a spot where visitors could sit and admire the memorial. It certainly shouldn't be too expensive and would be an AG/WAG thing instead of our contribution being lost in the larger  one.  What do you think??
This is the type of bench that I had in mind. The City of Spruce Grove has them and so does Edmonton.  They are made by a firm called Expocrete, I'm going to contact them and see how much they cost. 
Ted.

(Ed. We would like some feedback on Ted’s suggestion. Send you opinions and constructive criticism to your Short Bursts Editor – address follows the Editor’s Report or, contact Ted direct: 
Ted Hackett
47 Dorchester Rd.,
Spruce Grove, AB T7X 2B5
Ph. (780) 962-2904
tedgene@telusplanet.net


CORRESPONDENCE

Evening John. 
I don't know if Dave Rodger was a member or not but I thought it might be of interest to some of our people and the notice might fill up a space in Short bursts.  I met Paul Morley last year in Lake Louise, he is from Hamilton and like me is a train watcher.  Gene and I were parked by the CP tracks and he saw my AG licence plate and came over to talk.  He was on his way to Nanton to give them some items of his Uncle who was a member of 617. We have kept in touch during this past year, nice young man.  Cheers,Ted

From: Paul Morley 
To: Ted & Gene 
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 7:53 PM
Subject: Dave Rodger

Dear Ted:
One of your brother gunners has passed away. Dave was the Gunnery Officer of the Dambusters. I met him last year in Sault  Ste. Marie. He had skin cancer and Alzheimers. Even though he was sick he had a twinkle in his eye, and was very pleasant to talk to. He flew with Joe McCarthy. There are only 2 Dambusters left in Canada. There is one in New Zealand, and I believe two in England.

Please pass this on to your friends.

Thanks,
Paul


Letter from Niels Reynolds in the UK

I've just been browsing your wonderful site and was hoping you may be able to help.

My father trained in Canada on Liberator bombers as a tail end gunner in 1942, then acted as a trainer himself until 1943/44, after which he saw action in Indo China - Digri and Kolar are noted on some of his photos.

His name is Percy Charles Reynolds, born in Denmark 1922.

He is alive and well and looking to make contact with old comrades. If there is any help you can offer, I would be extremely grateful!

Incidentally, I also have an obscure Canadian link - I now live in the house which was used by the Canadian Army HQ prior to the Normandy D-Day landings, in Crowborough, East Sussex.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kindest Regards,

Niels Reynolds
niels@powdermill.plus.com 



The late Leonard Birchall D.F.C. with a picture 
of a long range Catalina Flying Boat

THE SAVIOUR OF CEYLON

It is 62 years since a 27 year old Canadian Pilot and his crew lifted off from a makeshift air base in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) to forestall what Winston Churchill said was the most perilous moment in the second world war.

In 1942 Leonard Birchall, who passed away Sept. 10, 2004, in Kingston, Ont. at age 89, and his crew, Bart Onyette, Brian Catlin, Ginger Cook, J. Henzell, Ian Davidson, P.O. Kennedy, L.A. Colarossi, and radio operator Fred Phillips, took off from their base at Koggala, Ceylon, at dawn on April 4, 1942 in Catalina AJ-155. They were furnished with hand drawn charts. In the late afternoon, after having been in the air for 12 hours they discovered that the inaccurate charts had probably caused them to fly 450 kilometres off course. It was an extraordinary stroke of serendipity for almost at the end of the last leg of the patrol the crew saw something far to the South.

They had just finished a snack when they saw some specks which looked like a convoy and they went over to investigate. They identified the outer screen of the Japanese fleet and radioed back to base the position, course, speed, and composition of the fleet. On closer inspection they identified battleships, several aircraft carriers, and other war ships which Fred Phillips reported back to base.

Then all hell broke loose. 30 Zeros came at them from the carriers. The Catalina was hit in the fuel tank and erupted in flames. Birchall managed to ditch the aircraft but it sank immediately killing one of the crew. The remainder swam away from the burning gas that spread out over the water. However, the Japanese fighters machined gunned the crew in the water. Two more crewmembers were killed and Birchall was hit in the leg.

The remaining crew members were picked up by a Destroyer and interrogated. When asked if they got a message out to base they said no because their radio had been shot out. This seemed to satisfy their captors until the Japanese intercepted a radio signal from Colombo to the aircraft asking them to repeat their previous message. Birchall was severely beaten. It was his first taste of mistreatment. It wasn’t until after release from PoW camp that they found out their first message did get through.

As a result of the sighting the Royal Navy sent its Ceylon fleet to sea and the RAF were in a position to repulse the enemy aircraft when the Japanese dropped their bombs on Colombo on April 5/42. The Japanese withdrew its large attack force from the Indian Ocean and abandoned plans to invade India by way of Ceylon. 

Churchill, in 1945 said, “the sighting of the Japanese fleet had adverted the most dangerous and distressing moment of the entire conflict. Ceylon’s capture, the consequent control of the Indian Ocean and the possibility of a German conquest in Egypt would have closed the ring, and the future would have been bleak.”

In the Japanese prisoner of war camp 150 kilometres West of Tokyo, Birchall became the advocate for and defender of the men, resulting in him being condemned to death three times. He kept secret documentation of the atrocities witnessed in the camp. In 1948 Birchall returned to Japan to testify in the subsequent war trials and witness the hanging of one of his former tormenters. Years later he used his diaries to in a campaign to win Federal compensation for PoW survivors. Some of his documents were used by Barry McIntosh in his book HELL ON EARTH.

Two days after Leonard Birchall passed away, Fred Phillips, the radio operator, and fellow camp survivor, died at his home in England. Of the AJ 155 crew, only Mr. Catlin is still living.


1945 - Leonard Birchall clad in hand-me-downs,
leaving PoW camp with diary notes


A FEW MORE PICTURES FROM AUGUST 14th AT NANTON

The Berlows, Canmore AB

Jim Flick


Lora and George Dancer


LAST POST

Morris Shumiatcher , Mbr. #637 Regina, Sk. (1917 – September 23, 2004). Morris had already obtained a Masters degree in Law before he joined the RCAF in 1943 to train as an Air Gunner. He took his training at #9 B&G Mont Joli and upon graduation was designated as a Gunnery Instructor.  When the fledgling C.C.F government gained power in Saskatchewan under Premier Tommy Douglas in 1945, Tommy seconded Morris to become the Law Officer of the Attorney General and Personal Assistant to the Premier. At the age of 31 Morris became the youngest King’s Council in the Commonwealth. He prepared and sponsored the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights which was the first such legislation in Canada and two years prior to the United Nations legislation. In 1946 Morris convened the first meeting of Treaty Indians and published a text of their treaties. So concerned with the plight of the aboriginal community, in 1971 he wrote Welfare: Hidden Backlash. He practiced law in Regina until retirement, and was a prominent contributor to his community.

Morris was an approachable, humble man. I had the pleasure of seeing Morris in a restaurant one day and introduced myself as the Editor of Short Bursts  (that was when the Newsletter was mailed to Members). He said he really enjoyed receiving it. Some Members who trained at Mont Joli will, I’m sure, remember this quiet man.


EDITORS REPORT

When we get the Short Bursts web page up each month we wonder what on earth do we have for next month. However, thanks to Members, and especially readers around the world, there is always something coming in. We thank you all for you input. When you see someone looking for information don’t hesitate to consider how you can contribute, e.g. Niels Renyolds search on behalf of his Dad for air gunners who trained on Liberators at 50 OTU B.C. and served in the far East.

Please give Ted Hackett some feedback on his Nanton Bomber Command Memorial suggestion.

Keep well, we will be back November 2004. (Time to air out the longjohns and replace the button on the rear turret.

Cheers,

John & Doreene – Editors


 
Please drop us some copy and pictures for the November Issue.
Keep well.
John and Doreene Moyles
Ste. 233 - 1060 Dorothy St.,
Regina, Sask.     S4X 3C5  CANADA
Ph. (306) 949-6112
Email  moyles@sasktel.net

 
Regional Meetings


Southern Ontario Chapter
Royal Canadian Legion
Wilson Branch 527
948 Sheppard Avenue West
Downsview,Ontario
We meet the first Wednesday of each month at the Legion hall 1:00 pm. 
No meetings July, August, September.
Contact persons: 
Ken Hill  ~  President ~  905.789.1912
Bill Cockburn  ~  Secretary ~  416.492.1024
Email:  piperbill@rogers.com

Winnipeg
Location - Royal Canadian Legion Br.#4 St. James Legion.
Date - Third Thursday of each month.
Time - Luncheon meeting (provide your own lunch).
Contact Member - Charlie Yule Ph. (204) 254-6264.


Northern Saskatchewan
Location - Lynx Wing Ave. C North, Saskatoon.
Date - Third Monday of the month.
Time - Luncheon meetings.
Contact Member - C.A. "Smokey" Robson  Ph. (306) 374-0547.


Northern Alberta Branch
Location - Norwood Branch 178, 11150 – 82 Street, Edmonton, AB
Date -  The first Thursday of each month.
Time - 12:00 hours.
Contact Members - E. H. "Ted" Hackett (780)962-2904 
or Sven Jensen (780)465-7344.


Southern Alberta
Location - Royal Canadian Legion  #264 
Kensington, Calgary
Date: Second Monday of each month.
Time - 11:30 hours.
Contact Member: Dave Biggs Ph: (403)236-7895
or Doug Penny Ph: (403)242-7048.
Note: 
October meeting time moved to third Monday. 
Also there are no meetings in July and August, however, a Barbecue is usually held  at Larry Robinson's ranch in Okatoks during that time.


British Columbia Branch 
Meeting time and local: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11:30 
Firefighters Social & Athletic Club, 
6515 Bonsor Avenue, 
Burnaby, B.C. V5H 3E8 
Super eating facilities 
Contact person - Dave Sutherland       Ph. 604-431-0085 
E-mail distilledwater4@shaw.ca


Members across the Country are encouraged to 
send current information regarding 
regular meeting places, dates, and Contact Members, to

John and Doreene Moyles, 
Ste. 233 - 1060 Dorothy St., 
Regina, Sask.     S4X 3C5  CANADA
Ph. (306) 949-6112

Email moyles@sasktel.net



Members are requested to send their experiences, articles, anecdotes, pictures, etc., to John Moyles and I will forward them to our Web Master in Brandon. Articles and Last Post items will be deleted from the page each month after the designated Member in each region has had an opportunity to copy the material for their Members. Notices of deceased Members are to be sent to Charlie Yule who is still our 'Keeper of the Rolls'. This is your SHORT BURSTS with no printing or mailing costs, and no deadlines! 
We thank our Web Master, Bill Hillman, for his volunteer time and expertise.

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