History.Aviation.ca

In a show of gratitude to the gallant few who gave their lives in the Battle of Britain 67 years ago, thousands turned out yesterday to the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa. They were there to pay tribute to, and remember, the 2,900 pilots who served in the four-month-long battle, more specifically the 103 Canadians who flew in the battle.

The Battle of Britain, many believe, was the definitive battle of the Second World War and the only battle to be won purely by air power. By July 1940, the Nazis had taken over France and were poised to do the same in England. Sir Winston Churchill rallied the nation and sent all the air forces at his disposal into battle. Joining the British and Canadian air crews were pilots from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Czechoslovakia, France, Poland, and the United States. The battle lasted four months and when it ended in November 1940, a demoralized Britain had hope once again.

Like ceremonies across the country, the ceremony in Ottawa featured speeches, a prayer, two minutes silence and the laying of wreaths. For most in Ottawa, however, the highlight was surely the fly past by Vintage Wings of Canada's Spitfire, Hurricane and Mustang - flying in formation with a Lancaster bomber from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

One of those watching keenly below was Colonel (Ret'd) Cy Yarnell of Trenton, Ontario. Although he did not serve in the Battle of Britain, Col (Ret'd) Yarnell flew Spitfires during the Second World War and returned to Ottawa for the fourth year in a row to recite "High Flight" by heart, capturing the crowd with the heartfelt emotion he put into every word.

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," said Col (Ret'd) Yarnell at the reception afterward.

Anthony Cary, British High Commissioner to Canada, spoke eloquently about the contributions made by those brave pilots to the freedom Canadians and Britons enjoy today. "We owe them still today a tremendous debt," said Mr. Cary.

Lieutenant-General Angus Watt, Chief of the Air Staff, spoke of the ‘who, what, where, when and why' of the Battle of Britain - citing who fought, which aircraft they used, where they flew, when, and why.

"It is the ‘why' that is important and endures," said LGen Watt. "Why did they place their own lives in danger? Why did they face such overwhelming odds? The answer is quite simple: for us ... for our values, for our principles, for our society and for our children. It is the same ‘why' that motivates our own sailors, airmen and soldiers to join the Canadian Forces today ... the same ‘why' that made 250,000 Canadians fly in the Second World War ... and the same ‘why' that motivates the men and women of the Canadian Forces today who are serving on your behalf."

The veterans who attended the ceremony were given a round of applause by spectators and asked to stand to make their presence known. It was a moving moment to see men and women from another generation, so long ago, stand up, however frailly to accept their due recognition. Thousands clapped as they stood there, seeming almost puzzled about the recognition.

Second World War flying ace Rayne "Joe" Schulz, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, credited with eight kills (three in one night), also seemed puzzled when asked why he attends the ceremony every year.

"I really don't have an answer for that," said Mr. Schulz. "Nostalgia I guess and to see my good friends like Desmond here." His friend, Desmond Peters, a post-war pilot who immigrated to Canada after the war and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, survived the Battle of Britain.

"I was living in London at the time and we just got through it," said Major (Ret'd) Peters. "I actually became a pilot because of all the activity I saw during the battle. I remember one night we were going down to the air raid shelter and I could see the dog fights going on above us. There was a Ju88 dropping bombs and I was carrying a three-month-old baby in my arms. I just fell to the ground, covered myself over the baby, and when it stopped, I just got back up and went down to the shelter."

Of the 103 Canadian pilots who flew in The Battle of Britain, it is thought that only three remain alive today and are in failing health. As Col (Ret'd) Yarnell recited during the Act of Remembrance, quoting from Laurence Banyon's "For The Fallen":

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them."