LIVING LEGEND — A Visit from Stocky Edwards

Aug. 13

Written By Dave O'Malley

This past weekend, 1 June 2013, the great Canadian fighter ace, Wing Commander James Francis Edwards, paid a visit to the Vintage Wings of Canada hangar in Gatineau. Stocky and his wife Toni were in town for the week to receive the greatest honour a Canadian aviator can be given—induction into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. The Thursday night event was a coming together of hundreds of Canada's civilian and military aviation luminaries, from the RCAF, major Canadian air lines, the 99s, and many civilian aerospace operations. Stocky's career as a fighter pilot and gifted leader in the Royal Canadian Air Force was legendary, historic, praised and his induction was frankly long overdue.

Wing Commander (Ret'd) James Francis Edwards, CM, DFC & Bar, DFM, CD and now member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame arrives at his induction ceremony with his wife Toni, herself a Second World War veteran combat nurse. Photo: John Chalmers, Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame

The five 2013 inductees of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame stand together at the end of the night's ceremonies. It was the Hall's 40th anniversary induction ceremony. Stocky, the oldest of the group, looks marvelous and in fighting trim in his tuxedo. Left to right beside Stocky are: Joseph Fernand “Frank” Henley established his career with the RCAF, and also bush flying. Henley held executive positions at Maritime Central Airways (MCA), Nordair and Hydro Québec, where he masterminded immense logistical effort to transport heavy equipment, supplies and personnel to the James Bay hydro project via air. In doing so, he pioneered the use of ice runways for the delivery of heavy loads by air. Henley was named to the Order of Canada in 2003. Photo and text: John Chalmers, Canada's Aviation Hall of FameDonald Carty, former president of Canadian Pacific Air Lines. Doug represented Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd. which received the Belt of Orion Award for an Organization. CP Air Lines was established under modest conditions in 1942 with the amalgamation of ten small, independent air services. The airline went on to expand its operations and become a prominent international and domestic provider of scheduled air services. Canadian Pacific Air Lines serviced nearly every province and territory in Canada, as well as 14 countries across five continents. The company also launched Canadian airline services across the Pacific.John Sanford, former president of de Havilland Canada, was its chief executive during the company’s tumultuous period as a crown corporation. During this time he launched a new generation of regional airliners that saved the company from collapse. His legacy can be seen in the more than 1,000 Dash 8 aircraft used by airlines around the world.Victor Bennett, whose long career in aviation has seen his active involvement with a host of organizations, spanning business, professional and heritage sectors. His background in the RCAF Reserve, education in law, exemplary leadership skills, business acumen and entrepreneurial talent, have seen him reach the top of his field in providing FBO, repair, overhaul, completion and refurbishing services to customers worldwide, as chief executive at Innotech Aviation. — The five 2013 inductees of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame stand together at the end of the night's ceremonies. It was the Hall's 40th anniversary induction ceremony. Stocky, the oldest of the group, looks marvelous and in fighting trim in his tuxedo. Left to right beside Stocky are:
**Joseph Fernand “Frank” Henley** established his career with the RCAF, and also bush flying. Henley held executive positions at Maritime Central Airways (MCA), Nordair and Hydro Québec, where he masterminded immense logistical effort to transport heavy equipment, supplies and personnel to the James Bay hydro project via air. In doing so, he pioneered the use of ice runways for the delivery of heavy loads by air. Henley was named to the Order of Canada in 2003. Photo and text: John Chalmers, Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
**Donald Cart**y, former president of Canadian Pacific Air Lines. Doug represented Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd. which received the Belt of Orion Award for an Organization. CP Air Lines was established under modest conditions in 1942 with the amalgamation of ten small, independent air services. The airline went on to expand its operations and become a prominent international and domestic provider of scheduled air services. Canadian Pacific Air Lines serviced nearly every province and territory in Canada, as well as 14 countries across five continents. The company also launched Canadian airline services across the Pacific.
**John Sanford**, former president of de Havilland Canada, was its chief executive during the company’s tumultuous period as a crown corporation. During this time he launched a new generation of regional airliners that saved the company from collapse. His legacy can be seen in the more than 1,000 Dash 8 aircraft used by airlines around the world.
**Victor Bennett,** whose long career in aviation has seen his active involvement with a host of organizations, spanning business, professional and heritage sectors. His background in the RCAF Reserve, education in law, exemplary leadership skills, business acumen and entrepreneurial talent, have seen him reach the top of his field in providing FBO, repair, overhaul, completion and refurbishing services to customers worldwide, as chief executive at Innotech Aviation.

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The following Saturday, Stocky and Toni dropped into the hangar to meet old friends and see the banner that was raised in his honour the previous winter at the Vintage Wings Gala. Stocky was scheduled to be there for the event, but was unable to attend for a medical reason, which caused him to reluctantly cancel. I was given the honour of speaking to the audience at the Gala about Stocky's remarkable career.

Thanks to this column known as Vintage News and through work on the history of our aircraft, I have met many former aviators from the Second World War... usually in their late eighties and early to mid-nineties. I have never met one like Stocky, who still shakes your hand with an iron grip, looks at you with fire in his eyes and not a little bemusement and carries himself with a backbone of steel. Stocky looked to be ageless. There was not the frailty, circumspection, confusion or whispering voice normally associated with nonagenarians. Despite his 92 years, Stocky was youthful, clear, humorous and deliberate. I only wish I will look like that at 70.

Stocky agreed to stand for our photographer Peter Handley for a formal portrait beside the P-40 Kittyhawk dedicated to his honour and in front of the banner we raised half a year ago. Mike Potter had a surprise for him as well. He walked up to Stocky and asked him if he would like to be reacquainted with the Harvard he learned to fly on at No. 11 Service Flying Training School in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 1942. Without hesitation, Stocky said yes. Oh, to be so young at heart.