CATP Air Museum spreads its wings

Details

Published on Thursday, August 23, 2018

Banner Staff

Neepawa Banner & Press

On Aug. 9, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum held an open house and air show at the Brandon Airport. Below are a couple of photo highlights.

Photos by Ken and Christine Waddell

Pictured right: Peter Moodie, Chief Pilot for the CATPM presented a photo to honour Jack Widdicombe, a World War II pilot. Widdicombe recently flew a Tiger Moth at the Russell Fly In Breakfest.

Born on May 21, 1921 at a farm near Foxwarren Manitoba in the RM of Birtle, Widdicombe graduated from Foxwarren Collegiate Institute and entered Agriculture at the University of Manitoba. He also joined the Army Officers Training Corps, deciding to join the RCAF in 1942 under the BCATP. Widdicombe trained in Canada in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, where he obtained his wings, in the Tiger Moth and Cessna Crane. In 1943 he continued flight training in Britain in Wellington, Halifax and finally the Lancaster.

Widdicombe spent one year flying technicians to and from radio and radar installations with an Oxford twin engine aircraft. He later attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

Widdicombe also flew “leaflet drops” over France in Lancaster as part of his training, and has flown on 23 war operations over Europe. After VE Day, he returned to Gander with a Lancaster. He and his crew were supposed to be on their way to the Pacific front, however by the time they arrived in Gander, the war in the Pacific was over as well. In 1946 Widdicombe bought his parents’ farm, farming there for 50 years until 1996. He then retired to Russel Manitoba, and is now an avid golfer, having won numerous gold medals including at the Canadian Seniors while at the age of 95 in Brampton, Ontario.

John McNarry, museum president cranked the Harvard’s electrical system to fire up the plane’s engine.

More air show photos can be seen in the Aug. 17 edition of the Neepawa Banner & Press.