Noorduyn Norseman CF-SAM, previously used for ambulance flying, at the Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Leon Dubreuil has a birth certificate that says his July 24,1948 birth was registered at the Wadena Union Hospital — along with a note that he was actually born in mid-air.
This information comes from veteran aviator Don Campbell, who served with the province’s Air Ambulance service from 1948-68, by which time no fewer than 17 babies had been born in its aircraft. He was tracked down by Dubreuil last year after the latter read about his own birth in Campbell’s fine 1993 book on the service. It was the first birth on a Saskatchewan Air Ambulance aircraft, itself but two years old. Dubreuil, who lives in Estevan, met the pilot on that historic 1948 flight, the late Julian Audette, some years ago. But he had no idea what became of flight nurse Elaine Fraser (now Elaine Hartmann, who lives near San Francisco) or the man who helped in the birth, flight engineer, Gerry Roast (who died 12 years ago in Edmonton).
By: mmitch - 17th September 2004 at 14:56
They have to be tough, those bush planes.
mmitch.
By: Papa Lima - 17th September 2004 at 10:03
History of CF-SAM – an eventful life!
Registered to Saskatchewan Government Air Ambulance Service, Regina, Saskatchewan on September 19, 1946 as CF-SAM. Re-registered to Saskatchewan Government Airways, Prince Albert, Sask. on June 14, 1950. It was one of three aircraft modified with a belly exit to allow the dropping of the Saskatchewan Smoke Jumpers when on floats, the other two being CF-SAH (c/n 21) and CF-ECF (N29-37). In 1962 the aircraft was swept over a set of rapids above Nistowiak Falls, Saskatchewan. The wings were removed and a road cut through bush in order to move the aircraft back to safe water. Here it was reassembled, the floats repaired and flown out. Later the same year, departing Pinehouse, Sask. with a load of fish on board, the engine failed and the aircraft crashed in bush. It suffered substantial damage and pilot Wally Homersham received minor injuries. It was salvaged the following winter, transported to Prince Albert Sask. for rebuild and returned to service. Re-registered to Saskair, Prince Albert, Sask. (Company name change) in 1964. Registered to Norcanair, Prince Albert, Sask. on September 3, 1965 when they bought out Saskatchewan Government Airways. Registered to Dolphin Airways, Lynn Lake, Manitoba on December 17, 1965. Re-registered to La Ronge Aviation, La Ronge, Sask on January 4, 1967 when they bought out Dolphin Airways. Registered to Nipawin Air Service, Nipawin, Saskatchewan on December 20, 1967. Registration cancelled on July 15, 1976. Bought by Ag Air Company, Latah, Washington and was destined to be stripped for parts. The Saskatchewan Tourist Association and the Western Development Museum stepped in and purchased it. It has since been restored, painted in the original Air Ambulance gold and green colors and is displayed at the Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In 1982 the aircraft, in Air Ambulance colours, was featured on a Canadian sixty cent postage stamp. As of April 29, 1974 total flying time was 12,908 hours.
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September 17, 2004 at 9:56 am