I am currently going through photos from the collection of a late RNZAF pilot, Ken Law. He trained in NZ and Canada and then flew operationally in the RAF.
In Canada Ken trained at Brandon, Manitoba.
I have some queries for the Canadian forum members here.
Firstly, am i right in thinking this bridge seen in Vancouver is Lion Rock Bridge?
If so, is this on the way into the harbour from the sea?
In a couple of photos there’s shots of a group of NZ airmen beside a lage gate with the words Great Divide on them. Is this taken during a stop across the Rocky Mountains by train? If not, where it is?
Also, does anyone know for certain where this railway station is? It’s somewhere among the mountains. Is this Banff?
Finally (for now) in Ken’s log book a couple of instructors who flew with him in the Cessna Cranes are noted as S/P Sorley, S/P Wiley and S/P Robertson. As S/P is not an Air Force rank, I wondered is this abbreviation for one of the American civil pilots? Was it perhaps a title like Senior Pilot? Any ideas?
Thanks
Dave
By: Dave Homewood - 8th August 2009 at 23:52
Thanks for digging this up aout of the depths Peter. Three years with no answers and now they’re flooding in.
Actually I’m fairly sure I put the same questions and photos on WIX an got a heap of responses so most of the questions were answered at the time. However it’s been so long I can’t recall which were answered and which are still unanswered.
The S/P abbreviation was not for student pilot. I ahve a full list of his course members and the names were not among them.
See Ken Law’s story and many more awesome photos here on my website. Thanks everyone.
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Ken%20Law.htm
By: bazv - 8th August 2009 at 05:28
Dave I would think S/P denotes Sergeant Pilot ? Darrell
Or perhaps Student Pilot ? The students did fly together on mutual training flights once they had a few hours under their belts.I have seen C/P written (cadet/pilot)
The few Log books I have seen just had rank ie ‘Sgt’ or F/O etc but Bolyman could well be correct as the log book can be a form of personal shorthand.
One cross check might be to see which particular training exercise was being carried out,early or important training (say early stalling training or assymetric engine flying) would be with an instructor but as a more senior student on (say) cross country or instrument practice could be mutual with another C/P
Edit …have just looked at this link…http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Ken%20Law.htm
This has him flying with Sorley before solo so would be an instructor
Only other thing I can think of would be Staff Pilot ,did the canadians use military or civilian instructors ? or a mix of both ?
cheers BV
By: contrailjj - 8th August 2009 at 04:42
Dave,
Thats the “Lions Gate Bridge” and the view is on the way into the harbour.
James
By: bolyman - 8th August 2009 at 04:31
Dave I would think S/P denotes Sergeant Pilot ? Darrell
By: Peter - 8th August 2009 at 04:09
Dave,
A good friend here in Canada said that the Great Divide photo is on the Trans Canada highway west of Lake Louise. The Train station looks very much like the station at Banff Alberta as well!
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June 29, 2006 at 4:34 am