Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Profile of Members
George Arthur Neal
Birthdate: November 21, 1918
Birth Place: Downsview, Ontario
Year Inducted: 1995
"His contribution to the testing, development and promotion of Canadian designed and built STOL aircraft has gained world wide recognition and respect for the Canadian aviation industry and all Canadians."
In 1948, George Neal was one of the first Canadians to be jet qualified on the RCAF's de Havilland Vampire. Neal's testing and demonstrations of aircraft such as the Beaver, the Otter, and the Caribou, allowed them to be successful around the world . He retired in 1983 as Director of Flight Operations of de Havilland Canada. In 1967, Neal also rebuilt, from its original plans, a Sopwith Pup. For this, he was awarded the Keith Hopkinson Award for the best home-built aircraft. Presently, Neal was Chief Pilot for the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa until 1991 where he flew the Avro 504K and a Nieuport 17 that are in the museum's collection.
William Francis Montgomery Newson
Birthdate: July 19, 1917
Birth Place: Calgary, Alberta
Year Inducted: 1984
Death Date: March 24, 1988
Awards: DSO, DFC, CD
"His lifetime dedication to aviation in both war and peace, particularly his outstanding effort to preserve and present the human aspects of aviation for the purpose of increasing public knowledge and appreciation for Canada's aviation heritage has been of considerable benefit to Canadian aviation and to the nation."
William Newson joined the RCAF in 1939 and learned to fly at Camp Borden, Ontario. His first assignment was to fly coastal operations, escorting convoys on the Atlantic crossings, often under very difficult weather conditions. He transferred to the United Kingdom Ferry Command and was later posted as Squadron Commander of No.431 Squadron. In October 1944 Newson served as Commanding Officer of the famous Pathfinder Squadron, where he remained until war's end. Following WWII, he held several senior staff and command appointments in Canada and overseas. He retired from the Armed Forces in 1972 after accumulating nearly 6000 flying hours. Newson was approached in 1977 to take on the role of Executive Vice President of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Accepting the position, he successfully! brought to fruition the concept of this unique institution and preserved the human aspects of Canadian aviation heritage for the benefit of the nation.© Copyright in the portrait drawings of the honoured members of the Aviation Hall of Fame, which were prepared by Mrs. I. Coucill are the property of Mrs. Coucill.