Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Profile of Members
Robert Cheetham Randall
Nickname: "Bob" Randall
Birthdate: November 2, 1908
Birth Place: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Year Inducted: 1974
Death Date: December 11, 2004
"His pioneer flights over unmapped mountains, and his dedication to purpose during the 1937 aerial search for six Russian fliers, despite adversity, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation."
Robert Randall mastered the art of flying in the North and through mountain ranges. National Geographic recognized this and hired him to make photographic and supply flights over the unmapped territory of the St. Elias Range for their Yukon expedition. Randall also participated in the search for Russian pilot Sigmund Levanevsky and his five companions, who went missing on a trans-polar flight from Moscow to Alaska. During the construction of the ALCAN pipeline, Randall was loaned to an American company by Canadian Pacific Airlines to organize and manage their flying operations. He retired in 1969 with more than 30,000 hours logged.
Bernard Anderson Rawson
Nickname: "Barney" Rawson
Birthdate: October 27, 1907
Birth Place: Fort William, Ontario
Year Inducted: 1973
Death Date: July 4, 1996
"The application of his aeronautical talents towards designing the Great Lakes Airway and his airborne work to improve airport runway lighting systems, have substantially benefited Canadian aviation."
Bernard Rawson was employed by the U.S. Weather Bureau, and his flights marked the beginning of mass air analysis, permitting present-day, long range weather forecasting. In 1968, Rawson conducted marketing research for regional airline type aircraft for acceptable design parameters. The sales success of de Havilland Aircraft Company's Twin-Otter was due in part to his forcefulness as an officer of Miami Aviation Corporation. During a 45-year career, Rawson flew more than 100 aircraft types, from small trainers to giant passenger airliners. He amassed more than 20,000 hours without injury to passenger or crew, and he was the first non-military pilot in Canada to pilot a jet-fighter aircraft.
Thomas Mayne Reid
Nickname: "Pat" Reid
Birthdate: August 22, 1895
Birth Place: Ballyroney, County Down, Northern Ireland
Year Inducted: 1974
Death Date: April 8, 1954
Awards: DFM
"His mapping of this nation's northern frontier during pioneer air expeditions, and the dedication of his skills to seeking lost airmen, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation."
In 1929, Thomas Reid flew a prospecting party from Fort Churchill, ON, to Coppermine, NWT on the Arctic Ocean, then up the Mackenzie River to Edmonton, Alberta, completing the first northwest passage by air. The expedition lasted six months and covered over 25,000 miles without the benefit of navigational aids or weather services. In 1931 he became western aviation manager of Imperial Oil Limited and that year led the Trans-Canada Air Pageant, a two-way transcontinental flight visiting every city in Canada, where landing was possible. The tour showcased the fledgling Canadian aviation industry, and displayed the latest in civil and military aircraft.
John Hardisty Reilly
Nickname: "Jack" Reilly
Birthdate: March 1, 1921
Birth Place: Edmonton, Alberta
Year Inducted: 1974
Death Date: September 2, 2003
"His application of outstanding skills and dedicated perseverance, in those demanding areas of flight he chose to conquer, despite adversity, have resulted in outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation."
John Reilly grew up on an airport running errands and refueling planes for many members since named to the Hall of Fame. He joined the RCAF in 1940 and was promoted to the captaincy of Coastal Command flying boats carrying out anti-submarine duties on Canada's west coast and in the European Theatre of Operations. Before retiring from the service as Flight Lieutenant in 1946, he completed the most advanced military instructor's course available, the senior administration course, earned his navigator's certificate and the most senior military pilot's license. Later on, aircraft under his control blazed new frontiers in Canada's north, often without the benefits of radio communication or navigational aids and during extended periods of darkness.
Moretta Fenton Beall Reilly
Nickname: "Molly" Reilly
Birthdate: February 25, 1922
Birth Place: Lindsay, Ontario
Year Inducted: 1974
Death Date: November 24, 1980
"Her dedication to flight, her self-set demands for perfection, the outstanding abilities she has developed despite adversity, have made her a guiding light in aviation circles for others of her sex to follow and have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.
Moretta Reilly played a tremendous role in opening up the aviation field for women. In 1942, she joined the RCAF (Women's Division) as a photographer, and served in Canada as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) until 1946. She earned licenses to fly several types of aircraft and spent much of her time instructing others. She later became chief instructor in 1954 with Canadian Aircraft Renters at Toronto, Ontario and earned a captain's promotion with Southern Provincial Airlines. In this position she participated in the development of the airline's highly regarded air ambulance service throughout eastern Canada. In 1959, Peter Bawden Drilling Services at Calgary, Alberta hired Reilly as the co-captain of a DC-3 operating in Canada's north. In this position she became the first to pilot the aircraft in extensive periods of darkness and extreme weather conditions, often without radio communications and navigation aids.
Stanley George Reynolds
Birthdate: May 16, 1923
Birth Place: Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Year Inducted: 2009
“His great success as a collector of vintage vehicles, machines and aircraft has resulted in his donating much of his collection to the province of Alberta and Reynolds-Alberta Museum, including the largest donation of vintage aircraft by an individual in Canadian history. The impact of his philanthropy is limitless and will benefit Canadians and their knowledge of aviation history for generations to come.”
Birthdate: August 25, 1885
Birth Place: Kingston, Ontario
Year Inducted: 1976
Death Date: June 26, 1939
"In the annals of this nation's flying history, no businessman gave more of himself for less reward to the everlasting benefit of Canadian aviation."
James Richardson was an astute businessman who foresaw the role aircraft had in opening up the mineral wealth in Northern Ontario. In order to be the first there, he established Western Canada Airways. Under his presidency, the company opened airways to mines from the Pacific to the Atlantic. In further investigating the Canadian Shield's mineral potential, he became a director and shareholder of Northern Aerial Mineral Explorations. He envisioned one single operating company to provide coast-to-coast air transportation and mail delivery under Canadian control. But his dreams were dashed when Trans-Canada Airlines was formed in 1937, taking over passenger and mail routes across Canada.
Robert Dick Richmond
Birthdate: January 13, 1919
Birth Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Year Inducted: 1995
"His long time leadership and unwavering dedication to the highest standards in engineering, manufacturing and management have made an enduring contribution to the Canadian aerospace industry and its international capabilities."
Dick Richmond obtained his Bachelor of Engineering degree, in Aeronautical Engineering, at the University of Michigan in 1942. He applied to the RCAF after graduating and immediately reported to the Mechanical Engineering Division of the National Research Council. Richmond later joined Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. where he was involved in experimental modification programs and design of Husky Aircraft. In 1947 he accepted a position with Canadair as Section Chief of Aerodynamics where he led preliminary design in creating the Argus and Tutor Aircraft for the RCAF. Richmond joined Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in 1960 and guided the company in general management of engine and helicopter activities. Richmond is credited with establishing Canadair's Challenger business jet program as an international competitor. In the 1970's, as President of Spar Aerospace, he oversaw the development of the Canadarm for NASA.
Birthdate: November 26, 1916
Birth Place: Hamilton, Ontario
Year Inducted: 1988
Death Date: July 19, 2006"His exceptional abilities as a test and demonstration pilot and his talents in training pilots to STOL technology has been of lasting benefit to the Canadian aviation industry and to the nation of Canada."
Don Rogers served as an instructor for the RCAF at #10 EFTS Mount Hope, Ontario and was later posted to RAF Ferry Command. He joined Avro Canada Ltd. in 1945 as Chief Test Pilot of the C-102 Jetliner, the Lancaster "flying test bed" and the CF100, and was Flight Operations Manager for the Arrow test flying. He later moved to the Flight Operations department at de Havilland where he served as test, demonstration and training pilot on their STOL aircraft.
Lindsay Rood
Nickname: "Lindy" Rood
Birthdate: March 17, 1911
Birth Place: Berwick, Nova Scotia
Year Inducted: 1974
"His leadership, dedication to safety of flight operations and wide-ranging contributions to Canadian and international aviation have left an indelible mark on the airline industry and have been of significant benefit to Canada."Lindsey Rood began his aviation career with the RCAF and later earned his wings as Pilot Officer in the RCAF Reserve. He later entered the commercial aviation field as a flying instructor and barnstormer in Nova Scotia, where he also earned his engineer's license. In 1937, he joined Trans-Canada Air Lines where he pioneered the Rocky Mountain routes between Lethbridge, Alberta and Vancouver, B.C.. Later in his career, Rood rejoined the RCAF at the outbreak of WWII and was asked to develop the Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic Air Service, designed to speed high-ranking government officials and secret cargo between Canada and the United Kingdom. He was named chief pilot of this service until the war's end when the service was taken over by TCA.
Frank Walter Russell
Birthdate: October 19, 1909
Birth Place: Toronto, Ontario
Year Inducted: 1994
Death Date: December 15, 1994
"His ingenuity and dedication to the quality servicing and maintenance of aircraft over a span of 60 years has made him a respected player in the development of bush flying and has been of major benefit to Canadian aviation."
Frank Russell began his career in aviation with de Havilland of Canada in 1929. While there he assembled the first Tiger Moth built in Canada. In 1934 he accepted a position with Austin Airways as their first employee. He later moved to Sudbury and set up a new base for the firm to serve prospectors, mines, lumber camps and the communities of northern Ontario. During his career, Russell called on his engineering abilities many times in maintaining and repairing numerous types of aircraft. In 1955 he salvaged a grounded plane from a swirling river and prepared aircraft for rescue missions in the far north. He remained with Austin Airways for 41 years and in 1975 became Chief Inspector with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum where he supervised restoration on the aircraft there until 1982.© 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.