Member Profiles
Joseph Pierre Roméo Vachon
Birth: June 29, 1898
Birthplace: Sainte-Marie-de-la-Beauce, Quebec
Inducted: 1974
Death: December 17, 1954
Awards:
"His complete dedication to the advancement of manned flight in the
service of frontier communities, in his dual capacity as pilot and air
engineer, has been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation."
Roméo Vachon served with the Royal Navy as an engineer until his discharge in
1919, when he enlisted in the Canadian Air Force. During his career he piloted
a WWI flying boat in which he flew forestry patrols and, after the war's end,
he flew the first airmail service at Rimouski, Quebec with Canadian
Transcontinental Airways. In 1928 Vachon successfully designed a new aerial
service for the forwarding of mail to and from Europe. In 1936, as director of
Canadian Airways, Vachon also set up new aerial transportation facilities in
Labrador and Newfoundland to service the mining industry.
Archie Vanhee
Birth: September 15, 1909
Birthplace: Jabbeke, Belgium
Inducted: 1987
Death: May 3, 2009
Awards:
"With his continued involvement in flying over half a century he
demonstrated a unique ability in assisting many pilots in the art of
instrument flying , and thus contributing significantly to the advancement of
aviation in Canada."
Archie Vanhee was educated in Belgium and Canada, later enrolling in the
Aviation Preparatory Institute of New York. During his career he was hired as
a helper-mechanic, pilot engineer and flew numerous rescue missions. In 1939
he became an instructor at the Seaplane Training School in B.C. where he
instructed on the Vedette, Vancouver, Stranraer, Norseman, Hudson, Cessna
Crane and Northrop Delta aircraft. In 1941 he took command of the Hudson
Training Unit, then later worked with Cansos, specializing in instrument
flying training. In 1944 he was posted to a ferry command in the United
Kingdom but after the war he returned to Halifax. He became Director of
Instrument Flying Training in 1945 and was demobilized with the rank of
Squadron Leader. In 1949 Vanhee moved to Vancouver to fly for Canadian Pacific
Airlines Overseas Lines and later that year was the first captain of the first
direct Honolulu-Vancouver flight by a Canadian aircraft.
Joseph Armand Gerard Fernand Villeneuve
Birth: July 2, 1927
Birthplace: Buckingham, Quebec
Inducted: 2006
Death:
Awards: AFC, CD
"His
skill and dedication as a military aerobatics pilot, the professionalism of his
work in aircraft accident investigation and prevention, and his long-standing
contributions to the Canadian Air Cadet gliding program have resulted in lasting
benefit to Canadian aviation."
2006 Induction Video - Biography of J.A.G.F. "Fern" Villeneuve
© 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.
