904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing
Air Force Association of Canada
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Last updated
June 11, 2010
Wing Newletters
January 2009 |
PRINT (PDF File 529K) |
In This Issue:
- Flyers 2008 Air Show
- Meet the Members - Bill Smith
- Welcome Back Snowbirds BBQ
- New Year's Day Cocktail Party
- Wing Golf Tournament
- 904 Wing Program
- Wing Executive Council
The Festival "Flyers 2008" Air Show was a 2 day event this year held on Sat. Nov. 22nd and Sun. Nov 23rd. As in 2007, the air show was held over the north shore of Lake Cajititlan in the Municipality of Tlajomulco.
This is the 4th year that 904 Wing has been invited by the Guadalajara Flyers organization to attend their air show. As in past years, members of 904 Wing and their partners were invited to the VIP area to enjoy the sunny weather, air show, ground activities, refreshments and food served throughout the day.
The highlight of both days this year was the morning and afternoon Aerobatic presentation, by Dr. Luisa Romero, who flew a Mudry Cap - 232, followed by a Columbia 350 flown by "Flyers" Cap. P.A. Pepe Zambrano. Both did some unbelievable and heart stopping maneuvers that were enjoyed by a crowd of over 10,000 people.
Both days included a great demonstration of Hot Air Balloons, Ultra Lights, small Single & Twin Engine Aircraft (single and in formation), Helicopters, Remotely Controlled Planes, Parachute jumps, Lear Jets (single and in formation), the Airbus 300 fly-by and Gliders.
New this year were the ground events held while people were waiting for the next aircraft to make its appearance. They included Belly Dancing, Thai Huay Kick-Boxing and several Ballet Folklorico shows. The Air Show on Saturday, ended with a great display of Fireworks.
By far, this was the best air show to date and a good time was had by all.
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Meet 904 Wing Members - Bill Smith
Bill was born on June 14, 1918 in Balmy Beach, Toronto. He attended Balmy Beach public school and Malvern Collegiate. At age 12, he learned to play the saxophone and clarinet, and acquired his first boat. Boating and music became his life's passions.
Early in 1941 he joined the RCAF, failed the eye test for aircrew, and was sent to St. Thomas TTS for the instrument tech course. He later took further training in Auto-pilot servicing. After one year in Trenton CFS, he was posted to Britain and served with 415 Squadron, Costal Command, stationed at Thorney Island near Portsmouth. When he arrived on Station it was to relieve an RAF Flight Sergeant, but he was immediately told that the establishment allowed for no more NCOs and he could expect no promotion. This set the pattern and he finished the war he started it, a Tech LAC.
When Bill joined 415 Squadron they were flying ex-fleet Air Arm Swordfish, and switched shortly after to Albacores, both single engine open biplanes without auto-pilots so there was little work for him. The Squadron then converted to Hampdens, and the work load increased as in Bill's words "the Hampden was not a great aircraft." In 1944, the Squadron moved to Bircham Newton in Norfolk and became a bomber Squadron, part of 6 Group and converted again, this time to Wellingtons.
Bill was there until early 1945, when he was transferred to 426 Squadron Headquarters because they had lost their first saxophone player and needed a replacement. Bill remembers this time fondly: "I played in their dance band, and a bit of a tradition sprang up - I finished every evening of dancing with a clarinet solo on two of the soppy songs of the day - Goodnight Sweetheart and I'll see you in my dreams. I pushed this to the hilt, playing low and making the horn cry - trying to see how many people could be brought to tears. Mean, but remember another tradition was to keep the members of the band well supplied with beer, so I was not always totally sober!"
"The real reason for the emphasis on the band became clear a few weeks before the invasion of Normandy - there were thousands of troops being built up in Southern England and they were all confined to barracks so every night the band piled into a blacked out truck and were driven somewhere, we never knew where, to entertain the troops. In September I was shipped home to Canada, playing as usual, over the foredeck to the guys. I was discharged in Toronto."
Bill returned to Ryerson, Toronto for an intensive structural course then joined the steel industry in 1947, working as a project manager for many structures in Ontario. He resigned in 1978 to spend two years helping the Mohawks of Caughnawaga to build and start a steel fabricating plant and business on the reserve. In 1980, he became a private consultant on steel bridge erection.
He retired and moved to Ajijic in 1984 where he has lived since. Barbara, his wife of 56 years and best friend, died of cancer in Feb 1999. Bill has one daughter, Robin living in Belize and three sons, Chris in Cambridge, Ontario, Gregory in Vancouver and Peter in Toronto.
904 Wing is lucky and honoured to have this classy gentleman and great friend as our most senior member.
Welcome Back Snowbirds B.B.Q.
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New Year's Day Cocktail Party
Mike Briscoe, Colin Hodgson, Mario Okunsky, Tombo Thomlinson, Ron
Hudson, John Sproat and Bob Rowlatt received their Air Force Association 5 Year membership pins at the New Year's Day Cocktail Party. |
President Ron and the Wing Executive are to be commended for initiating
a Cocktail Party on New Year's Day. Styled after the traditional New Year's Levee it was a classy way to kick off 2009. There was an excellent response and those who attended enjoyed the opportunity to wish friends a Happy New Year. I guess this is likely to be the first of many New Year's Day events for the Wing. The Editor |
904 Wing Golf Tournament
Don't miss the "THIRD ANNUAL BEST BALL GOLF TOURNAMENT" to be held at the Chapala Country Club at Vista Del Lago on Tuesday, 27 Jan, 2009. There will be a shot gun start at 1:00 pm. If you don't want to golf, join the gang after for the BBQ, it is certain to be great. Dinner will be a Pit Roasted Pig slow cooked overnight, mixed buffet of salads & hot dishes plus dessert.
Per person prices are as follows:
- Golf and Dinner with cart and caddy - 700 pesos
- Golf and Dinner with caddy, no cart - 550 pesos
- Golf and Dinner for Members - 230 pesos
- Dinner only - 170 pesos
904 Wing Program
| Date | Day/Time | Theme | Venue |
| 09 Jan 2009 | Fri | Regular Meeting | La Nueva Posada |
| 23 Jan 2009 | Fri | Beer Call | Roberto's Rincon del Cielo |
| 27 Jan 2009 | Tue | 904 Wing "Best Ball" Golf Tournament | Chapala Country Club |
| 13 Feb 2009 | Fri | Games Night | Games Night |
| 27 Feb 2009 | Fri | Beer Call | Roberto's Rincon del Cielo |
| 13 Mar 2009 | Tue | Annual Dinner Dance | La Nueva Posada |
| 27 Mar 2009 | Fri | Beer Call | Roberto's Rincon del Cielo |
| 03 Apr 2009 | Fri | Annual General Meeting | La Nueva Posada |
Wing Executive Council
If you have any suggestions to improve the program or any of the 904 Wing events, please speak to any member of the Executive Council. I am sure that they would welcome your comments on the New Year's Party or any other event on the program.
| 904 Wing Executive Council for 2007-2008 | |
| Ron Hudson | President |
| Don Slimman | First Vice |
| Tombo Thomlinson | Second Vice |
| Bob Pope | Snowbird Rep |
| John Prichard | Secretary/Treasurer |
| Mario Okunsky | Past President |