Directors

darling Brian W. Darling, CD, National President. Mr. Darling has been a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association (RCAFA) and the Air Force Association of Canada (AFAC) since 1976. In March 1993, he was appointed Honourary Québec Group President RCAFA, for a two-year term. He is the founding President of 394 (West Island) Wing AFAC. In May 1995 he was elected Vice-President of Québec Group, and from May 1997 to April 2005 was Québec Group President and a member of the National Executive Council of the Association. He was elected National 2nd Vice President of the Association in October 2005 for a two-year term. On 1 January 2006 he was appointed as a trustee for the Royal Canadian Air Force Association Trust which, inter alia, provides Pilot Training Achievement Awards to graduated air cadet pilots across Canada. Mr. Darling serves on several AFAC National Committees as well as being the AFAC representative on the Veterans’ Affairs Canada Veterans’ Week Working Group. Bio (Microsoft Word) – Brian Darling Nov 09 Bio (Adobe Acrobat V5.0+) – Brian Darling Nov 09

mcdonaldGeorge Macdonald, CMM, MVO, CD, Honorary National President LGen George Macdonald’s last military assignment was as the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1966. After pilot training he completed two operational tours on the CF-101 Voodoo. As a Major he served for four months as the Canadian Equerry to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in conjunction with a royal visit to Canada in 1978. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Ottawa as the Governor General’s travel officer. In 1982, he was named Commanding Officer of 434 Squadron in Bagotville upon completion of CF-5 training at Cold Lake. In 1989 he became Commander of CFB Lahr and 3 Fighter Wing in West Germany, followed by a posting to the NATO Allied Forces Northern Europe Headquarters in Kolsaas, Norway. In 1992 he returned to Ottawa in a number of positions before becoming Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region in Winnipeg in 1997. On promotion to LGen, he became the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of North American Aerospace Defence Command in Colorado Springs. On 6 Sep 2001, he assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Vice Chief of Defence Staff. LGen Macdonald retired from the Canadian Forces in September 2004 and is now a partner with CFN Consultants in Ottawa, dealing with defence and security issues. He has been the Honorary National President of the Air Force Association since October 2005. Current as of March 2007 (Read more here…)

MelbourneJohn Melbourne, Immediate Past National President. John served in the RCAF from 1953 to 1964, primarily on Search and Rescue units. Upon leaving the RCAF to pursue a civilian career, which has lasted for 40 years, he joined the Purchasing Department of a Canadian subsidiary of Bechtel Corporation, a large E.P.C. (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) Company. He held several procurement positions during his 25-year career with the company, working on numerous construction projects.A complete biographical sketch of Mr. John Melbourne may be dowloaded here.

chester-21Terry Chester, CD, 1st Vice-President. Terry Chester joined the RCAF in Sept 1964 under the ROTP program and received a BA from the U of Sask in 1967. He was award Navigator Wings in 1968 and flew for 3,000 hrs on the Argus Maritime patrol aircraft. Accepted for pilot training in 1971, Terry was the honour student of Course 7102 as he received his pilot’s wings. He spent the next 8 years flying and instructing on the CP 107 Argus in Summerside, PEI and the O.T.U. in Greenwood, NS. As part of the CP 140 Aurora Team from ’79-81, he was instrumental in the introduction the CP 140 to the CF as the Senior Flight Deck Instructor. (Read more here…)

Greg-Spradbrow Greg Spradbrow, CD – 2nd Vice-President. Greg Spradbrow was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario on 06 July 1958. In 1971 he joined 44 Sqn RC(Air)C Sqn spending six rewarding years and earning his glider pilots wings. He enrolled into the Canadian Forces in 1977 as an Airframe Tech, he also joined 403 Wing RCAFA in 1978. After training Pte Spradbrow was posted to CFB Greenwood employed repairing Argus then Aurora aircraft, he transferred his Wing Membership to 107 Wing in 1981. Cpl Spradbrow was posted to CFB Trenton in 1984 were he worked in the AMSE shop. On promotion to MCpl in 1987 he was employed on Buffalo and Labrador aircraft with 424 Sqn. With this posting, Greg transferred his Wing membership to 413 Wing. Cpl Spradbrow was posted to CFB Trenton in 1984 were he worked in the AMSE shop. On promotion to MCpl in 1987 he was employed on Buffalo and Labrador aircraft with 424 Sqn. With this posting, Greg transferred his Wing membership to 413 Wing. No longer content to sit on the sidelines he served as Wing Secretary for 4 years, worked as volunteer bar tender and Colour Party member. During his time in Trenton, Greg Spradbrow also had the honour of serving on the Task Force to Restructure the RCAFA. In 1991 he was posted to 12 Wing Shearwater working on Sea King helicopters. While serving on HMCS Iroquois he participated in Operation Sharp Guard receiving the NATO Medal (Former Yugoslavia) and the CPSM. He also served on HMCS Halifax for two NATO deployments. During the second NATO his ship was redirected to the Persian Gulf for Operation Apollo (Afghanistan). He was awarded the SSM and SWASM. (Read more here…)

dannygosseDanny Gosse, CD, President Atlantic Group. Danny Gosse served in the RCAF/Cdn Forces from Dec-1963 until May 1979 as an Air Force/Military Policeman. Following training in St. Jean and Borden he was posted to St. Hubert PQ., Chatham NB., Moosejaw Sask., then overseas in Zweibrucken, Lahr and Baden Germany where he spent 4 years as a Police Dog Handler. He returned to North Bay Ont., then Goose Bay Labrador and Gander NL. He Released in Gander to take a position as an Investigator with Employment and Immigration and spent the next 18 years in various positions within that Dept. He resides in Summerside PEI with his wife Carol. They have two children, a son teaching in Edmonton and a daughter teaching in Summerside. They are very proud of their five grandchildren. Danny is a Past President of the Kinsman and Kiwanis Clubs and Past President of 200 Wing AFAC. He is also a Past Provincial Chair of the Air Cadet League of Canada (PEI). Danny has also served as Board Chair for CEED PEI, served on the Board of the Boys and Girls club and the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts. Danny is currently serving his second term as Atlantic Group President of the Air Force Association of Canada.

Guy Vallieres - President Quebec GroupGuy Vallieres, President Quebec Group

donovan002Dave Donovan, President Ontario Group.  David E C Donovan was born in Brockville Ontario  December 21, 1944. At the age of 16, he attempted to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and join the Canadian Army, by way of the “Boy Soldier Program”. Although he attained high marks, he was not offered the trade he preferred. He then turned his attention to the Royal Canadian Navy, where he completed the basic tests but because of having contracted pneumonia was asked to return after this problem was cleared up. However, fate had other ideas for him and he did not return to take up the Royal Canadian Navy’s kind offer. Life was launched in a different direction and, over the years he has held many positions in various organizations. He was a member of the Kinsmen Club of Brockville where he chaired their sports award dinner and golf tournament that saw many stars of the NHL, CFL and local celebrities attend. After transferring to Kingston in 1973, he served as Vice-President of the Kingston Kinsmen Club and also as the producer of the Kinsmen Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof” which played at the Grand Theatre to sold out audiences. He has also served as President of the Cataraqui Soccer Club, Director of the Austrian International Club and  Vice-President of the “Shutzenverian” (Shooting Club).   Dave joined 416 Wing in 1985 but, because of executive duties with the Austrian International Club he dropped out until 1989 when he rejoined 416 Wing as an associate member. He served on the wing executive as a Director from 1995 to 2000 and was elevated to Regular member status in 1997. He was 416 Wing President for four years from 2001 to 2004. Dave was then elected Regional Vice president for Quinte Region in 2005, 2nd Vice President in 2007 and was elected Ontario Group President in 2009. Dave owned and operated “Limestone Painting and Decorating for twenty years, retiring at the end of December 2009. He has one son, Petty Officer Second Class Sean Donovan, who with his wife Trudy and three children Courtney, Megan and Nicholas live in Russell Ontario. Dave and his wife Carole reside in Kingston Ontario.

Weldon Moffatt, DFM, President Prairies Group

Gilles McDermott, CD Gilles McDermott, CD, President Alberta Group. Mr. McDermott joined the Canadian Air Force in the Fall of 1976. After completing an initial English language course, he undertook trades training in Borden, Ontario and St-Jean, Quebec. His first posting was with the 409 Night Hawks in Comox, British Columbia working on the CF-101 Voodoo. In August of 1983 he was transferred to CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. Shortly after his arrival he was selected to undergo training on the newly acquired CF-188 Hornet at the Hughes plant in Los Angeles, California. Read more here…

janhogan001Jan Hogan, President Pacific Group. Janice was born in Ottawa, into a military family. She is very familiar with the military life and the military way as she has worked on five different bases (3 Wing Zweibrucken, Lahr, Cold Lake, Trenton and Comox). Janice became a member of 888 (Komox) RCAF Wing, in 1992. Beginning in 2001, she served as the Secretary for six consecutive terms and in 2007 she became the 1st Vice President of Pacific Group. In May 2008, she was sworn in as President. In 1997 Janice joined the Sponsoring Committee for 386 (Komox) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets, as the Secretary, a position she held for five years. She then became a representative of the BC Provinicial Committee of the Air Cadet Leage of Canada, a position she retains to this day. At the present time she is also the co-chair for Vancouver Island (North) working with five squadrons.

Ceremonial Advisor – C.L. “Tommy” Thomas, CD. C.L. (Tommy) Thomas
Born in London England in 1935, and after formal education, was called up into the Royal Air Force for National Service duty in 1953 until 1955 as an Airframe Mechanic. After release from the RAF went to work as an Airframe mechanic in the civilian Aircraft industry at 8 MU Little Rissington Glos, England.
In 1956 enrolled in the RCAF in London Eng, as an Airframe Tech and was posted to 406 Sqn Saskatoon Sask, working on B 25 Mitchell’s. In 1958 was posted to RCAF Stn Greenwood, where he worked on the CP 107 Argus until 1966. At this time he Was posted to 129 Test & Ferry Flight, at 6RD Trenton where he crewed on various aircraft for the next few years. In 1973 he was posted to 4 Wing, Baden Sollingen West Germany, where he served until 1978 working on the CF 104 Starfighter. After a tour in Baden he returned to Canada and was posted to CFB Trenton where he worked on the CC130 and the Boeing 707 aircraft. In 1984, he was promoted to WO and assumed the position of the Boeing maintenance Crew Chief. After three years he was again promoted, this time to Master Warrant Officer and assumed the position of Deputy Repair Officer in charge of maintenance on both CC130’s & the Boeing 707, as well as being the Snr trade advisor for the Aviation Tech’s trades. Upon retirement in 1991 after 38 yrs in the Regular Force, he was commissioned in the Reserve as a Captain in the CIL now the CIC, and became the training officer with 704 Sqn RC (Air) CS Trenton. After three years he took over as the Commanding Officer and was promoted to Major, a position he held until 1997, at which time he became the Eastern regional Detachment Movements Officer. During this time, he also worked as the Ramp Manager for Skycraft Air Transport Inc, at the Oshawa airport, until their demise in 1993. After this he worked as the Ramp supervisor for Zenon Airport Environmental at 8 Wing Trenton in charge of Glycol recovery on the Ramp. In 2000 he finally retired after 47 yrs in the military, and assumed a position in the Ontario Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League, as the Director of 85 Sqn Picton, 608 Sqn Belleville, and also 534 Sqn Peterborough. After five years he became Area Vice chair EOA (W) again, and still, over seeing Eight Cadet Sqn ’s from Belleville to Bomanville. Back in 1989 while still in the Air Force, I was honoured to be selected as Airman of the Year by 413 Wing of the then RCAFA now AFAC. He has continued his membership ever since and was honoured again in 1996 as ”Member of the Year” for Ontario Group. He served as President of 413 Wing for two years, from 2001-2003, and has been Sgt at Arms continually for the past 8 years, since 1991. In 1994 at the AGM in Windsor he was asked to be the Ceremonial Advisor’s (Ed Walker) Assistant, A position he held until Mr. Walker’s untimely passing, at which time he was asked to fill both his Ontario Ceremonial, & National Ceremonial Advisor positions. He is also the Parade Marshall for Br # 110 RCL Trenton, as well as the Parade Commander for the Ad Astra Stones Dedication Ceremony, held each year in September at the National Air Force Museum at Trenton. In 2008 at the ONT Group Convention at KIW, he was awarded the “ED Walker” Memorial Ont Group “Member of the Year”, and this was followed in Oct at the National Convention with the 2008 “Len Baldock Memorial Award”. These are two Awards that he has accepted with great honour. He is married to Jean (Smith), of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire England, and resides in Trenton. Together they have two married Sons who both attended University, Stephen at Waterloo, and David at Wilfred Laurier, one living in Trenton, and the other now in Newmarket Ont, and are proud grand parents of six grand children.

sid Spiritual Advisor – Padre Sid Horne, CD. Sid was born, raised and educated in St. Catharines Ontario. He graduated from St. Chad’s Theological College, Regina in 1950 and ordained into the Anglican Church. Sid served in two parishes in southern Saskatchewan from 1950 until April 1956. Sid joined the Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps as a Reserve Chaplain in Moose Jaw in September 1953. He transferred to the Regular Force chaplaincy in January 1956. Postings included Calgary, Montreal, Chilliwack, Shilo and to CFB Trenton in 1971 until retirement in 1980. In 1977 he was posted to Egypt on a six-month tour with the Canadian Contingent of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, which included duty with the United Nations Defence Observation Force. After retirement in August 1980 Sid continued to serve as a Class “C” call-out until June 1985. Sid was appointed Honorary Chaplain of 8 Wing, CFB Trenton in December 1994, a position he still holds. He also served as Rector of the Anglican parish of Tyendinaga, Mohawk Indian Reserve from March 1987 until retirement in June 1994. He was honoured upon retirement in 1994 by being inducted into the Mohawk Tribe and given his own Indian name, “RA WEN NEN HA WI” which means “The Carrier of the Word” and appointed by the Chief and Band Council as “The Royal Chaplain to the Loyal Mohawks” for life. (Read more here…)