111 Pegasus RCACS

SQUADRON HISTORY:

111 Pegasus RCACS in Vancouver was formed on April 9, 1942.

In reviewing the history of the 111 Pegasus Squadron it is important to note that although we were the first RCAF affiliated Air Cadet Squadron in Canada and we are very proud of the role we played in the development of the Air Cadet program, the Air Cadet history, as with most things in life, is not a clear and straight line development process. At around the same time as the Air Advisory Council was forming the initial plans for the new Air Cadet Program, there was an organization in Winnipeg operated by a member of the local Lions Club designed to get boys off the street. This program called itself Christ Church Air Cadets and was not affiliated with the RCAF; however, it used the interest young boys have in flight as a tool to get them off the street and interested in citizenship. Later in 1939 this group changed its name to Winnipeg Air Cadets. Around the same time Group Captain Bonham-Carter became interested in the program and provided officers from the RCAF to assist in the training. This Squadron, now known as 6 Jim Whitecross Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, was chartered to the Air Cadet League of Canada as #6 (Winnipeg) Squadron in 1941.

Although we do not know the exact timing, it was in the fall of 1938 that the Air Advisory Council was considering establishing an Air Cadet unit to act as a test for a potential national program. Wing Commander Alan Duncan Bell-Irving was a member of the Council and was such a passionate advocate of the Air Cadet idea that Vancouver was selected for the trial. On January 12 1939, Bell-Irving recorded in his diary that he had the “brainwave that Carter should lead [the] air cadet squadron.” On January 13, 1939 he wrote that he “got Nick Carter to accept job as OC Cadet Unit. GO Johnson agreeable.” With those two diary entries, the new Air Cadet Squadron in Vancouver had an OC and approval from Group Captain George Owen Johnson CB, MB the Commanding Officer of RCAF Western Air Command to move ahead.

The next step was to start recruiting new cadets. News stories ran in mid-January 1939 in the Vancouver News-Herald, Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Daily Province about the new Squadron. All of those articles invited interested young men over 14 and under 18 to register at the Stanley Park Armouries on Tuesday nights when the 111 RCAF Squadron was meeting at that location. The new Cadet Squadron would be the third Squadron in wing No. 100, which was commanded by Wing Commander Bell-Irving. This non-permanent Wing fell under Western Air Command and Group Captain Johnson.

January 24 1939 was the first Tuesday for new cadets to join the program. There are varying reports about how many cadets showed up that first night with reports as high as 1,100; however, according to Bell-Irving’s Diary entry on January 25 a total of 1,000 young men showed up to join the new Squadron that first night. According to a news story in the Vancouver Sun on February 1, 1939, the new cadets fell in for their first parade on January 31 and final selections were made for the 150 new cadets. These cadets began their training and preparation for their first official role during the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth May 29 and 31.

In order to participate during the Royal Visit the new cadets needed uniforms. With the assistance of the Lieutenant Governor of BC the Honourable E.W. Hamber, the Minster of National Defense the Honourable Ian Mackenzie and Wing Commander Bell-Irving some obsolete RCAF Uniforms were found and issued to the cadets. During the Royal Visit the new cadets performed admirably and received a letter of commendation from Wing Commander Bell-Irving for their efforts.

On April 28 1939 the Squadron became affiliated with Cadet Services of Canada and was officially designated #1601 Air Force Cadet Wing. Although the new Cadet Squadron was referred to as an “Air Force Cadet Wing”, it is not clear whether at formation it operated as a Squadron or as a wing composed of multiple Squadrons; however, according to the Vancouver Sun, by April 13 1940 the 1601 Wing had over 200 cadets and was organized into a true Wing with three Squadrons each led by a cadet Squadron Leader. 1601 Wing remained affiliated with Cadet Services of Canada, which later became the Army Cadet League of Canada, for equipment and support purposes until April 1942 although training continued to be provided by volunteers from the RCAF. Therefore, it is significant to note that in addition to our history with the Air Cadet League of Canada, we also owe a debt in our development to the Army Cadet League of Canada.

Most of the original cadets of 1601 Wing served in the RCAF. Four of them won Distinguished Flying Crosses and one a posthumous George Cross.

By September 1940 the 1601 Wing had 250 cadets and a waitlist of 2,000. In October of 1940 the Wing established a new band. The plan was for a 45-piece band to be organized by Arthur Delamont who was the director of the Kitsilano Boys Band. On October 2, 1940 a story about this new band ran in the Vancouver Sun inviting interested musicians to report, with their instruments, on the following Saturday to try out. The Boys who joined the band were given the rank of cadet and the opportunity to receive RCAF training in their spare time if they desired it.

Also in 1940, the Minister of National Defence for Air, Charles G. Power, called in a group of influential civilians to set up a country-wide organization to sponsor and develop the new Air Cadet movement. Among those civilians was our very own OC Nick Carter. On November 19, 1940, Order-in-Council PC 6647 authorized the organization of Air Cadet Corps and on April 9, 1942, the Secretary of State of Canada by Letters Patent officially granted a Charter establishing the Air Cadet League of Canada and authorizing it to operate as a charitable non-profit organization. The first Air Cadet Squadron chartered to this newly formed League was 1 West Montreal Squadron on September 24, 1941. Therefore, although 111 Pegasus was the first Air Cadet Squadron established in Canada, we were not the first to be affiliated with the Air Cadet League of Canada.

After the formation of the Air Cadet League, new Squadrons were established around the country in conjunction with High Schools and Air Cadet registration grew at a rapid rate. Through the first two years after the creation of the League, 1601 Wing continued to operate separate from the High School Cadet program. During these years, boys who were part of 1601 Wing were also allowed to join their High School Squadron but the stipulation of joining 1601 Wing was that they had to be seriously considering entering the RCAF when they were old enough.