Metz, France
Unexpected Travel in France
The early days at Metz left a lot to be desired for our RCAF personnel. 61 AC&W Squadron was expected to become operational on 1 August 1955. Since the RCAF did not posess an air fleet to move personnel between Canada and Europe, most of the personnel selected for duty at Metz travelled to France via ship. The ships were already fully booked for the summer months - so personnel travelled to France during the month of May 1955.
Oops - what do you do with personnel arriving in May - when the squadron is not sceduled to become operational until August?
Well, one of the things that you can do is to take a little time for a field trip and tour the country that you will be living in for a few years of your life.
The squadron obtained a 40 passenger bus for the tour - but there were more than 40 FCOs available and wanting to travel. So - everyones name went into a hat - and they drew 40 names. The lucky ones departed westbound towards Paris, followed by a trip to Vimy Ridge. F/O WD "Daddy" Hawke was fortunate to act as official chaperone.
List of participants: - F/O WD Hawke, FS Gaudet, Cpl Edie Huffman, LAW Danny Daniels, AW1 Shirley Coates, Iola Little, Rita Pelser, Rita Pew, Len Washburn, Vicki Hlohovski, Monna Mitchell, Helen Stewart, LAC Shorty Huntley.
Do you happen to know the names of any of the other participants? If so - please advise us by email so we can update this list.
Click on the description text to view the photograph.
- F/O WD "Daddy" Hawke (chaperone) chatting with FCO personnel in front of bus prior to departure for Paris and Vimy Ridge - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- Iola Little (front and centre) with Len Washburn walking toward her in Paris - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- FCOs relaxing at a sidewalk Cafe in Paris - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- FCOs relaxing at a sidewalk Cafe in Paris - May 1955.
Courtesy Shirley Coates (now Bourassa).
- Larger image of the previous photo - May 1955.
Courtesy Shirley Coates (now Bourassa).
- (L-R) Vicki Hlohovski, Monna Mitchell and Helen Stewart relax at a sidewalk cafe in Paris - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- FCO group at the Eiffel Tower tour. Sgt. Gaudet, F/O "Daddy" Hawke and LAC Shorty Huntley at right - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- FCO group on the Eiffel Tower - May 1955.
(L-R) - FS Gaudet, unknown, Edie Huffman, Danny Daniels (now Summerfield), unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Shirley Coates.
Courtesy Shirley Coates (now Bourassa).
- Larger image of the FCO group on the Eiffel Tower - May 1955.
(L-R) - FS Gaudet, unknown, Edie Huffman, Danny Daniels (now Summerfield), unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Shirley Coates.
Courtesy Shirley Coates (now Bourassa).
- Newspaper clipping of FCO personnel in Paris - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- FCO tourists arrive at Vimy Ridge - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- FCO Airwomen gather in front of Cenotaph at Vimy Ridge - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- Limit of Canadian Line at Vimy Ridge - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
- Limit of German Line at Vimy Ridge - May 1955.
Courtesy Iola Little (now Whiteside).
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Photographic Credits
All photos are used with permission.
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Updated: August 16, 2004
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