It was at Dusseldorf on Sunday, September 18th, when the team suffered another minor setback. There were few regulations with respect to airshows in those days, the principal one being don't hurt yourself, or anyone else! Unfortunately, while operating in very close proximity to the Sky Lancers perked on the rap, German glider pilot Albert Falderbaum lost control of his sailplane during his aerobatic performance and promptly crashed, upside-down, into Theriault's Sabre 5. Fortunately, Falderbaum survived, but the Sabre would need repairs. Theriault therefore had to use Herb Graves' aircraft to keep the diamond intact, with a disappointed Graves watching from the ground.
Someone else watching from the ground that day was a young Canadian airman from 2 Wing by the name of Bob Jones. He explains how the Sky Lancers used tactical surprise to liven up the audience on what was otherwise a very cloudy and drizzly airshow day.
"I had been late getting back from leave, and as punishemnt, was flown to Dusseldorf in an Expeditor with three others to guard our aircraft during the show. I watched the Sunday show in which the four-ship took off and flew a wide circuit. As the crows watched a solo civilian performer exit the area, the four-ship came in low and fast from behind the crowd and scared the hell out of them! As I watched the crowd, they seemed to physically jump as the noise hit them. I don't know how low those F-86's were, but I would guess at less than 100 feet.
Reprinted from "A Tradition of Excellence - Canada's Airshow Team Heritage" courtesy Dan Dempsey. - Web Site -
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Updated: April 20, 2003