87 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca HORNER, Harvey Winford WWII Harvey entered the service of the Royal Canadian Air Force in April 1943, passing his medical requirements, and the swearing-in ceremony, in the Paris building in Winnipeg. His first posting was to #2 Manning Depot in Brandon, MB. The new recruits at this establishment entered a world of change, ie: a very short haircut, an issue of attire from the skin out, and indeed more clothing than imaginable. Discipline and drill was administered by sunburned N.C.O.’s as well as a full measure of needles and shots, are memorable items. Harvey was posted to I.T.S. at Regina from Brandon, which was housed in a Teachers’ College across the lake from the legislative buildings. This course was an introduction to similar courses a student would receive at Air Training Schools later, ie: airmanship, engine meteorology, etc. Harvey requested and was accepted for pilot’s training and posted to Elementary Flying School in Davidson, Saskatchewan - #23 E.F.T.S. This school was located midway between Regina and Saskatoon on flat prairie farm country. They commenced training on November 15, 1943, on Fairchild Cornells and soloed on November 22, 1943. He began night flying on December 20 and soloed on December 27. On January 23, 1944, they completed their training in Davidson from which place they were sent to various Service Schools across the prairies, No. 10 S.F.T.S., Dauphin being his first destination. His introduction to the Cessna Crane was made at times interesting as he found two engines more difficult for take-offs. The following five months were very busy. They were exposed to the world of circuits and landings, cross country flights, low flying flights, cloud flying, instrument flying, night flying, navigation flights by day and night. Their days were divided, half flying and half ground school, and of course, sessions in the Link Trainer. The Anson Aircraft at Dauphin was used for some of the navigational training by day and by night and also for Standard Beam Approach, the latter being a form of instrument approach and landing system. Harvey was grateful for some of the instructors, particularly ground school types who went the extra mile in hot, stuffy classrooms to make the material interesting and memorable. His logbook shows that on October 6, 1944, he had 291 hours and 45 minutes of flying time and had no outstanding faults. Assessment of ability as a pilot – average; as pilot navigator – average. His embarkation leave was spent at home, after which he was posted to Trois Riviere, Quebec. Pilots at this point were becoming a glut on the market, testifying to the success of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Their draft was cancelled, and transportation issued for the trip home. He was released from active service on January 18, 1945. He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. Harvey’s occupation since demobilization has been forty years in the employ of Canadian Pacific Railway, retiring from same in 1985. He and his wife Mary were married in June 1953. They had four kids: Larry, Colleen, Andy and Cindy. They lived on their farm, SE ¼ 21-14-18, in Odanah Municipality. Harvey was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Minnedosa Branch 138 and received a 50-year pin in 1995. Harvey passed away on December 23, 2013, and Mary passed away on October 29, 2014. Both are interred at Minnedosa Cemetery.
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