513 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND WING, Richard L. “Rick” Rick was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on September 21, 1951. He enlisted in 1970 and attended Royal Roads Military College from 1970 to 1972. He completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies at Royal Military College, Kingston and was commissioned as a Lieutenant on May 1, 1974. He completed training and received his watch keeping certificate aboard HMCS Mackenzie and was posted to Halifax aboard HMCS Annapolis. Rick completed the Destroyer Weapons Officer course in December 1976 andAnti Submarine Air Controller course in October 1977. He was LT (N) in 1977 and posted to HMCS Huron in June 1978. He was transferred to the Reserve Force in December 1978. Rick served as the Personnel Selection Office for the Northern Ontario Militia District from 1983 to 1990 and was awarded the Canadian Forces’ Decoration in May 1987. In civilian life, Rick worked for the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities as a Training Consultant and as a Manager, Dean and Registrar with Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology for over thirty years. Rick is a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 211 Bruce Mines. WINTERS, Howard Richard Howard was born in East Luther Township, Ontario in 1920. He served in the RCAF with the #434 Bluenose Squadron. He trained in Galt, Ontario, Ryerson and Manning Depot in Toronto. Overseas Howard was stationed in Croft, England, near Darlington. His desire was to be a pilot but he was rejected as he was colour blind. He worked as an aero-engine mechanic on Halifax and Lancaster bombers and prided himself on how fast he could repair and turn around the damaged aircraft. His secret, the envy of the repair crew, was a special tool he had invented to access parts obscured by a maze of wiring. His tool was taken as a model and developed as a standard tool for engine repair. The original tool is still in possession of his family. Howard seldom talked about his wartime experience but some stories coming to light were about the anxious hours awaiting the return of the bomber crews and the explosion of a bomb that came partly unhooked from the bomb rack and was dragged along the runway. Following the war Howard and his brother Weir, being mechanics, owned and operatedWinters’ Garage in Erin, Ontario. Howard passed away on January 13, 2005 and is buried in the Huxley Cemetery at Hillsburgh, Ontario. WINTERS, Ernest “Weir” Weir was born on a peach farm in the Niagara region in 1918. He enlisted in the RCAF in 1942 and trained as an airframe mechanic. In 1943 he was serving with Ferry Command on Vancouver Island. He had met his future wife, Marie Cannon, in Grade school. Weir married Marie on August 24, 1943 on Vancouver Island before shipping off to war. Weir was shipped to Scotland and attached to the #143 (Typhoon Fighter-Bomber) Wing of the Second Tactical Air Force. Promoted to Corporal, he was in charge of a workshop of seventeen men and usually on advance parties setting up airfields in close support of the ground troops. Because of the close proximity to the fighting they were always in danger of enemy attack. At one point 14 out of 21 pilots were lost. Weir returned to Canada in December 1945 and teamed up with his brother, Howard, as mechanics and owners of a garage in Erin, Ontario. After selling their Texaco garage, Weir served as Erin Hydro Commissioner for several years. Weir served as the town fire chief and was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion in Erin for 63 years, serving as President and awarded a Life Membership. Ernest passed away in 2010 and is buried in the Erin Union Cemetery.
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