Flying school named after First World War hero

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This article was published 12/04/2018 (2768 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies is now named after the most decorated war hero in the country’s history.

The school became the RCAF Wing Commander William G. Barker VC Aerospace College — honouring the First World War flying ace — at a ceremony Thursday.

Two plaques were unveiled at the ceremony. One, inscribed by Barker’s grandson Ian Mckenzie, will hang in the college. The other will be placed in the legislature’s Hall of Honour.

“Billy Barker is a Manitoba hero,” Conservative MLA Jon Reyes said in a speech. “His courage, honour and commitment is something we can only aspire to emulate.”

Until 1997, few people knew about the man fellow First World War flyer Billy Bishop referred to as “the deadliest air ace who ever lived.”

Biographer and aviation author Wayne Ralph’s William Barker VC: The Life, Death & Legend of Canada’s Most Decorated War Hero was published that year.

Ralph, who was at Thursday’s ceremony, said he wrote the book because Canadians are generally reluctant to talk about war heroes.

“We’re comfortable talking about victims of war,” he said. “We’re comfortable talking about (post-traumatic stress disorder) today. But 25, 30 years ago, to talk about someone who was an accomplished killer in war… as Canadians, that’s not how we talk about war.

“For me, to see that he could be buried in this circumstance, where he didn’t actually have his name on the door of the tomb… the guy that’s the most successful at war, ends up buried not even under his own name. How could that be?”

According to RCAF honorary colonel John Wright, Barker was buried under the name Smith — after his father-in-law — in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Reporters sought more information about Barker after the book was published.

“It struck a chord,” Ralph said.

David, Ian and Alec Mckenzie, three of Barker’s grandsons, travelled from B.C. to attend the ceremony.

“We’re very proud of our association with this,” David said. “It means a lot to the family.”

Mckenzie added that his grandfather would likely be thankful and honoured.

Barker died in 1930, so their only memories have come from photographs, stories and books, he said, adding Barker’s exploits were “incredible.”

Barker was from Dauphin and joined the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1914 at the age of 20. After a year of trench warfare, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, winning the Military Cross during his time as an observer.

In January 1917, he earned his pilot’s wings and needed only 55 minutes of instruction before he flew solo. Barker flew a two-seater plane when he returned to France, doing artillery spotting and reconnaissance until he was wounded in August 1917. After his recovery (and many requests for front-line service), he flew as a scout pilot in France and Italy, earning 46 victories in the process.

In October 1918, Barker was flying a solo patrol over the Western Front, when he engaged in a dogfight with German formations. Before crash-landing, he fought through the pain of three leg wounds and a broken elbow to shoot down four enemy aircraft. For that, he earned the Victoria Cross, the highest award in the United Kingdom’s honour system.

On top of that, he shot down 50 enemy aircraft and never lost a pilot under his command. During the ceremony, an RCAF lieutenant-colonel also listed several tactics that Barker developed that are still in use, such as using the sun and clouds for concealment.

After the war, Barker teamed up with Billy Bishop and formed Bishop-Barker Aeroplanes Ltd. The company was unsuccessful and Barker rejoined the Canadian Air Force in 1922, until his retirement in 1926. Barker was the first president of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. He was also the president and general manager of Fairchild Aircraft until his tragic death during a flight demonstration in 1930 at the age of 35.

Barker’s funeral was the largest national state event in Toronto’s history, attended by an estimated 2,000 soldiers. A memorial plaque was mounted at Mount Pleasant in 2011.

According to the armed forces website, the RCAF Wing Commander William G. Barker VC Aerospace College was established in 1987 to meet the professional development needs of the Canadian Air Force.

Each year, the school, which is adjacent to Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, offers advanced education and training in aerospace technology and Air Force officer professional development to about 800 officers and non-commissioned members.

In 2010, the school partnered with the University of Manitoba to give aerospace students the option to complete a masters in art or engineering. In 2013, the partnership went further, introducing the post baccalaureate in aerospace program management.

Wright said the college is the first RCAF building in Canada to be named after Barker.