Geezers’ Newsletter (Southwestern Ontario’s foremost Geezer newsletter – or a lifestyle guide for Freeps and Press Club survivors) “Flying might not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.” – Amelia Earhart Perhaps one of the great untold stories of The Free Press is the tale of The News Hawk, the plane pilot/reporter Bill Corfield flew in pursuit of stories and photographs for the paper in the years after the Second World War. After Bill died just before last Christmas, I began a search for details about that flying era. Not much was available about a subject in which others had expressed an interest. Then recently, Pat Currie said Bill’s son Geoff had given him a paper that Bill presented to the Baconian Club on Feb. 6, 2006, that outlined exactly the information I had been seeking. The following – in slightly edited form because of space limitations – is Bill’s account of that fascinating era: By Bill Corfield Executive editor Randy Churchill hired me as a full-time reporter at The London Free Press in August, 1945, after I had been on casual assignments while waiting for my discharge from the air force. City editor Jack Gore assigned me a beat which included transportation, military, aviation and veterans affairs. Sometime that year I submitted a proposal that the company buy an aircraft because military models were being converted to civilian use and selling for a fraction of their value. The publisher, Walter Blackburn, became surprisingly enthusiastic. On Jan. 5, 1946, George Walker, manager of Leavens Brothers Air Services, took him and me for a demonstration ride in a converted Cessna T-50 trainer. This was a five-passenger monoplane with two 250-horsepower engines, which cruised at 125 miles an hour. The decision and purchase proceeded rapidly. On March 4, Walker checked me out on a CF-DCL, another Cessna Twin. On March 6, I flew a one-hour solo familiarization. On March 11, chief photographer Bob Turnbull became my first working passenger. He assessed the aircraft for aerial news photography. That same day, with a total of one hour dual plus one hour and 40 minutes solo, I flew the publisher to Toronto and return. The aircraft had no radio but this was normal for private and pleasure flying because air traffic was very small. Mr. Blackburn must have had great confidence in my ability because on March 30 he invited A. Davidson Dunton, chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and George McCracken, professor of the School of Journalism, University of Western Ontario, to come for an aerial view of London. City hall reporter Ed Boles was the first to fly on assignment. He wrote a feature on Bob Turnbull taking aerials in the Leamington area. During May 1946, Bob and I proposed a series of aerials that developed into a popular and beneficial feature called “Your Town from the Air.” These aerials were produced full-page width, a journalist innovation because newspapers, in those days of metal engraving, traditionally skimped on the size of pictures. The circulation department preceded each town’s picture with a successful local sales drive. Dozens of subscribers ordered prints of their community. Fifty years later these aerials are still displayed in public buildings and homes. The progressive feature helped to establish the aircraft as part of the business. Most of the news photographers – Ron Laidlaw, Jack Schenck, Ernie Lee, Jeanne Graham and Jack Burnett – participated in the “Towns” series as well as on routine stories. Sometime early in the aerial photography flights, it became evident that an open window would provide sharper pictures than through the plastic. I drew a pattern for a removable plastic widow, received aeronautical approval, and did the work. Also, the newspaper held a contest to name the aircraft and The News Hawk won. This was painted on the nose and became the identifying feature. The photographers had a rather difficult time taking aerial photographs. They were using the heavy Speed Graphics with single-film sheet holders that had to be changed. They had to compensate for the increased load because I had to circle the area rather tightly to get the low wing out of the picture. They also had to put up with the noise, the whistling wind and the turbulence. A few had to use the “urp cans.” One fellow, on his first flight, used the “urp can” while we were taxiing out. Reporter Isobel Plant and photographer Turnbull participated in the first truly newsgathering flight on May 31, 1946. A strike had shut down the Welland Canal creating a huge congestion of lake freighters around Port Colborne. The unique aerial photographs and eyewitness stories made front-page material and were copied in several Ontario newspapers. On the return we took aerials of Niagara Falls. June 6, 1946, I ferried the DCL to Toronto to have a radio installed and got it back 23 days later. This proved to be an unsatisfactory installation and, after many changes, was replaced. With the help of engineers from CFPL Radio, I designed the installation for short- and long-range antennae and the installation of a more efficient transmitter and receiver, which the Department of Transport approved. With this equipment, I could use the radio beams for cross-country flying and bad-weather landings as well as talk to the traffic controllers. However, I never considered it completely reliable and arranged regular monitoring. Walter Blackburn used the aircraft to fly on business trips, hunting and fishing junkets and personal enjoyment, usually with friends. Some of the more interesting news stories in my logbook: July 9, 1946 – Aerial photographs of a Trans Canada Airlines DC-3 over the University of Western Ontario. Barely successful because of no inter-aircraft radio. Aug. 30, 1946 – A search of Lake Erie for a sailboat with two aboard. We found the capsized boat, led a naval search vessel to it, saw no survivors. I radioed my story to the friendly control-tower operator who relayed it to the newsroom. On return I wrote the complete story for the next edition. Feb. 13, 1947 – Dropped seed for birds because an extensive sleet and ice storm had sealed Western Ontario. When I landed, I saw that the seed, whipping back in the 100-m.p.h. slipstream, had scoured the enamel finish off the leading edge of the elevators and part of the fin so that repairs were needed. Fortunately, the fabric had not been broken or I would have lost some control from these components. All these events created exciting stories and the newspaper gradually gained a reputation for innovation. The Aviation Writers Association of America featured The News Hawk in its publication under the title “The Flying Reporter.” February, 1947 – Many flights to cover and extensive blizzard, which paralyzed most of Western Ontario and created major flooding in the Thames River valleylands. I flew members of London City Council to see the extensive damage. Nov. 20, 1947 – Flew to Cleveland to pick up radio telephoto pictures of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth. The Free Press had same-day photographs in the afternoon paper, a real achievement for 1949 technology. July 10, 1948 – Radio Station CFPL broadcast live from the aircraft. This may have been the first time for a commercial station although no promotion was made of it. The project was repeated many times. Aug. 29, 1948 – Photographer Jack Burnett and I were assigned to search Lake Erie for a pleasure craft. Walter Blackburn asked if he could come. He sat up front and scanned the waters with us. I don’t remember what happened, but this may be the only time in newspaper history that the owner and publisher of a daily newspaper accompanied a news crew on an assignment and participated. March 16, 1949 – Searched the shore ice of Lake Erie for a missing fish tug which was held in the ice and the men were walking around, later rescued by U.S. Coast Guard. Nov. 20, 1947 – Flew to Cleveland to pick up radio telephoto pictures of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth. The Free Press had same-day photographs in the afternoon paper, a real achievement for 1947 technology. April 30, 1949 – Flew Bob Reinhart, CFPL Radio news announcer, Howard Taleski, radio technician, and photographer Jack Schenck to a train wreck near Wingham, probably the first simultaneous aerial coverage: for newspaper readers in story and pictures, for radio listeners in live, on-the-spot descriptions. May 16, 1949 – To Manitoulin Island to cover a referendum under the Canada Temperance Act. The taxi driver drove us into town free, wanting our support for continuance of prohibition, because they made their money delivering beer. Sept. 17, 1949 – Several flights to cover the fire destruction of the passenger ship Noronic in Toronto harbour. September, 1949 – Took a load of employees on a sight-seeing flight. On return one man demanded I land because he had to urinate. I suggested he use one of the air-sick containers but he refused because there was a female passenger. He was demanding and upset so I picked a field and landed. He got out and walked into the bush where he could have privacy. The girl employee asked why we had landed and when I told her she said it was a good idea, jumped out and squatted beside the plane, climbed back in with a sigh and a big grin. May 12, 1950 – Writer Jim Bowes and photographer Ron Laidlaw flew with me to Winnipeg to cover a massive flood of the Red River. This was The News Hawk’s longest assignment in time and distance. May 30, 1950 – The News Hawk made its last flight. The engines were due for major and costly overhaul, the innovation of aerial journalism had diminished and the decision was made to sell it back to Leavens Air Services. From then on, rented aircraft were used although with diminishing frequency. Gathering to mark end of winter Tired of lingering winter? Irked by low temperatures, dreary skies and continued forecasts of precipitation? Then join the celebration of approaching summer at the spring reunion of former Press Club members and Freepsers at Chaucer’s on Saturday, May 31. By all accounts (not mine, though), it was one of the worst winters in memory. Let’s banish those memories with some fun. Our pre-Christmas get-together was so successful we’ve decided it is time to gather again for an afternoon of memories, good fellowship and tasty libations. Starting time is 2 p.m. til whenever. 13-run pool winner Ken Squire is the first winner of this year’s 13-run baseball pool. His Los Angeles Angels scored the magic number to give Ken a record $600 pot four weeks into the season. And don’t forget -- worthy causes need support Former Freepsers and Newsletter subscribers are seeking support for a couple of worthy causes. Don Mahood and Bruce Huff report that the Mount Hope Memory Makers will hold a 5K walk at Springbank Park on Saturday (May 10) starting at 10 a.m. to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Many of the walkers will be pushing spouses and friends in wheelchairs. Donations are being sought. For further information contact Don at 519-642-2722 (hooder@rogers) or Bruce at 519-642-7114 (huff@rogers). Dave Taylor is seeking help for a Jesse’s Journey seven-month walk from Quebec City to Winnipeg beginning next Monday (May 12) to raise funds for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Bob Facca will be walking 4,000 km at a pace of 20 km per day with his arrival in London July 22. The walk – dedicated to Bob’s grandson Louie -- will be similar in format to John Davidson’s walk a few years back. Dave can be contacted at dave@jessesjourney or 519-645-8855 ext. 227. Reminders Geezer Nation meets Thursday at the Ceeps at 2 p.m. to inhale personality enhancing fluids and to solve all the world’s problems. You don’t have to be old to attend. All are welcome. Those who can’t attend Geezer Thursdays because of other pressing engagements (a job perhaps) have a second opportunity to renew acquaintances with former Freeps or Press Club pals. A gang meets at Chaucer’s on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Again, all are welcome. For Geezers who are also former employees of the Blackburn Group (retirees, quitees, buyoutees or firees), the next retirees’ breakfast Wednesday (May 7) at 8:30 a.m. or so at the Riverdale Family Restaurant at 360 Springbank Rd. As well, the Army, Navy, Air Force Club continues to invite former Press Club members to drop in for a drink at its new location at 38 Adelaide St. N. between Nelson Street and the river East Side, across from P.J.’s donuts. Sister O’Brien has established a Facebook page for former Press Club members to stay in touch. Check it out. It’s called London City Press Club Survivors. If you are a Facebook user, befriend the page. You can also look up past Geezers’ Newsletters there. News welcome If you know of any news (you know, gossip, dirt and unsavoury details about people we know) of interest to the Geezers (even a rant would be acceptable) please let me know so I can pass it on. Also if you know anyone who would like to receive the newsletter, pass along the email address. Copyright: Geezer Nation. All rights reserved. No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced or disseminated in any form without permission from Geezer Nation, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in exchange for money.
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 15:27:33 +0000
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