"The unveiling of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Program Memorial took place on September 10, 2014 in Brandon, Manitoba. It pays tribute to the brave airmen and airwomen of the British Commonwealth who lost their lives during the Second World War. The memorial is impressive in both size and scope. It has a 100 metre long row of black granite panels etched with 19,256 names, a 2.5 metre tall bronze statue of an airman and 1,150 square metres of paving stone, including a 20-metre wide RCAF wing in full colour." More information at the Veterans Affairs Canada Site
www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canada/rcaf-bcatp
and
www.airmuseum.ca/memorial

REG FORBES died peacefully with his family by his side at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Sunday, September 6, 2015 at the age of 90 years. Born on his parents’ homestead in Rorketon on September 16, 1924, Reg was raised in Dauphin where he worked on his family's farm. Reg served for two years in the RCAF as a navigator. After the war, he attended the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Reg married Clara Hink, and together raised two children, Faye and Bob. Their early years were spent in Pilot Mound, where Reg was the Ag Rep. In 1956, he was appointed the principal of the Agricultural and Homemaking School in Brandon. From 1975 – 1977 he served as the Manitoba representative on the Hall Commission on Grain Handling and Transportation. Reg demonstrated great passion for the agriculture community and the City of Brandon, tirelessly working as: General Manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, Chair of the National Advisory Committee to CBC on agriculture broadcasting, Industrial Commissioner of the City of Brandon, Consultant for Westarc Group Inc., Director and President of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Keystone Center, and was instrumental in the building of the Keystone Center, Chair of the Brandon Economic Development Board, President of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Rural Extension and the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists, President of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum. He has been the recipient of countless honours and awards, most notably the Order of Manitoba. Reg was predeceased by his wife Clara. He is survived by his children Faye and Bob, their spouses Rick and Sue, his four grandsons Trevor, Michael, Curtis (Katie), and Jeffrey, and his three great-grandsons Keely, Brady, and Preston. 

A memorial service celebrating Reg’s life was be held at the 
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Hangar on 
Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. 
with Rev. Craig Miller of Knox United Church officiating. 

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Hundreds of Reg's friends and family members attended.
The family invited everyone for a time of fellowship and refreshments 
following the memorial service from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
A private family interment followed. 
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Reg’s name to the 
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
Box 3 Group 520 RR#5
300 Commonwealth Way, Brandon, MB, R7A 5Y5

'He gave so much at so many levels'
A passionate community builder remembered as a "visionary"
and a "gregarious gentleman" will be laid to rest today.
By: Jillian Austin
Brandon Sun ~ Sep. 10, 2015 

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Reg Forbes died on Sunday at the age of 90. At Forbes’ request, his funeral will be held at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum — a place where he spent a lot of time and had a hand in creating. "He was involved in a lot of different areas in the museum, and … because he began at the start of the museum, he was probably a part of just about every milestone that the museum had," said CATPM executive director Stephen Hayter, who considered Forbes a mentor.

Forbes served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator, and attended the University of Manitoba after the war, graduating with a bachelor of science in agriculture.

He and his wife Clara raised two children — Faye and Bob. One of the life lessons from her father that still resonates to this day for Faye Forbes-Anderson, is to "make the community you live in, a better place." Faye recalled an idyllic childhood growing up in Brandon. Her brother Bob fondly remembered how their father wanted them to see the world and meet people along the way. "We went from coast to coast in Canada," he said. "He wanted us to see Canada, so we travelled a lot … and spent a lot of time in a trailer."

For both Faye and Bob, their father inspired them to pursue friendship and celebrate life from a young age. "He certainly instilled in me a passion for getting together with a group of friends on hunting trips and fishing trips," Bob said.

Reg was instrumental in the amalgamation of the Manitoba Winter Fair and the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. He also played a major role in the building of the Keystone Centre. He served the community in many different capacities, including general manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, director and president of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and chair of the Keystone Centre board of directors.

In addition to his community work, Forbes will be remembered as a loving grandfather to his four grandsons and three great-grandsons. "He truly focused on what people were saying, and he had a never-ending curiosity about everything. That’s probably what drove him," Faye said.

Karen Oliver, former Provincial Exhibition CEO, also looked up to Forbes as a mentor, remembering him as an "encourager." "Sometimes we forget how important that is," Oliver said. "He was such a humble man but he gave so much at so many levels."

Forbes served as the chair of the National Advisory Committee to CBC on agriculture broadcasting, chair of the Brandon Economic Development Board and president of the Agricultural Institute of Canada. He also served as president of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum.

"I think his legacy overall will be that community and agriculture always came first," Oliver said. "Whether it was at the Provincial Ex or the Keystone Centre or the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, he was always thinking ahead to what was going to benefit the community in the long run. In that way, he was a visionary." 

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum proudly presents:
Prairie Author to Speak at Museum Luncheon

The Women of the War Years Committee will host Elinor Florence at a luncheon in the 
Canteen Building of the CATPM, on Wednesday, August 19th at 11:30 am.

Although she raised her family in Inverness, BC, Elinor Florence is a prairie writer. Having grown up on a farm in Saskatchewan she knows about the smells, sights and sounds; it’s in her blood and in her writings.

After many years in journalism, Elinor's first book, Bird's Eye View, is a tribute to the strong character of prairie people and reflects the author's special interest in the WWII era. The book is so well researched it is hard to believe it is not a true account and yet the historical facts are written into a story that you hesitate to put down.

Wartime Wednesday is the name of her Blog and each week she tells one of many stories she came across while researching her book. 

You can visit her webpage, 
www.Elinorflorence.com

Ms Florence will give a presentation about her research, her interest in WWII and the special role that the prairies and women played in the victory.

For tickets please contact the Museum at 204-727-2444 or WOWY@hotmail.com

Bomber flight a sentimental experience
Brandon Sun ~ July 7, 2015 ~ by Eva Wasney

Click for larger images and text

Flying into Brandon in a 71-year-old bomber plane named "Sentimental Journey" was indeed a sentimental experience for Second World War veteran Archie Londry. Londry was smiling as he stepped out of the B-17 Flying Fortress and onto the runway in front of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) Monday morning. Yet, he doesn’t refer to his wartime flying days as fun. "You see that wall out there?" asked Londry, pointing to the memorial outside the museum. "An awful lot of the fellows I flew with and went to school with have their names on that wall."

Londry served as a pilot overseas and was eventually chosen to train fighter pilots back in Canada during the war. He spent some of that time at the training centre in Brandon. "One of the toughest jobs I ever did was gathering up (my roommate's) belongings to send home to a 20-year-old widow," said Londry, who has a hard time talking about the past without getting emotional.

Londry helped found the museum 32 years ago. It is now a national historic site and Canada's only air museum dedicated to those who trained and fought for the British Commonwealth during the Second World War. On Monday, Londry was one of eight CATPM volunteers on the B-17 bomber’s hour-long flight from Winnipeg to Brandon. The trip was the kickoff for the museum’s annual fundraising campaign, which ends with an air show on Saturday.

Local plane enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the museum this week for an up close and personal encounter with the rare B-17 bomber, which is part of a fleet of vintage air planes owned by the Commemorative Air Force. The Flying Fortress is available for paid tours and rides between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until Friday. "For (those) who are really keen and maybe had family, uncles or grandparents, who were in the Second World War, what an opportunity to go up in a period aircraft," said Stephen Hayter, the museum's executive director. "We have a gentleman who came from Edmonton specifically for a ride on the B-17."

On Thursday, the museum is hosting a Cruise Night at the Museum for anyone interested in taking a photo of their car alongside a bomber. The event runs from 7 p.m. until sundown and admission is $5.

The CATPM has its own Tiger Moth, Harvard, Stinson and Cornell bombers ready to fly for this year’s air show, and the museum’s newest addition, a Fleet Finch aircraft, will be on display. New this year is an aerobatics show by Stefan Trischuk, who regularly performs his high-flying flips and barrel rolls on the Discovery Channel show "Airshow." "It’s been largely a historic show of historic aircraft, so that will add something fun for families and kids and anyone who likes aviation acrobatics," Hayter said.

Gates open at 2 p.m. on Saturday and adult admission is $10 — children 17 and under are free. "As long as the weather is nice we’ll be flying," Hayter said.