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Roland B. (Ron) West
was born at Medford, Nova Scotia on 25 January, 1919 and was
educated there and in Kentville. He was a Bay of Fundy boat pilot
before joining the RCAF in 1941. Awarded his pilot's wings in
April of 1942, he served for a period as an instructor at 111
Operational Training Unit in Nassau and then flew extensively on
anti-submarine patrols with 117 Bomber Reconnaissance (BR)
Squadron. In 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for outstanding service and devotion to duty. Postwar,
Ron attended staff college and then was posted to 101 Composite Flight
in Dartmouth engaged in search and rescue operations. When 103
Rescue Unit formed, he became on of its first pilots and later moved
with the unit to RCAF Station Greenwood. It was while at this location
that he performed two outstanding rescue operations with a Canso
aircraft that demanded his utmost skill as a pilot. The first was
to Harrington Bay under severe weather conditions. After effecting
the rescue the patient was transported to Goose Bay, Labrador.
While at Goose Bay another call was made on him to carry out a second
rescue at Mutton Bay where a seriously ill woman required hospital
treatment. Again severe weather prevailed as did extremely
rough water conditions in the Bay. Despite the weather and rough
water damage to the aircraft, Ron made a near miraculous take-off and
delivered the patient to Halifax. For these actions he was awarded
the Air Force Cross. Later
that same year, 1948, Ron West became the third RCAF recipient of the
Trans Canada (McKee) Trophey as the outstanding aviator of that
year. This was in recognition of his more than 2000 hours on
rescue operations and for his participation in the first large-scale
rain-making operation that relieved the drought conditions then existing
in the area of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Subsequently
Ron served as an instructor, as OC Flying at the Navigation School in
Summerside and as Operations Officer at Goose Bay. He then
underwent conversion training to jet aircraft and flew CF-100 aircraft
with 416 All-Weather Fighter Squadron and became its Commanding Officer
in August 1959. Next,
at the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE)
he flew extensively on the testing of airborne infrared detection
devices. During this period he also commanded the CARDE CF-100
Detachment at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida assisting the Americans
in tracking the re-entry of intercontinential missiles. He
completed his service in charge of all RCAF aircraft ferry operations
and retired in 1966. Ron was inducted into the Aviation Hall of
Fame in 1974 for noteworthy contributions to aviation in Canada. Ron
died in July 2001 and is buried in his hometown of Medford, Nova Scotia.
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