William “Bill” Longhurst did two operational tours with RAF Coastal Command during the war before transferring to Ferry Command. On July 1st, 1943, Longhurst successfully achieved a ferry flight between Montreal (Quebec) and Prestwick (UK) in command of a C-47, towing a Waco CG-4A glider overseas! For this unusual achievement, Longhurst and the gilder crew received the Air Force Cross. In 1948, he became a test pilot for Canadair in Montreal. Longhurst was appointed chief test pilot in 1953.

Until 1971, he made most first flights of Canadair’s aircraft, including: CL13 (Sabre 2, 3, 5, 6), CL30 (T-33AN production Silver Star), CL28 (CP-107 Argus Mk1), CL-66C (Canadair 540), CL44-6 (CC-106 Yukon), CL-44D4 (“Swing-tail”), CL-226, also the revolutionary tilt-wing CL-84 and the famous CL-215 Water Bomber.

To underline his contribution to the CL-28 Argus development, a twenty-dollar coin was issued in 1998 by the Royal Canadian Mint displaying a cameo of Longhurst. He went back to school at Concordia University, earning at the age of 61 a major degree in biology and a minor degree in computer science. He then engaged in cancer research.

Born: 1919, SK
Died: 1990
Awards: AFC