Air Force Museum of Alberta

56 Donald MacLaren

Donald MacLaren

"His exceptional success as a wartime aviator in the cause of peace, coupled with a succession of civil pioneering achievements as a first generation bush pilot and his dedication to purpose in fostering the growth of the Air Cadet League of Canada, despite adversity, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.”

Donald MacLaren

"His exceptional success as a wartime aviator in the cause of peace, coupled with a succession of civil pioneering achievements as a first generation bush pilot and his dedication to purpose in fostering the growth of the Air Cadet League of Canada, despite adversity, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.”

Donald MacLaren

Donald MacLaren moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1898 where he attended Western Canada College, then McGill University at Montreal, Quebec before joining his family at Keg River Prairie in northern Alberta. In 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps in Canada and was posted to No. 46 Squadron, RFC in France where he became commander of the squadron within a year. At war's end, he transferred to the newly-formed Canadian Air Force in England and in 1921 returned to Vancouver, British Columbia where he organized Pacific Airways Limited.

His company later merged with Western Canada Airways and he became superintendent of the Western Division of WCA. In 1937 he was employed by Trans-Canada Air Lines and in 1945 was named executive assistant to the president. He formed the first Air Cadet squadron at Winnipeg in 1941. MacLaren later became President of the Air Cadet League of Canada.

Born: 28 May 1893, Ottawa, ON
Died: 4 July 1989
Awards: DSO, DFC, MC

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