"His exquisite mastery of primitive military aeronautics and his dedication to opening new routes of air travel through mountainous areas, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.”
Fred McCall
"His exquisite mastery of primitive military aeronautics and his dedication to opening new routes of air travel through mountainous areas, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.”
Fred Robert Gordon McCall moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1906, completed his education there and joined the 175th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916. He arrived in England and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in France. By the end of 1917, he flew reconnaissance and photographic missions. During his aviation career in the war, McCall transferred to numerous squadrons and shot down several hostile aircraft. At war's end he established McCall Aero Company Limited at Calgary and flew commercial freight and passengers throughout the prairie provinces.
He later organized Great Western Airways Limited at Calgary and pioneered a mountain air route linking Calgary, Banff, Fernie and Golden. With this firm, McCall transported, for the first time by air, 200 quarts of nitro-glycerine from Shelby, Montana to Calgary to an oil-drilling operation.
Born: 4 Dec 1895, Vernon, BC Died: 22 Jan 1949 Awards: DSO, MC, DFC
