Air Force Museum of Alberta

94 Maxwell Ward

Maxwell Ward

"His lengthy and continuing efforts to responsibly service this nation's most northern frontier by air, despite adversity, together with his development of a viable international charter service, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.”

Maxwell Ward

"His lengthy and continuing efforts to responsibly service this nation's most northern frontier by air, despite adversity, together with his development of a viable international charter service, have been of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation.”

Maxwell Ward

Maxwell William Ward joined the RCAF in 1940 and served as a commissioned flying instructor at various Canadian bases until 1945. After the Second World War, Ward flew as a bush pilot for Northern Flights Ltd. In 1946 he organized Polaris Charter Co Ltd, based in Yellowknife, NWT. With a single-engined DH 83C de Havilland Fox Moth, he carried supplies and passengers throughout the Subarctic. In 1953 he returned to Yellowknife with a newly formed company, Wardair Ltd, which pioneered the air transport of heavy equipment to the Far North, and on one occasion landed on the geographic North Pole.

This company became Wardair Canada Ltd. and commenced the first overseas charter flight agency serving western Canada. It later developed into Canada's largest international air charter carrier.

Born: 22 Nov 1921
Awards: OC

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