Snowbirds team performs final show of the season

The Snowbirds aerial demonstration team performed the final air show of the 2018 season at home base 15 Wing Moose Jaw before an audience of family, friends, base personnel and invited guests. Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette was a guest while on her visit to Saskatchewan.

Lt.-Col. Mike French, on his second Snowbirds posting, is the 431 Squadron commander,

Flying approximately 30 different formations with precision almost wing-to-wing, the team of specially selected pilots and ground crew flew 32 shows across Canada with five in the United States and a special Battle of Britain commemoration show in Ottawa. Inducted to the long list of honorary Snowbirds this year was former bomber pilot 96-year-old Reg (Crash) Harrison. The induction at the show was a surprise.

Harrison earned the nickname Crash from having survived four airplane crashes during dangerous missions in the Second World War. Nearly half the 120,000 airmen on these missions lost their lives. Of seven commanders in his squadron, two were killed and one was taken prisoner.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net