Something lighter - The Rosies of the North

[Randy Wilson]

Thought you might enjoy a National Film Board of Canada video about the CAF SB2C Helldiver visiting Thunder Bay, Canada for a reunion of "The Rosies of the North" in August 1998. Ted Short, a long time CAF member, who recently passed, was in the gunner's seat and I was upfront. The trip started in Breckenridge, TX on 20 August and we did the air show in Frederick, MD, then down to Hampton Roads, VA for static display, then a flight noted as "Away from hurricane" in my log, to Roanoke, VA. Heading to Thunder Bay we stopped in Gary, IN for fuel and to visit an old CAF friend, then to Duluth, MN to clear customs and finally on to Thunder Bay. Total flight time when we finally got back to Graham, TX, the Beast's base then, on 1 September was 21.5 hours. The lady you will see me giving a ride in the Helldiver's gunner seat was one of the "Rosies" and I think at that time I was told she was 77.

Here is the video:
https://www.nfb.ca/film/rosies_of_the_north/
Hope you enjoy it.

Randy

[DH82EH]

Thanks for that Randy.
Totally class act!
A very dear aunt of mine,(since passed) stitched fabric control surfaces for Avro Anson Mk V's.
It was the day to day folks, making sacrifices and working hard, that contributed hugely to defeat the enemy.

The "beast" looks amazing. Great of you folks to fly her up there.

Andy

(proud Canadian!)

[Michel Lemieux]

Randy.......From a purely Canadian perspective......Thank you VERY much for sharing.

I really enjoyed. Very few know the impact on WW2 of what came out of Canadian Car and Foundry.

Sincerely.

Last edited by Michel Lemieux on Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Michel Lemieux]

Should have clarified....

Very few know the impact on WW2 And the Canadian social culture in general of what came out of Canadian Car and Foundry

[Randy Wilson]

I really enjoyed our visit to Thunder Bay, Canada on that trip. Near the end of the video after I have landed with the "Rosie" in the gunner's seat you will see something about shoes as she gets out. What happened was as she was climbing into the gunner's seat she was wearing flip-flop sandals, and the hinged spring-loaded door on the step kept trying to "eat" her sandal, so before I knew it she reached down and just threw them both off. At that moment I had no fears of her flying in the Beast Thank you for the comments. It was a special trip for me, too. Oh, and from the film board film crew I got a brand new VHS tape of "The Defender". If any of you don't know about this hilarious aviation documentary, that I became a bit too close to, here is a link. Most of the old-timers here already have seen this, I think. Enjoy.

https://www.nfb.ca/film/defender/

One of our cameramen filming the Rosies video had actually been on the shoot of The Defender. What he thought of it is another story. Fly safe.

Randy

[Michel Lemieux]

Randy....

I have seen, meet and listened to quite a few war heros.....And with all the respect I owe all of them....

This one resonated deeply...

Simply because my granma worked for Fairchild building Bolingbroke's....

Kinda connected to her in that video....

and the hinged spring-loaded door on the step kept trying to "eat" her sandal, so before I knew it she reached down and just threw them both off

Yup....no way that proud gal would have left you be a gallant man......must have been both toutching and funny at the same time.

BTW......thank you for still being around and informing us ground bugs......on the fun you are still having with your passion.

Fly safe sir......Sincerely.

Michel