Introduction
A Brief Hx of Aerial Photography
Aircraft
Airbases
Photographers
Early Airfields of Toronto
Places of Note
Dedication
Steve Johnson's New Yukon Airways Collection
A Gallery of Photographs
References
Flight of the Curtiss Lark to Red Lake - 1926
Biography of Roy Maxwell Early Years
Captain Roy Maxwell is an intriguing figure in Canadian Aviation History.
Roy Maxwell is mentioned multiple times in Bruce West's book "The Firebirds", 1974.
After Maxwell resigned from OPAS in 1935, he worked for E.P. Taylor Group and British North American Airways. He also was a founding partner in Baillie-Maxwell Air Service involved in a commercial Sturgeon Fishing operation in the Albany River drainage basin. In 1939,he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1935, reaching the rank of Wing Commander in the West Coast Area Command (Station Tofino). He resigned his commission in 1943. He died of multiple strokes in 1946.
sources: Canadian Bush Plane Heritage Centre, CAHS(Ken Molson, Larry Milberry, Hugh Halliday)
It is this writers considered opinion that notwithstanding the allegations of impropriety by the "Hepburn/Lang Commission” of 1934, they in no way diminish the day to day aviation accomplishments of Roy Maxwell as consistently displayed over a period of almost 15 years.
His single most lasting achievement and the greatest contribution to the Canadian Aviation Industry is probably the most unremarked upon achievement of all.
This was the pivotal role that Maxwell played in persuading de Havilland Aircraft company to locate a manufacturing facility in North Toronto. This was a direct outcome of Maxwell's decision to buy the Moth series of aircraft from de Havilland in 1927. This is acknowledged by author Fred Hotson in his definite biography of the DH Company. (see image pg 22).
This decision resulted in $ millions to the domestic GNP of Canada and continues today to do so through the legacy company, Bombardier Aerospace.
Maxwell's contributions to Canadian commercial Aviation through his endeavors at Laurentide Air Service alone are sufficient to qualify him as a respected member of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. To judge otherwise not only diminishes the achievements of Captain Roy Maxwell but does an injustice to the CAHF by putting in question the credibility of its nomination process.
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Dr. Robert Galway
bob@thegalways.ca
After Maxwell resigned from OPAS in 1935, he worked for E.P. Taylor Group and British North American Airways. He also was a founding partner in Baillie-Maxwell Air Service involved in a commercial Sturgeon Fishing operation in the Albany River drainage basin. In 1939,he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1935, reaching the rank of Wing Commander in the West Coast Area Command (Station Tofino). He resigned his commission in 1943. He died of multiple strokes in 1946.
sources: Canadian Bush Plane Heritage Centre, CAHS(Ken Molson, Larry Milberry, Hugh Halliday)
It is this writers considered opinion that notwithstanding the allegations of impropriety by the "Hepburn/Lang Commission” of 1934, they in no way diminish the day to day aviation accomplishments of Roy Maxwell as consistently displayed over a period of almost 15 years.
His single most lasting achievement and the greatest contribution to the Canadian Aviation Industry is probably the most unremarked upon achievement of all.
This was the pivotal role that Maxwell played in persuading de Havilland Aircraft company to locate a manufacturing facility in North Toronto. This was a direct outcome of Maxwell's decision to buy the Moth series of aircraft from de Havilland in 1927. This is acknowledged by author Fred Hotson in his definite biography of the DH Company. (see image pg 22).
This decision resulted in $ millions to the domestic GNP of Canada and continues today to do so through the legacy company, Bombardier Aerospace.
Maxwell's contributions to Canadian commercial Aviation through his endeavors at Laurentide Air Service alone are sufficient to qualify him as a respected member of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. To judge otherwise not only diminishes the achievements of Captain Roy Maxwell but does an injustice to the CAHF by putting in question the credibility of its nomination process.
Dr. Robert Galway
bob@thegalways.ca
