He flew these also
Monday, April 28, 2008
Submarine Stranraer air plane: WWII Dad's plane
Dad's first plane in the war. Photo provided by Bill McmYnn
Contribution from Bill McMynn
April 21, 2006
To Bill Broadhead
Memoirs re. - your Dad - Gordon Broadhead.
I think my favorite memory regarding your Dad was told to me many years ago - by Gordon. Gordon was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After he got his wings he was posted to the West Coast of British Columbia to a (B.R.) Squadron (B.R. - Bomber Reconnaissance) as a Co-Pilot flying the old Stranraer twin engine flying boats. They were powered by 800 H.P. Bristol Pegasus radial engines. As Co-pilot it was Gordon’s job to start the engines by a very tough cranking of same with a hand crank. It was a big joke to the rest of the crew to wait for the engine to fire and when it did it blew oil and smoke all over the individual doing the cranking. Your Dad took it all very well - What else could he do? Afer a while he went on to flying as captain on much better equipment - the Catalina flying boat.
By the end of the war your Dad was transferred again and was training on the four engine Liberator Bomber - and flying out of Boundary Bay, B.C. - some twenty miles South of Vancouver. I finally found this picture of the Stranraer - copy enclosed.
When we all went to Alaska I got Gordon to tell us again some of his flying experiences. He must have been a very good pilot just to survive West Coast weather.
Right after the war your Dad went to U.B.C. (University of British Columbia) where he met and later married your Mother Gene McMynn. At the wedding my friend and ski pal Cliff Dean got into the Wine that my Father Ewart purchased. Not only Cliff but I also was led down the garden path and got totally blotto! Even this could have been over looked if we had not also involved uncle Dave Borland and worst of all Grandpa Heaven ( My mother’s father and your Great Grandfather). Now to understand this rambling story you have to know that we were never to have liquor in our house until my 22nd birthday and also that my father Ewart had to sign a letter to my mother swearing never to have liquor in the house and unless he did she would not marry him. - So - now you can see why Gene’s mother was more than slightly pissed off - I moved out for a week or so but to my knowledge was never forgiven by my Mother - I think my Dad was O.K. about it all - your Mom as far as I know never said much and your Dad was very nice about it all -Air force people were known to have their own parties once in a while.
Uncle Bill McMynn
April 21 /08
P.S. - Your Grandfather Ewart was in the Air Force in World War I and my brother Bob was Air Force Pilot World War II.
P.P.S. Copy to Cheryl.
Attachment by Bill Broadhead.
Dear Uncle Bill,
You may be glad to know that my mother did forgive you. In fact she would get little twinkle in her green eyes when she told her version of the story. The part she delighted in most was your explanation of what had really caused your disoriented state at her wedding. The quote attributed to you as your own defense was that "It was the icing on the cake". While she forgave you, I could tell that she never quite accepted this as a valid explanation.
Thanks so much for your great contribution.
Bill
To Bill Broadhead
Memoirs re. - your Dad - Gordon Broadhead.
I think my favorite memory regarding your Dad was told to me many years ago - by Gordon. Gordon was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After he got his wings he was posted to the West Coast of British Columbia to a (B.R.) Squadron (B.R. - Bomber Reconnaissance) as a Co-Pilot flying the old Stranraer twin engine flying boats. They were powered by 800 H.P. Bristol Pegasus radial engines. As Co-pilot it was Gordon’s job to start the engines by a very tough cranking of same with a hand crank. It was a big joke to the rest of the crew to wait for the engine to fire and when it did it blew oil and smoke all over the individual doing the cranking. Your Dad took it all very well - What else could he do? Afer a while he went on to flying as captain on much better equipment - the Catalina flying boat.
By the end of the war your Dad was transferred again and was training on the four engine Liberator Bomber - and flying out of Boundary Bay, B.C. - some twenty miles South of Vancouver. I finally found this picture of the Stranraer - copy enclosed.
When we all went to Alaska I got Gordon to tell us again some of his flying experiences. He must have been a very good pilot just to survive West Coast weather.
Right after the war your Dad went to U.B.C. (University of British Columbia) where he met and later married your Mother Gene McMynn. At the wedding my friend and ski pal Cliff Dean got into the Wine that my Father Ewart purchased. Not only Cliff but I also was led down the garden path and got totally blotto! Even this could have been over looked if we had not also involved uncle Dave Borland and worst of all Grandpa Heaven ( My mother’s father and your Great Grandfather). Now to understand this rambling story you have to know that we were never to have liquor in our house until my 22nd birthday and also that my father Ewart had to sign a letter to my mother swearing never to have liquor in the house and unless he did she would not marry him. - So - now you can see why Gene’s mother was more than slightly pissed off - I moved out for a week or so but to my knowledge was never forgiven by my Mother - I think my Dad was O.K. about it all - your Mom as far as I know never said much and your Dad was very nice about it all -Air force people were known to have their own parties once in a while.
Uncle Bill McMynn
April 21 /08
P.S. - Your Grandfather Ewart was in the Air Force in World War I and my brother Bob was Air Force Pilot World War II.
P.P.S. Copy to Cheryl.
Attachment by Bill Broadhead.
Dear Uncle Bill,
You may be glad to know that my mother did forgive you. In fact she would get little twinkle in her green eyes when she told her version of the story. The part she delighted in most was your explanation of what had really caused your disoriented state at her wedding. The quote attributed to you as your own defense was that "It was the icing on the cake". While she forgave you, I could tell that she never quite accepted this as a valid explanation.
Thanks so much for your great contribution.
Bill
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bill Broadhead
Things you may not have known about Gordon
1. Gordon was a good musician: He played the clarinet, the banjo, the harmonica and the guitar.
2. Gordon was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII. He never dropped a bomb on the enemy though.
3. Gordon was skilled in wood work and made much of the furniture in our early homes.
4. Gordon loved his dogs. We always had a dog when I was growing up.
5. Gordon didn’t gamble (except in the stock market a little) or drink.
6. Gordon never got a traffic ticket that I knew of.
7. We used to love to wrestle with him when we were children.
8. Gordon was on the basket ball team at the University of British Colombia.
9. Gordon was good at golf, running, croquet and tennis.
10. Gordon was a marine biologist but curiously didn’t much care for the water and really didn’t like the beach "there is just too much sand"
11. Gordon loved Canada. Even though as a boy, he "had to walk miles through the snow to school"
1. Gordon was a good musician: He played the clarinet, the banjo, the harmonica and the guitar.
2. Gordon was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII. He never dropped a bomb on the enemy though.
3. Gordon was skilled in wood work and made much of the furniture in our early homes.
4. Gordon loved his dogs. We always had a dog when I was growing up.
5. Gordon didn’t gamble (except in the stock market a little) or drink.
6. Gordon never got a traffic ticket that I knew of.
7. We used to love to wrestle with him when we were children.
8. Gordon was on the basket ball team at the University of British Colombia.
9. Gordon was good at golf, running, croquet and tennis.
10. Gordon was a marine biologist but curiously didn’t much care for the water and really didn’t like the beach "there is just too much sand"
11. Gordon loved Canada. Even though as a boy, he "had to walk miles through the snow to school"
Bill Broadhead
Dad had a lot of expresions that humored us. Please help me remember them. Here are some that I do remember:
Gordon’s Expressions
1. I never met a con man I didn’t like.
2. Rot’s of Ruck.
3. Sincerity is most important. Once you learn to fake it you have got it made. Always joking
4. If a job is worth doing it’s worth doing right.
5. As he aged he warned against risky investments he would say "I am to old to earn it over again"
6. On the phone he would often end with "over and out" as if he was still flying in the Canadian Airforce.
Gordon’s Expressions
1. I never met a con man I didn’t like.
2. Rot’s of Ruck.
3. Sincerity is most important. Once you learn to fake it you have got it made. Always joking
4. If a job is worth doing it’s worth doing right.
5. As he aged he warned against risky investments he would say "I am to old to earn it over again"
6. On the phone he would often end with "over and out" as if he was still flying in the Canadian Airforce.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
young love
this is one of my favorite photo's of my grandparentsthanks to Bill for sending this photo
Thursday, April 17, 2008
adding pictures to slideshow
I have added a new slideshow feature that allows you to view multiple
pictures, just click on any of the tiled images to the right of the page
to post pictures or a message, send an email with/without photo attachments
to the following address--> father62degree@photos.flickr.com
and they will be added to the new slide show feature on the right hand side
otherwise you can email any material to GBmemorial@gmail.com, and I will
post it my self!
-Ryn
Gordon you will be remembered forever
Dear Gogo,
You have always been a solid human being. Your tempered will
surpasses any I have seen and your colorful life has helped shape my
own. I will miss you sorely.
I remember seeing your face, so full of pride, after nearly every
volleyball game I had at SMC. It made me feel so special to have you
there. Every one of your family knows that you are immensely proud of
the family that you have helped create.
There are so many people whose lives have been enhanced by your
intelligence, cunning, humorous and stern nature. I hope to meet many
more of them throughout my life.
I am saddened by your passing but I am encouraged by my belief that I
will see you again some day and by your last words to me, "I'm going to
miss you." Those words have given me comfort over and over. From the
bottom of my heart, I'm going to miss you too gogo.
Love,
Rusty
Introduction
This is a space to commemorate and remember Gordon Clifford Broadhead (1924-2008). Gogo, as he was known to his grandchildren, was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He excelled in the worlds of science, business and finance, while raising a beautiful family and cultivating friendships that lasted a lifetime. This is intended to serve as a place to share stories, anecdotes, quotations, photos, paintings, and legends of this great man. A heartfelt thank you from his family to all those who loved him.
-His grandson, Ryn Burns
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