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