Pagwa, ON

1956 - The History of Pagwa - Rey Schmidt

I am Reynold (Rey) DB Schmidt, Major, USAF (Ret.), and I arrived at Pagwa as a Captain in late December 1955. I was sent up as an a Ops Officer, but had been preceded by Captain Mannie Fouts, who had that title, so I was made FLYING Ops Officer and became instructor and chief pilot of the L-20 Beaver. I also did the scheduleing, record-keeping (Form 5, periodic maintenance,etc.,) and did the check-out rides on it. After my own check-out on the L-20 by Captain Hogan, he rotated to the US, and I took over his flying job.

Captain Hogan later decided to take some of his new friends from his new base on a sight-seeing ride and visit his old station. He flew in on that C-45 (in early 1956!) and as several of us greeters watched, on touch-down, the main gear sank into the dirt of the runway, and slowly the tail rose up and over the nose, and they came to rest inverted and facing the opposite direction (a complete forward flip). Captain Hogan, his copilot, and two passengers evacuated the bird, but did not shut off the ignition, which I found when crawling inside to check for any other survivors. I shut it down to prevent a fire. I was designated the Aircraft Accident Investigation Officer, and after the report, we had the wreck righted to its wheels, and towed to the site "dump". That is probably where the picture was taken, and if I"m not mistaken, I am the character to the left in the photo! Happy to set the record straingt! Sincerely, Rey Schmidt.