The Royal Canadian Air Cadet program in Indian Head has a strong and rich history.

1941 to 1984

The following was taken from the 1984 INDIAN HEAD History book pages 183-187.

In the spring of 1941 Canada Department of National Defense for Air formed the Air Cadet League of Canada. It was patterned upon the Air Defense Cadet Corps of the United Kingdom, organized in 1938. The purpose of the League was to create a large body of teen-aged boys, uniformed, disciplined and instructed, with basic ground training for those who wished to enter the Canadian Air Force. Participation was voluntary.

A short familiarization course was held in late summer in Regina. School trustees and school principals were invited to attend as the program was designed to be integrated with the collegiate curriculum. W. Christian, Principal of the collegiate, and T.Petty, Principal of the Public School attended from Indian Head.

Each participating community would sponsor a flight or squadron, and an RCAF officer attached to No 4 Training Command, Calgary, would supervise all squadrons in Saskatchewan and Alberta. A normal squadron would have 50 cadets but smaller numbers would be permitted in communities unable to muster 50 boys. Senior cadets would be boys 15 to 18 years of age and juniors, 12 to 14 years. Training would be similar to the elementary training in the RCAF.

A participating community would also be required to set up a local committee which would be responsible for fundraising most funds needed for operation of the squadron and for implementing the training program. It was recommended that each cadet contribute a small monthly fee.

For maximum school credits, 216 hours of cadet work over a period of three years would be required. This was increased to 288 hours in 1942. The following courses were required: administration, mathematics, motors and aeroengines, armament, model aircraft building, signaling (Morse code), first aid, knots and splices, drill and small arms instruction and physical training. A high point in the program would be attendance for several days at a SFTS Station where each cadet would experience a 30 minute flight in a service aircraft.

There was enthusiastic support for the Air Cadet program in Indian Head community and in early January 1942 Squadron No 47 was formed. Some 30 members were soon enrolled in the Squadron and plans for instruction in the collegiate and in the local armouries were made. Money raised by the local committee headed by F.H.C. O’Bierne and F.E. Douglas and through lotteries conducted by the cadets soon provided enough for uniforms and for some equipment and supplies. Canvassing in the town yielded ear phones for radio signaling and mattresses for use as mats in physical training. For arms drill, each cadet carved out a rifle from a piece of lumber. A V8 cylinder assembly was presented to the squadron by Ford Motors of Canada for the motors course. Two classes, administration and mathematics(including navigation) would be taught in the collegiate, the remaining courses in the local armouries.

Membership of the local committee set up in 1942 to be responsible for the Squadron’s needs included the following: Dr. F.W. Hart(chairman). T.J. Derman (vice-chairman), L.O.T. Peterson (secretary-treasurer), Dr. A.C. Scott and F.E. Douglas (representatives on the provincial Air Cadet Committee), A. Anderson, A. Badenoch, W. Christian, P. Crawford, J. Creighton, W. Gibson, E.V. McCurdy, R. Molberg, F.H.C. O’Brierne, T. Petty, Dr. M. Robertson, J. Ross, W.T. Thorn, J. Turner.

Program instruction was provided as follows: administration, W. Christian, O/C of the Squadron; mathematics and navigation, R. Molberg; model aircraft building and recognition, T. Petty and J. Ross; signaling (Morse), F.H.C. O’Bierne; motors and aeroengines, T. Guild and R.W. Forbes; armaments, F.E. Douglas; knots and splices, L.O.T. Peterson; first aid, Dr A.C. Scott; drill and small arms practice, J.C. Creighton; physical training, W.H. Cram and W. Shevkenek.

The Squadron had its first dress parade in June 1942. This exercise was in preparation for further training in Jul at an SFTT Station. Lieutenant Ball and P.O. Hughes, RCAF Winnipeg, carried out the inspection. A high point in the exercise was the presentation of a new ensign to W.Christian, O/C of the Squadron. It was light blue with a “Jack” in one corner and a cadet symbol in another.

Squadron No 47 was assigned to the RAF Station at Weyburn for its SFTS Familiarization training. Attendance in 1942 and 1943 for the ten-day course was as follows; 1942 – Sgt W.Fisher, Cpl J. Hamilton, Cpl D. Price, Cpl L. Yeates, S. Banks, A. Crawford, R. Crawford, T. Creighton, J. Craigie, W. Douglas, A. Gibson, D. Gibson, J. Henderson, F. Holden, l. Jardine, G. Ledingham, G. Osment, J. Petty, P. Ripley, J. Stranger, L. Schmidt, B. Wormald, and leaders, J. Creighton and T. Petty. 1943 – Sgt G Ledingham, Sgt J. Petty, Cpl P. Ripley, S. Banks, J. Craigie, A. Crawford, W. Dorward, G. Good, K. Jardine, W. Lang, A. Leach, B. Ledingham, A. Robison, L. Schmidt.

The need for air cadet training declined rapidly after 1943 and Squadron No 47 was gradually phased out. The following notice carried in October 10, 1946 issue of the Indian Head News, confirmed its demise; ” Air Cadet Uniforms (Sqn No 47) for sale (Men’s and Boy’s Store). Anyone who has been a member of Squadron No 47 is eligible to buy a uniform at a reduced price, deadline October 20. Afterwards those remaining will be sold to the general public. Air Cadet Committee”. Many boys who were members of Squadron No 47 will have pleasant memories of their Cadet training, especially of the association and fellowship extended to them at the SFTS Station – the daily routine of instruction with its unexpected moments, experience in the Link trainer etc but perhaps most of all the daily “tea breaks” when all activity stopped for a “spot” of refreshment.

There will be memories too a graver nature – of Cadet W.F.H. O’Bierne who enlisted in October 1942 and died in action January 27 1943 and of Cadet W. Fisher who likewise died in the performance of his duty.

691 Squadron was started in 1959 by Brian Campbell. At the annual inspection this year (1984) we received a certificate on completion of 25 years of squadron training activities presented by the Air Cadet League of Canada.

In the late seventies girls joined the ranks. The cadets attend summer camps and have trips to different parts of the country. Some of the cadets have joined the regular forces.

For the first time in the 691 Squadron’s history, three cadets received scholarships from the Air Cadet League of Canada for gliding at Gimli (MB) (in 1984).

Present Staff (1984): CO Rod Knisley; Supply Officer, Walter Ayers; Administration, Elaine Cole; Civilian Instructors, Les Radcliffe and Grant Simpson.

As printed in the 1984 HISTORY OF INDIAN HEAD book