CAPNYNEWS ONLINE

By: Captain James Ridley, Public Affairs Officer

HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA - 4 June 2008. Members of the Vedder Composite Squadron departed their Albany headquarters late on a Friday evening and headed North across the border. They were on their way return a visit made by cadets and officers of the Civil Air Patrol's Canadian equivalent, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, specifically members of 62 Grimsby Squadron.

The CAP caravans final destination was Ontario, Canada, the Grimsby squadron's home. Vedder's hosts planned an exciting weekend which included stops at a local military air museum, a tour of a WWII Destroyer and a pool party at one of the Canadian officer's homes. The tour of the HMCS Haida was very educational and afforded the cadets an opportunity to compare this ship with that of the U.S.S. Slater, a much smaller warship anchored in Albany which the Vedder squadron took their guests to visit many months before when they visited the Middle Eastern Group region of the New York Wing. Next up was a tour of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum which was located on the grounds of the Hamilton, Ontario Airport.

The Heritage Museum offered the cadets a chance to view many WWI, WWII and post WWII aircraft which were used by Canadian air forces during those conflicts. Many of the aircraft were designed and built in England and America such as the Hawker Hurricane which was the savior of the Battle of Britain and U.S. made planes such as the Catalina Flying boat and the North American F-86 Sabre fighter which won many a dog-fight over their Russian made MIG counterparts during the Korean War. The day ended at the home of Captain Dave Leonard, who treated everyone to a barbeque and pool party to the delight of some weary but excited cadets.

One of the things that set this trip apart from past squadron activities was that it was almost entirely planned by the cadets themselves led by the Vedder cadet commander c/2dt Lt Heather Nelson who aspires to attend the U.S, Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. While the pool party was the last activity of the day it wasnt the last one for the trip. On Sunday the entire group visited Niagara Falls and viewed the natural wonder from the ship the "Maid of the Mist". More than one cadet would confirm that they got wetter on the boat than they did the night before swimming in Captain Leonard's pool! After a group lunch the Grimsby commander, Major Boyle, presented the Vedder commander Lt Col Bob Hoar with a certificate of Appreciation and the Yanks headed South over the border and returned home.

"Joint efforts like this" commented Hoar "make the cadets on both sides appreciate the opportunities they have and further enrich the bonds of friendship both our countries have enjoyed for the past 200 years." Lt Col Hoar hopes that more trips will take place in the future and that more squadrons within the NY Wing will participate.

NYW NEWS ONLINE