They were judged as being the best air cadet squadron in Saskatchewan so many times, they were finally handed the provincial shield for keeps in 1960.
The Wylie-Mitchell Squadron then went on to win the replacement trophy once more and then did what no other Saskatchewan Squadron had done before … capture the national title as Canada’s most proficient squadron out of the 371 national squadrons in 1968.
That’s just part of the rich history behind the local air cadet squadron that will be marking it’s 75th anniversary with their annual review on Saturday, May 14 in their own drill hall located on the Exhibition Association grounds.
The cadets’ support group, the civilian committee, was also named the top support team on four separate occasions, including the milestone year of 1968.
Today’s commanding officer Captain Danielle Fleury, who had a successful run through several leadership ranks as a cadet herself from 1996 to 2003, is well aware of the benchmark moments of the local air cadet history, beginning with that first squadron that was formed during the peak period of the Second World War, 1941.
Fleury came back to the squadron as an adult leader in 2006, and by 2008, was promoted as an officer within the adult leadership ranks and then commanding officer, taking only brief breaks to give birth to, and tend to, three young children.
“I like what is offered by air cadets. It gives youth a chance to be involved in the community,” Captain Fleury said in a recent interview when asked to comment on the current crop of 30 air cadets.
Leadership is a key element of air cadet training, with cadets as young as 12 being able to join the fray and take training courses at summer camps or accept gliding and pilot training scholarships along with a chance to represent Canada on international exchange trips.
In fact, last summer alone, 11 Wylie-Mitchell No. 30 Squadron air cadets were engaged in summer camp activities and training with one being accepted for a six-week glider piloting program while another enjoyed a six-week excursion to learn more about aircraft maintenance, while nine others attended the basic aviation and technology camps. These camps are located in Cold Lake, Alta., Gimli, Man., and North Bay, Ont.
Fleury said she is backed up on the officer and training files by Lieut. Rhonda Dubowski who is administrative officer, while Robert Charlton is training officer and Sam Harper is an assistant training officer. Civilian instructor is Carrie-Jo Niebergall who is also assistant administration officer. Travis Southern is a civilian instructor and the marksmanship and biathalon coach and longtime volunteer and former CO, Richard Marcotte handles supply duties.
Mike Miller is chairman of the very active civilian committee.
The cadets have been housed in a variety of buildings that they called home, but it wasn’t until 1987 before they moved into their current drill hall and offices which they own and operate, making it one of the busiest halls in the city used for various functions.
That first squadron in 1941 was formed through the auspices of the Estevan Collegiate Institute with the first commanding officer being Flight Lieutenant Newfeld, the collegiate principal. The squadron paraded in the collegiate but took many classes at the nearby air base where a Commonwealth air training school was located. The young cadets were bused there by the Royal Canadian Air Force personnel on a regular basis, until the end of the war.
The squadron drew sponsorship funding from the Royal Canadian Legions in Estevan and Bienfait, and later Legion branches from North Portal, Lampman and Midale were added as co-sponsors.
Following the war, the squadron was able to continue using the drill hall that had been left vacant following the closing of the air training school in 1946. They managed to raise the funds to purchase the hall at the Estevan Airport, thanks to huge community fundraising effort in 1968 which corresponded with their national award.
Right around that period, the air cadets welcomed young women into the ranks.
The 1966 annual parade, veterans remember, was a special one since the review was carried out in conjunction with a huge band competition. The Estevan squadron along with the visiting Carlyle and Oxbow squadrons were reviewed by Air Commodore Burgess. Some of the bands in attendance included the Royal Horse Artillery Band.
The air cadets made the drill hall their home and it now belonged to them, at no charge, but they had to pay for their heat and water. The cadets purchased the drill hall from the city in 1968 for $1,500 and poured a lot of money into the purchase of coal to heat the huge structure.
The cadets were finally able to settle in at their permanent home on the Exhibition Association grounds, thanks in some measure to the fact that SaskPower purchased their old airport building to access the coal underground.
Wylie-Mitchell Squadron’s 40th anniversary was another special event, as was their 60th with grand celebrations in the Legion Hall. Planes from Canadian Forces Base in Moose Jaw provided a fly-past in 1981 and in 2001, Lieut. Gov. Lynda Haverstock and former Commonwealth Air Training commander Howard Leyton-Brown were on hand to address a crowd of 170 for a Saturday night celebration followed by a Sunday afternoon annual review.
Review:
Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron, named in tribute to Captains Robert Mitchell and Brock Wylie, the first two airmen from Estevan to die in combat in the Second World War.
The Squadron carries the No. 30 proudly on their uniforms, recognizing the fact they were the 30th squadron to receive the Canadian charter and the third in Saskatchewan, in October, 1941.
The Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron No. 30 was awarded the Guthrie Shield as the province’s most proficient squadron in 1948, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1960 at which time it was presented to them for their permanent possession.
The squadron captured the most proficient title again in 1968 along with the Canadian Air Force Association trophy for being the most proficient squadron in the nation.
The squadron’s civilian committee won the Derosenroll Trophy as the top civilian support committee in Saskatchewan four times under the chairmanship of Ken John, Percy Davis, Ken Armstrong and Phil Attrill. These were between the years of 1954 and 1971.
Several of the more recent cadets graduating from the program have gone on to distinguished careers in the Royal Canadian Air Force and other branches of the Canadian military and even more have earned the coveted Duke of Edinburgh Gold Medal including current Estevan MLA and former CO Lori Carr and current CO Danielle Fleury.
