Flying

In 1927, the year of the Jubilee, when Ottawa was in its sixtieth year, Charles Lindberg arrived after having only six weeks before completed his historic non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic. His appearance at the Jubilee was greatly anticipated and thousands of Canadians flocked to see him. Lindbergh flew his legendary Ryan Mono plane, the “Spirit of St. Louis”, while escorted by twelve fighter aircraft from the 27th Squadron the First Pursuit Group of the US Army Air Corps. This group met up with three aircraft formerly of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based in Rockcliffe, and flew around the Peace Tower before landing on a makeshift airfield near the Ottawa Hunt Club.

However, during one of the formations, two USACC fighters collided in the air. Lieutenant J. Thad Johnson of Michigan parachuted out of the plane, which was only 100 feet up. Before his parachute could open, Johnson lay dead on ground (Haig, 187). The next day, Prime Minister King cancelled all celebrations and ordered a state funeral for the fallen Lieutenant. His coffin was sent in a special funeral train to Michigan and as the train left the canal from Ottawa, Lindbergh made repeated passes dropping flowers in Johnson’s honour. Currently, an internal road on the airport grounds bares the name of this unfortunate American soldier.

On January 14, 1928 regular flying commenced with the formation of the Ottawa Flying Club. This Club leased a field in the Gloucester Township and began flying two Tiger Moths. This location would later become the site of what is now the Ottawa Airport.