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The Harvard
RCAF 370
 Harvard
20370 was a familiar landmark at the entrance to CFB
Penhold from 1967 to 1971. It was then moved to the main gate where it
stood until 1994.
When the base was decommissioned, it was donated to the Red Deer Flying
Club with its members keeping it maintained in good condition. On June
16, 2007, it was mounted on a pedestal near the terminal entrance of
the Red Deer Regional Airport by the club.
The article below on the background of '370' is from the final issue of 'The Harvard Flyer' June 1994
Built in Fort William, Ontario in 1952, it was
picked up at the factory by a navy pilot, Lt. Doug Frampton and flown to
Calgary in 1953. It was then flown to Penhold where it played a
prominent role in the training of North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) pilots.
The aircraft, a two-seater training plane, was the last Harvard to fly
an official mission out of CFB Penhold and the last to do so in the
Canadian Armed Forces. The last mission took place on July 21st, 1965
during the Red Deer Exhibition parade. Its pilot was Wing Commander F.P.
Clark, AFC, CD, who was Base Commander at that time.
 Following that mission, the Harvard was decommissioned and the city of
Red Deer purchased it from Crown Assets for the sum of $500.00, with the
intention of displaying it downtown as a monument to the pilot training
at CFB Penhold.
However, according to then mayor R.E. Barrett, a suitable display site
could not be found and it was presented to CFB Penhold.
In a quiet ceremony held on August 5th, 1968, Harvard 370, "a memorial
to the men who served their country and the world and to those who gave
their lives in their service", was dedicated by the citizens of Red Deer
and Canadian Forces Base Penhold.
A sparse crowd, a handful of dignitaries, and an honour guard comprised
of Regular Force personnel and Cadets, as well as red-coated RCMP
trainees, witnessed Red Deer Mayor R.E. Barrett and Base Commander
LColC.L. Read, CD, unveil a plaque which reads: "The citizens of Red
Deer and RCAF Station, Penhold, dedicate this memorial to the airmen of
many nations who filled the skies of Central Alberta with the renowned
Harvard aircraft from 1952 to 1965."
On June 1st, 1971, the Harvard was moved to the
main gate and rededicated as part of a ceremony to commemorate the 20th
anniversary of Air Defence Command.
Harvard 20370 was rededicated once again in 1984 to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the RCAF.
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The
North American Harvard
The Harvard was used for training in Canada from 1940 to 1965. A
total of 3,350 were built in this country.
It was chosen as the advanced single-engine trainer for the
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and later for NATO,
teaching pilots who came from many parts of the world.
It served as a transitional aircraft for pilots to learn the
basics of flying before going on to bigger and more complex
aircraft. |
'Harvard over Penhold' by David P. Miller.
used with permission
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Specifications:
Engine:
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Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-AN-1 Wasp,
600 hp, radial
42 feet 0.5 inches (12.8 m)
28 feet 11 inches (8.8 m)
11 feet 9 inches (3.5 m)
3995 pounds (1812 kg)
5235 pounds (2375 kg)
140 miles per hour (225 km/h)
180 miles per hour (290 km/h)
1300 feet per minute (396 m/min.)
22 000 feet (6710 m)
710 miles (1143 km) |
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