6 Repair Depot
Encyclopedia
No. 6 Repair Depot was an aircraft modification and repair unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force
's Air Materiel Command located at Trenton
, Ontario. Duties of No. 6 RD included handling aircraft at other stations around southern Ontario and assisting with aircraft being serviced or modified at other locations such as Avro
where aircraft were modified for postwar use. No. 6RD personnel ferried many aircraft types to and from Trenton, and flew aircraft to storage facilities after the Second World War. Aircraft salvage was another responsibility. Crashed aircraft or aircraft that had forced-landed were cleaned up or dismantled to be shipped back to Trenton.
CFB Trenton was built over swamps and sometimes No. 6 RD personnel lived in tents for temporary housing. Nicknamed "tent city", the mechanics had to sleep there for many weeks in a row. During New Year's Eve of 1952, fireworks set fire to hangar No. 9 and it burned to the ground along with three Lancasters
, two Mitchells, one Grumman Goose
, a Harvard and numerous pieces of handling equipment. No. 6RD specialized in the repair of North American Harvard trainers as well as Avro Anson
s, Liberators and Spitfires
for the RCAF and the RAF in 1940 until after the Second World War. The unit's slogan was "Nil Nobis Irreparabile" (Translation: Nothing Beyond Repair For Us") until 1978 when they changed their slogan to "Excellence". In 1970, the name changed to the Aerospace Maintenance Development Unit, or AMDU. The AMDU helped in the exchange of the Canadian CF-5s to Venezuela. Also, the No. 6 RD personnel built the Silver Dart II
in 1959.
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
's Air Materiel Command located at Trenton
CFB Trenton
Canadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
, Ontario. Duties of No. 6 RD included handling aircraft at other stations around southern Ontario and assisting with aircraft being serviced or modified at other locations such as Avro
Avro Canada
Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...
where aircraft were modified for postwar use. No. 6RD personnel ferried many aircraft types to and from Trenton, and flew aircraft to storage facilities after the Second World War. Aircraft salvage was another responsibility. Crashed aircraft or aircraft that had forced-landed were cleaned up or dismantled to be shipped back to Trenton.
CFB Trenton was built over swamps and sometimes No. 6 RD personnel lived in tents for temporary housing. Nicknamed "tent city", the mechanics had to sleep there for many weeks in a row. During New Year's Eve of 1952, fireworks set fire to hangar No. 9 and it burned to the ground along with three Lancasters
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
, two Mitchells, one Grumman Goose
Grumman Goose
The Grumman G-21 Goose amphibious aircraft was designed as an eight-seat "commuter" plane for businessmen in the Long Island area. The Goose was Grumman’s first monoplane to fly, its first twin-engined aircraft, and its first aircraft to enter commercial airline service...
, a Harvard and numerous pieces of handling equipment. No. 6RD specialized in the repair of North American Harvard trainers as well as Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s, Liberators and Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
for the RCAF and the RAF in 1940 until after the Second World War. The unit's slogan was "Nil Nobis Irreparabile" (Translation: Nothing Beyond Repair For Us") until 1978 when they changed their slogan to "Excellence". In 1970, the name changed to the Aerospace Maintenance Development Unit, or AMDU. The AMDU helped in the exchange of the Canadian CF-5s to Venezuela. Also, the No. 6 RD personnel built the Silver Dart II
AEA Silver Dart
-References:NotesBibliography* Aerial Experimental Association . Aerofiles. . Retrieved: 19 May 2005.* Green, H. Gordon. The Silver Dart: The Authentic Story of the Hon. J.A.D. McCurdy, Canada's First Pilot. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Atlantic Advocate Book, 1959.* Milberry, Larry. Aviation in...
in 1959.
Commanding officers
- G/C F.L. Tretheway (Mar. 1940 – Oct. 1941)
- G/C.A.H. Simmonds (RAF) (Oct. 1941 – Sept. 1942)
- G/C W.M. Keddie (RAF)
- G/C A.R. Layard, OBE
- G/C G.G. Truscott, OBE
- G/C S.A. Greene, MBE
- G/C D.H. McCaul, CD
- G/C T.A. Spruston, MBE
- W/C W.H. Smith
- G/C C.R. Thompson, CD
- G/C E.P. Brigland, CD
- G/C A.I. Pudsley, CD
- Col M.T. Friedl, CD
- LCol R.F. Brown, CD
- Col J.W. Garland, DGC, CD
- Col W.G. Doupe, CD
- Col J.H. Spratley, CD
- Col J.D. Young CD
- Col M.F. Phillips, CD
- Col R.I. McDowell, CD
- Col G.G. Chivers, CD