Carl Frederick Burke
Encyclopedia
Carl Frederick Burke was a Canadian
aviator.
, Prince Edward Island
on February 10, 1913, Carl Frederick Burke started flying lessons at Saint John, New Brunswick
in 1936, subsequently earning a commercial license and, in 1939, qualifying for an air engineer's certificate. In 1939, he became a pilot for Canadian Airways Limited (CAL) at Moncton, New Brunswick
, during which he was involved in the air rescue of a pilot in Musgrove Harbor, Newfoundland, flying a ski-equipped de Havilland Dragon Rapide
, and also recovered the bodies of Sir Frederick Banting, navigator William Bird and Wlliam Snailman.
He joined the Royal Air Force Ferry Command (RAFFC) after CAL was purchased by Canadian Pacific Air Services. In 1941, along with Josiah Anderson, he received a license to operate a scheduled commercial air service between Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Moncton and Saint John, New Brunswick. Following the death of Anderson, Burke opened his business, Maritime Central Airways
, alone.
and two purchased aircraft: Barkley-Grow T8P-1
and a Fairchild 24. At its launch, Burke was its primary pilot. He became a Member of the Order of the British Empire
after his January 28, 1943 rescue of crew and equipment from a downed Avro Anson
, which required that he land five times on an ice floe near Prince Edward Island. MCA had expanded by the end of World War II
, but post-war recession required that Burke find supplementary income to keep his business aloft. Among other enterprises, MCA undertook the maintenance of Douglas DC-3
aircraft at RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island. In 1951, the company received a major contract with the Pinetree Project, a chain of military radar stations, that led to the airlifting of over 10,000 tons of equipment and over 100,000 passengers to the eastern Arctic over a span of three years. MCA also received a contract, in 1954, to assist in the eastern section of the Distant Early Warning Line
(DEW Line) constructed by agreement of Canada and the United States.
These contracts required MCA to expand. In 1953, it acquired two small Quebec company, Boreal Airways and Mont Laurier Aviation, which had become wholly owned subsidiaries by 1956, shortly after which they were merged into Nordair Ltd.
In 1960, Burke's enterprise grew further with the purchase of Wheeler Airlines Ltd. His company then had an air route structure that stretched from St. John's, Newfoundland
to Windsor, Ontario
and north beyond the Arctic Circle
, though there was a gap between Montreal and Moncton. It expanded internationally thereafter, before being divided in 1963. MCA was sold to Eastern Provincial Airways
, though Nordair remained independent until a major share was sold to J. Tooley of Montreal in 1967.
Burke died at Boston, Massachusetts on September 1, 1976.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
aviator.
Early years
Born at CharlottetownCharlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
on February 10, 1913, Carl Frederick Burke started flying lessons at Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
in 1936, subsequently earning a commercial license and, in 1939, qualifying for an air engineer's certificate. In 1939, he became a pilot for Canadian Airways Limited (CAL) at Moncton, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, during which he was involved in the air rescue of a pilot in Musgrove Harbor, Newfoundland, flying a ski-equipped de Havilland Dragon Rapide
De Havilland Dragon Rapide
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide was a British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s.-Design and development:Designed by the de Havilland company in late 1933 as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon, it was in effect a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the...
, and also recovered the bodies of Sir Frederick Banting, navigator William Bird and Wlliam Snailman.
He joined the Royal Air Force Ferry Command (RAFFC) after CAL was purchased by Canadian Pacific Air Services. In 1941, along with Josiah Anderson, he received a license to operate a scheduled commercial air service between Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Moncton and Saint John, New Brunswick. Following the death of Anderson, Burke opened his business, Maritime Central Airways
Maritime Central Airways
Maritime Central Airways was a predecessor of Eastern Provincial Airways and was founded by Prince Edward Island native Carl Burke and Josiah Anderson in 1941 out of Moncton, New Brunswick and provided standard passenger, cargo, and charter flights throughout the Maritimes and Newfoundland and...
, alone.
Maritime Central Airways
Maritime Central Airways (MCA) went into operation on December 7, 1941, with a fleet consisting of a leased Boeing 247DBoeing 247
The Boeing Model 247 was an early United States airliner, considered the first such aircraft to fully incorporate advances such as all-metal semi-monocoque construction, a fully cantilevered wing and retractable landing gear...
and two purchased aircraft: Barkley-Grow T8P-1
Barkley-Grow T8P-1
|-References:NotesBibliography* Gerritmas, Joop and Hazewinkel Harm. "The Barkley-Grow T8P-1." AAHS Journal 50 , 2005.* Taylor, J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989, p. 121. ISBN 0-51710-316-8....
and a Fairchild 24. At its launch, Burke was its primary pilot. He became a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
after his January 28, 1943 rescue of crew and equipment from a downed 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...
, which required that he land five times on an ice floe near Prince Edward Island. MCA had expanded by the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but post-war recession required that Burke find supplementary income to keep his business aloft. Among other enterprises, MCA undertook the maintenance of Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
aircraft at RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island. In 1951, the company received a major contract with the Pinetree Project, a chain of military radar stations, that led to the airlifting of over 10,000 tons of equipment and over 100,000 passengers to the eastern Arctic over a span of three years. MCA also received a contract, in 1954, to assist in the eastern section of the Distant Early Warning Line
Distant Early Warning Line
The Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland...
(DEW Line) constructed by agreement of Canada and the United States.
These contracts required MCA to expand. In 1953, it acquired two small Quebec company, Boreal Airways and Mont Laurier Aviation, which had become wholly owned subsidiaries by 1956, shortly after which they were merged into Nordair Ltd.
Nordair
Nordair is a defunct Quebec-based regional airline founded in 1947 from the merger of Boreal Airways and Mont Laurier Aviation. The airline operated from the 1950s to the 1980s. Most of its business was international and transatlantic passenger and freight charters and other contracts. It also...
In 1960, Burke's enterprise grew further with the purchase of Wheeler Airlines Ltd. His company then had an air route structure that stretched from St. John's, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
to Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
and north beyond the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, though there was a gap between Montreal and Moncton. It expanded internationally thereafter, before being divided in 1963. MCA was sold to Eastern Provincial Airways
Eastern Provincial Airways
Eastern Provincial Airways traces its history from Maritime Central Airways from 1961 and merged with CP Air to form Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1986.EPA, as it was known, was the backbone of air travel in Eastern Canada in the 1970s...
, though Nordair remained independent until a major share was sold to J. Tooley of Montreal in 1967.
Burke died at Boston, Massachusetts on September 1, 1976.
Honours and legacy
- Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws, (Ll.D), Acadia UniversityAcadia UniversityAcadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
, 1968. - Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (1982)