Frederick McCall
Encyclopedia
Frederick Robert Gordon McCall DSO
, MC & Bar
, DFC
(4 December 1896 - 22 January 1949) was a Canadian
air ace during World War I
, with 35 confirmed and two unconfirmed victories. After a career in civil aviation, he returned to service in World War II
.
, McCall came to Calgary with his family in 1906. In February 1916 McCall enlisted with the 175th Battalion
of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
(CEF). Eight months later, he was in France with this battalion as a sergeant.
McCall received a commission as a lieutenant pilot trainee in March 1917, and in December was assigned to No. XIII Squadron RAF
on the Western Front, flying the two seater Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
reconnaissance aircraft with F.C. Farrington.
"for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", and two weeks later the accompanying Bar for downing an enemy scout aircraft while on a mission to take photographs.
After his third victory while flying the R.E.8, McCall was next transferred to No. 41 Squadron RAF
and began flying the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after scoring four "kills" in May 1918. On 28 June 1918 McCall downed four enemy aircraft, including one shared with Eric John Stephens
. On 30 June 1918 now Captain McCall downed five more Germans, four in the morning and the fifth that evening. For this McCall was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
.
On 17 August, he was accompanying William Gordon Claxton when the pair of them ran into Jagstaffel 20, which consisted of at least 40 planes. In the ensuing fight, which saw Claxton shot down, McCall scored a victory.
McCall was ordered to England, and eventually to Canada, on convalescent leave. The armistice
ending World War I was signed while McCall was in Canada recuperating from illness.
He founded his own company, McCall Aero Corporation Limited, in 1920. With this company McCall flew commercial freight and passengers across Canada, pioneering air travel to Banff.
Later, he founded another aviation company, Great Western Airways. One of his more spectacular achievements was the flying of 200 quarts of nitroglycerin from Shelby, Montana to Calgary in 1928.
The following year, he ignored bad weather to fly a doctor to the Skiff oil fields to treat two seriously injured workers.
McCall also worked to encourage the formation of Canadian flying clubs in the inter-war years.
McCall died in Calgary Alberta on 22 January 1949 at the age of 52.
In the city of Calgary, Alberta, the road "McCall Way" is named after him, as well as McCall Lake Golf Course. Freddie McCall appears in exhibits in several museums in and around Calgary such as the Glenbow Museum
and the Calgary Aerospace Museum. In 1939 the Calgary Airport was named after him but has since been renamed Calgary International Airport
. A book entitled Mavericks History Of Alberta (see external links) contains some information on McCall as well.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC & Bar
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(4 December 1896 - 22 January 1949) was a Canadian
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...
air ace during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with 35 confirmed and two unconfirmed victories. After a career in civil aviation, he returned to service in 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...
.
Early life
Born in Vernon, British ColumbiaVernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
, McCall came to Calgary with his family in 1906. In February 1916 McCall enlisted with the 175th Battalion
175th Battalion, CEF
The 175th Battalion, CEF, was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.Based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in the Medicine Hat district. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 21st...
of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
(CEF). Eight months later, he was in France with this battalion as a sergeant.
McCall received a commission as a lieutenant pilot trainee in March 1917, and in December was assigned to No. XIII Squadron RAF
No. XIII Squadron RAF
No. 13 or XIII Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed on 10 January 1915 and most recently disbanded on 13 May 2011. It is expected to be reformed in 2012 flying the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle from RAF Waddington....
on the Western Front, flying the two seater Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed by John Kenworthy. Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable B.E.2, the R.E.8 was more difficult to fly, and was regarded with great suspicion at first in the Royal...
reconnaissance aircraft with F.C. Farrington.
Aerial service in World War I
McCall's first aerial victory occurred while flying the R.E.8, shooting down a German aircraft. McCall was awarded the Military CrossMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
"for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", and two weeks later the accompanying Bar for downing an enemy scout aircraft while on a mission to take photographs.
After his third victory while flying the R.E.8, McCall was next transferred to No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
and began flying the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after scoring four "kills" in May 1918. On 28 June 1918 McCall downed four enemy aircraft, including one shared with Eric John Stephens
Eric John Stephens
Captain Eric John Stephens was an Australian flying ace who served in the Royal Air Force. He was credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories. He later became a Qantas pilot.-Early life:...
. On 30 June 1918 now Captain McCall downed five more Germans, four in the morning and the fifth that evening. For this McCall was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.
On 17 August, he was accompanying William Gordon Claxton when the pair of them ran into Jagstaffel 20, which consisted of at least 40 planes. In the ensuing fight, which saw Claxton shot down, McCall scored a victory.
McCall was ordered to England, and eventually to Canada, on convalescent leave. The armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
ending World War I was signed while McCall was in Canada recuperating from illness.
Life between the wars
Following the armistice McCall embarked upon a variety of civil aviation ventures, beginning with stunt flying. On 5 July 1919, while barnstorming, he crash-landed when his engine failed while he was taking off. His landing site was the top of the merry-go-round at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. He and his two passengers were uninjured.He founded his own company, McCall Aero Corporation Limited, in 1920. With this company McCall flew commercial freight and passengers across Canada, pioneering air travel to Banff.
Later, he founded another aviation company, Great Western Airways. One of his more spectacular achievements was the flying of 200 quarts of nitroglycerin from Shelby, Montana to Calgary in 1928.
The following year, he ignored bad weather to fly a doctor to the Skiff oil fields to treat two seriously injured workers.
McCall also worked to encourage the formation of Canadian flying clubs in the inter-war years.
World War II and beyond
With the arrival of the Second World War McCall was recalled to service with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Squadron Leader, based at numerous western Canadian bases.McCall died in Calgary Alberta on 22 January 1949 at the age of 52.
In the city of Calgary, Alberta, the road "McCall Way" is named after him, as well as McCall Lake Golf Course. Freddie McCall appears in exhibits in several museums in and around Calgary such as the Glenbow Museum
Glenbow Museum
The Glenbow Museum in Calgary is one of Western Canada's largest museums, with over 93,000 square feet of exhibition space in more than 20 galleries, showcasing a selection of the Glenbow's collection of over a million objects....
and the Calgary Aerospace Museum. In 1939 the Calgary Airport was named after him but has since been renamed Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
. A book entitled Mavericks History Of Alberta (see external links) contains some information on McCall as well.
External links
- http://www.abheritage.ca/aviation/people/ww1_fred_mccall.html
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/mccall1.php
- http://www.glenbow.org/about/behind/mccall.cfm
- http://www.amazon.ca/Mavericks-History-Alberta-Herk-Van/dp/0670887390