Gordon McGregor
Encyclopedia
Gordon Roy McGregor, CC
, OBE
, DFC (September 26, 1901 - March 3, 1971) was a Canadian
businessman and the first president of Air Canada
.
in 1923 with a degree in Engineering. From 1923 until 1939 he worked for the Bell Telephone Company
becoming Central District Manager. His flying career began at Kingston, Ontario
in 1932 and the following year he gained his pilot's license at Ottawa
.
(RCAF) Reserve and obtained his RCAF wing in 1938 and was promoted to Flying Officer
. His promotions were Flight Lieutenant
(1940), Flight Lieutenant
(1940), Squadron Leader
(1940), Wing Commander
(1941) and Group Captain
(1942). He was released on November 27, 1945.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, made an Officer of Order of the British Empire
, made a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords (Netherlands
), awarded the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (France
), awarded the War Cross, 1939 (Czechoslovakia
) and was Mentioned in Dispatches
three times.
and later was named president serving until 1968.
. In 1973 he was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was inducted into Canada's Business Hall of Fame.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Association's Gordon R. McGregor Trophy is named in his honour.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBE
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...
, DFC (September 26, 1901 - March 3, 1971) 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...
businessman and the first president of Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
.
Early life
Born in Montreal, Quebec, he graduated from McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1923 with a degree in Engineering. From 1923 until 1939 he worked for the Bell Telephone Company
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
becoming Central District Manager. His flying career began at Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in 1932 and the following year he gained his pilot's license at Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Military service
In 1936 he joined the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal 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...
(RCAF) Reserve and obtained his RCAF wing in 1938 and was promoted to Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
. His promotions were Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
(1940), Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
(1940), Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
(1940), Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
(1941) and Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
(1942). He was released on November 27, 1945.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, made an Officer of 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...
, made a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords (Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
), awarded the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), awarded the War Cross, 1939 (Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
) and was Mentioned in Dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
three times.
Post War career
In 1946, he joined Trans-Canada Air LinesTrans-Canada Air Lines
Trans-Canada Air Lines was a Canadian airline and operated as the country's flag carrier. Its corporate headquarters were in Montreal, Quebec...
and later was named president serving until 1968.
Honours
In 1968 he was made a Companion of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1973 he was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was inducted into Canada's Business Hall of Fame.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Association's Gordon R. McGregor Trophy is named in his honour.