William Brenton Boggs
Encyclopedia
William Brenton Boggs, OC
, OBE
(born December 18, 1918) is a former pioneering Canadian
leader in military and commercial aviation.
, USA, on December 18, 1918, William Brenton (Bill) Boggs relocated to Noranda, Quebec with his parents in 1927. He graduated from McGill University
, mechanical engineering, and became an Engineering Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force
in 1940. During his World War II
service, he notably served as Senior Engineering Officer of 331 Wing of Wellington bombers dispatched to Tunisia, North Africa to support the Allied landings in Sicily and Italy, for which contributions he was appointed to the Order of the British Empire
(O.B.E.) in 1944.
(1945-1950) and Canadair
(1950-1957) before he joined Can-Car, a subsidiary of Hawker Siddeley Canada
, and became vice president of Hawker Siddley. In 1965, he became President of de Havilland Canada
(DHC). During this term, he was involved with the development of the 30-seat Dash-7 commuter aircraft. He then became President and eventually Chairman of Canada Systems Group (CSG), and, in 1983, President and CEO of The Canadian Data and Professional Service Organization.
Boggs was invited back to DHC in 1984, as Chairman, President and CEO, when that company was being prepared for privatization. When the Boeing Company bought DHC in 1986, Boggs became Vice Chairman of Boeing Canada. In 1987 he became Chairman of Field Aviation Holdings Inc. He remained there until he retired in 1995.
in 1944, Boggs was invested as an Officer into the Order of Canada
in 1988. He became a Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) in 1967 and served twice as Chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) (1967-68; 1987-88). In 1983 he was named Fellow of the Canadian School of Management. In 2003, he was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.
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...
(born December 18, 1918) is a former pioneering 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...
leader in military and commercial aviation.
Early years
Born in Douglas, ArizonaDouglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
, USA, on December 18, 1918, William Brenton (Bill) Boggs relocated to Noranda, Quebec with his parents in 1927. He graduated from McGill University
McGill 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...
, mechanical engineering, and became an Engineering Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force
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...
in 1940. During his 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...
service, he notably served as Senior Engineering Officer of 331 Wing of Wellington bombers dispatched to Tunisia, North Africa to support the Allied landings in Sicily and Italy, for which contributions he was appointed to 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...
(O.B.E.) in 1944.
Civilian career
Boggs' early civilian career included positions with Trans-Canada AirlinesAir 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...
(1945-1950) and Canadair
Canadair
Canadair Ltd. was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer in Canada. It was a subsidiary of other aircraft manufacturers, then a nationalized corporation until privatized in 1986, and became the core of Bombardier Aerospace....
(1950-1957) before he joined Can-Car, a subsidiary of Hawker Siddeley Canada
Hawker Siddeley Canada
Hawker Siddeley Canada was the Canadian unit of the Hawker Siddeley Group of the United Kingdom and manufactured railcars, subway cars, streetcars, aircraft engines and ships from the 1960s to 1980s.-History:...
, and became vice president of Hawker Siddley. In 1965, he became President of de Havilland Canada
De Havilland Canada
The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
(DHC). During this term, he was involved with the development of the 30-seat Dash-7 commuter aircraft. He then became President and eventually Chairman of Canada Systems Group (CSG), and, in 1983, President and CEO of The Canadian Data and Professional Service Organization.
Boggs was invited back to DHC in 1984, as Chairman, President and CEO, when that company was being prepared for privatization. When the Boeing Company bought DHC in 1986, Boggs became Vice Chairman of Boeing Canada. In 1987 he became Chairman of Field Aviation Holdings Inc. He remained there until he retired in 1995.
Honours and legacy
In addition to being made an Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder 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...
in 1944, Boggs was invested as an Officer into the Order of Canada
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...
in 1988. He became a Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) in 1967 and served twice as Chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) (1967-68; 1987-88). In 1983 he was named Fellow of the Canadian School of Management. In 2003, he was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.