Harvard fly-past scheduled for Raymond and Coaldale to honour 100th Anniversary of the RCAF

Westwind Weekly News Photo Submitted. FLYING HIGH: Remembrance Day ceremonies in Raymond and Coaldale will see a fly-past by a Harvard Mark IV on Nov. 11, officials from Lethbridge’s General Stewart Branch No. 4 announced earlier this week.

Submitted by Glenn Miller

On Oct. 28, Lethbridge’s General Stewart Branch No. 4 announced a fly-past by a Harvard MK IV (Mark Four) in support of Remembrance Day ceremonies for the towns of Coaldale and Raymond.

Harvard owner and pilot Geoffrey Brayn will be conducting the fly-past. His copilot this year is Captain (Retired) David Deere who served for 17 years in the RCAF flying the CF-18 Hornet, the CF-5 Freedom Fighter and the CT-114 Tutor trainer. 

After earning a business degree at Royal Military College of Canada, Deere went on to jet training and was posted to 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 4Wing Cold Lake where most missions were in the role of NORAD air and cruise missile defense. In 1990, he graduated from Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (Canada’s Top Gun) and was quickly deployed to the Middle East where he flew dozens of combat missions in Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Gulf War. Returning to Canada, Deere was posted to 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron as an Instrument Check and Instructor Pilot on the CF-5. In 1992, he was selected to be the CF-5 Air Demonstration Pilot flying at airshows from coast to coast. His love of airshows continued through 1994-95 when he was awarded the outer left-wing position (#7) with the Canadian Snowbirds. Then after retiring from the RCAF, he flew with the five-ship Northern Lights Aerobatic Team on the Extra 300. In 2000, Deere transitioned to the airline industry flying the Fokker F-28 and Boeing 737. Although he is presently a full-time technical standards pilot with WestJet he spends much of his free time flying his F-1 Rocket sport plane in formation, aerobatics, and exciting cross-countries. 

Remembrance Day has always been a moving and poignant day for Deere as he vividly recalls each of the events that took seven of his close squadron mates and colleagues during peacetime training missions. The dedication and sacrifice made by these service men along with those of all the dedicated women and men who have served and are still serving our proud nation remains deep within his mind and heart. Deere is truly honoured to have the chance to fly the North American Harvard Mk IV for this year’s Remembrance Day. Deere’s father trained on an RAF Harvard in 1956 so he feels a deep sense of connection to the legacy of the aircraft and its role in early air force training.

This memorial fly past is dedicated to the service and sacrifice of the airmen and women of the past and present “through adversity to the stars” PER ARDUA AD ASTRA.