By Spencer Sterritt

Canada 150: Nanaimo war hero’s place in Canadian history

Jun 30, 2017 | 4:37 PM

 NANAIMO — The legacy of a local war hero is ingrained in Canada 150 celebrations.

Raymond Collishaw, who the Nanaimo Airport is named after, was one of the top fighter pilots in both the First and Second World Wars. Born in 1893, he always wanted to be a pilot and after years of helping protect Canada’s west coast from the air, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service when the First World War broke out.

Brian McFadden, vice-president of the Vancouver Island Military Museum in downtown Nanaimo, said Collishaw had 87 confirmed kills in the air and “probably many more than that because often you would shoot at an aircraft and it didn’t crash immediately.” Collishaw’s total makes him the third highest scoring Allied pilot and the second highest scoring Canadian.

“He was one of the most prolific fighter pilots of the First World War,” McFadden said.

Having always wanted to be an air force pilot, Collishaw didn’t retire after his stellar debut in the First World War.

iconic voice

Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole, a welcome voice for a half-century, dead at 90

6m ago

first response

New staffing model on Gabriola Island hires local paramedics for enhanced patient care

4h ago

modified weapon

Sawed-off shotgun seized after Nanaimo RCMP spot well-known offender

18h ago

When the Allies were once again called to defend Europe, Collishaw coordinated the combat in North Africa and introduced the idea of fighter pilots in the air helping troops on the ground through bombing runs and firing on infantry.

“This was something that wasn’t big in the air force at the beginning of the war,” McFadden said. “With his intervention, he was able to train them to support ground troops against tanks. He was quite the major figure.”

Collishaw rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal and was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1974 shortly before passing away in 1976.

The air cadets stationed in Nanaimo are named after him, as is the Nanaimo Airport.

“He’s a true Canadian hero,” McFadden said. “Local boy makes good.”

McFadden said he’s honoured to be able to keep Collishaw’s legacy alive but he wonders why the Canadian fighter ace isn’t more famous.

“Canada does have a very impressive military history, unfortunately we don’t publicize it,” he said. “I think that’s because we feel to hold these people up as something special is somehow boasting. To me, that’s a major mistake.”

The exhibit about Collishaw can be seen at the Vancouver Island Military Museum, who are hosting a dedication ceremony both in honour of Canada 150 and the 20th birthday of the HMCS Nanaimo, which will be visiting for Canada Day.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit