The Saugeen Times

"Kincardine in Flight" opens at Walker House
By Liz Dadson

Heritage

Kincardine artist Glen Urquhart poses with his favourite paintings, Billy Bishop and a dogfight

The Paddy Walker Heritage Centre has opened its newest exhibit, "Kincardine in Flight," in recognition of the centennial celebrations of Canadian aviation.

The display features many interesting stories, photographs and memorabilia of this region's contribution to aviation. Some of the informative panels highlight the men from Kincardine who represented Canada's Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War, the participation of the local Malcolm Furniture Factory to supply the RCAF with wooden components for the famous Mosquito bombers, and the operations at the Port Albert Air Base 31 A.N.I.

Of special interest to visitors are the many paintings by Kincardine artist Glen Urquhart who has loaned to the Walker House his series of portraits of First World War Flying Aces, including Charles Nugeesser, Raoul Lufbery, Eddie Rickenbacker and Ernest Udet; Canadian Aces Billy Bishop, Roy Brown and Billy Barker; and Germany's infamous "Red Baron," Manfred von Richthofen.

Urquhart was the winner of the Centennial of Flight Military Aviation Art Contest in May, claiming $3,500 in prize money for his artwork, "Solo." The painting was selected from among 18 entries, submitted by artists from across Canada or by members of the Canadian Aviation Artists Association (CAAA), residing anywhere in the world.

"Solo" depicts an image of a Sopwith Camel of the First World War era surrounded by ground and air crew as she is being prepared for another mission. "This work best personifies the human element of aviation history in Canada," said Brigadier-General Gaston Cloutier, Air Force Centennial of Flight project manager. "This painting truly captures the hardship and the passion of the people behind the machine and why aviation was so powerful and so greatly esteemed in the accomplishment of many military feats."

Original works of the top three entries are now property of the Department of National Defence and will become the first collection in a series of aviation art that will be displayed by the Chief of the Air Staff in the National Defence Headquarters.

At the official opening of the exhibit at the Walker House Sunday night, Urquhart said his award-winning artwork features a young pilot going on a mission and getting a lot of instructions before taking off in the Sopwith Camel. "It was a difficult aircraft to fly," he said. "The crankshaft stayed still while the engine spun around, causing intense gyroscopic action."

Urquhart did the "Solo" artwork as a watercolour on canvas and was going to finish it in oils, similar to his other work, but it looked so good that he left it that way, giving it a more historic appearance.

He began painting aviators and aircraft about five years ago. "My favourites are Billy Bishop, Billy Barker and Roy Brown," he said. "I paint them from black and white photographs and then imagine the colours that would suit. They basically wore khaki, and the aircraft were camouflage colours. Initially, the aircraft were just a light brown colour but then they figured it would be less obvious if the aircraft were the same colour as the background. Later, they went with white and silver such as Bishop flew."

At age 83, Urquhart still has some pictures to paint. "I'm going to do lesser-known men who flew," he said. "There are thousands of them who weren't as renowned as these famous aviators - others who had various experiences that are really interesting. There was a French pilot, Guynemer, from the First World War who was refused entry to the French service due to his father's military 'drag.' They allowed him in as a mechanic and he became an exceptional mechanic and eventually flew. He knew so much about aircraft and engines, he became an exceptional flyer. In fact, he became France's favourite - a top pilot. Then on one excursion, he disappeared and there was no trace of him ever again."

Another aviator Urquhart would like to paint is Roland Garros, the famous flyer who was the first to put a gun on an aircraft in the First World War. A French tennis open is held at the location named after Garros.

Urquhart will participate in the heritage centre's "Speaker Series," providing the historical background to the 21 paintings on display. The series presentation is slated for Sunday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m

Also featured in the stories throughout the exhibit are Norine and Arthur Turland of Kincardine. He served with the RCAF based in Port Albert, while she worked at the Malcolm Furniture Factor, making Mosquito parts. They will be married 65 years in February, 2010. "It's a very interesting exhibit," said Norine. "I remember the airplane crash in Kincardine."

Bob Finlayson of Kincardine is a nephew of Calvin "Shorty" Finlayson who was famous for flying under the Dungannon Bridge. Bob served with the RCAF from 1961-86, based at CFB Trenton, and was a warrant officer, working aircraft security to bring Prince Charles and Princess Diana to Expo '86 in Vancouver.

"It's a great exhibit," said Finlayson. "It's taken a lot of work to put this together."

Sam Kincaid of Kincardine served with the RCAF for 35 years, also retiring in 1986. "This is an excellent exhibit," he said. "June Daniel has worked very hard on this." Pointing to a photo on one of the story boards, he said it represents the D-Day Raid when all the Allied planes were painted with white stripes so they could be recognized from the ground and not be shot down. The painting was done in secret before the raid began.

Kincaid started his air force career as a flight cadet, taking navigation training. He was stationed at CFB Summerside in Prince Edward Island, and went on to become base commander. "That area is like Kincardine," he said. "You're on the water and you get the windy winter weather and snow drifts. We left there in a January snowstorm and went to Italy."

After two-and-a-half years there, he worked in Oshawa and Hamilton, and did aviation consulting, before retiring. "We always had a house in Kincardine," said Kincaid. "And in 1995, we moved here."

The "Kincardine in Flight" exhibit is on now until the Labour Day weekend. The Walker House is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.