Interview with Bert Loader
https://search.bvmuseum.org/link/descriptions12260
- Date Range
- July 1993
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- sound recording
- electronic record
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Bert Loader, self-recorded at his home in Millet, Alberta in July 1993. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, .MP3 access files, and a .jpg release form.
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- Creator
- Bert Loader
- Fonds No.
- C5
- Item No.
- 2021.21.53
- Accession No.
- 2021.21
- Physical Description
- 1.04 GB of digital records
- Date Range
- July 1993
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Bert Loader, self-recorded at his home in Millet, Alberta in July 1993. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, .MP3 access files, and a .jpg release form.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Audio Tracks
Interview with Bert Loader - July 19, 1993
Loader introduces himself and identifies those he worked with during his time as fire chief of the Smithers RCAF station.
50th anniversary; Angus McLean; Chuck Loader; Commonwealth Air Trading Plan; crew; Gilchrist; J. M. Stansby; Jenette; King; Mackay; Malcolm Lange; Number 17 Staging Route; station warrant officer; Thompson
fire chief; Smithers Airport; Smithers RCAF station
Loader discusses the animals he would see in and around the airport, both wildlife and livestock raised by the crew. He tells the story of the time he was tasked with hunting and killing a moose to supplement their rations.
bears; game preserve; garden; gardening; Gilchrist; inventories; J. M. Stansby; Jenette; Nic Whaley; pig pen; pigs; white-tailed deer
animals; hunting; livestock; moose; wildlife
Loader briefly summarizes his typical duties at the RCAF station, before discussing his wife Lois, the small house they shared near the airport, and how they would entertain themselves while not at work.
anniversary; berry picking; boating; Bulkey River; CO's parade; fire chief; fishing; Lake Kathlyn; rowboat; Seymour Lake; tar-paper shack
activities; duties; house; housing; Lois Loader; recreation; responsibilities
Loader gives a story of some visiting Flying Officers who damaged the airport while performing stunts.
Chuck Loader; Harvard planes; Nic Whaley
accident; aerobatics; damage; Flying Officers; stunts
Loader briefly discusses helping fight fires on Smithers' Main Street.
auxiliary pump; Main Street ditches
firefighting; fires; Main Street fires; Smithers
Loader talks about how the cooks at the RCAF station would make potato champagne for a Commanding Officer.
Malcolm Lange; Nic Whaley; rationing
alcohol; drinking; potato champagne
Loader recounts the crash of a Lockheed Ventura aircraft on the station's runway. He references photographs of the event which are now in the Museum's collection.
Archer; Chuck Loader; damage; explosion; fire; injuries; runway; Sealy
accident; aircraft; Lockheed Ventura; photographs; photography; plane crash
Loader praises the conduct of his fellow air force personnel and recounts how he would ensure his colleagues got home safely from nights of drinking and dancing.
dance halls; fire hydrants; Smithers; water line
crew; dancing; drinking
Loader recounts the drowning of a coworker in Lake Kathlyn. (He identifies the man as 'Murphy' but an Interior News article of May 24th 1945 reveals his name was Mervin James Ferrier).
artificial respiration; Bruce Bowman; cooks; sailboat
death; drowning; Lake Kathlyn; Mervin Ferrier
Loader talks about his involvement in a firefighting demonstration held for the Smithers Village Council in August 1944. He corrects a mistake in a newspaper article about the event and describes the different types of equipment used.
newspaper article; spray nozzle; Victoria; Village Council
firefighting demonstration; fires; pyrene extinguisher
Loader discusses his limited interaction with people from Smithers, which consisted mainly of ball games. He expresses his gratitude for having been able to attend the airport's 50th anniversary celebrations.
anniversary; Chuck Loader; Church services; Cliff Emerson; Daintre Riffel; Emersons; engineer; hardball; Joe Watson; minister; New Hazelton; railroad; softball; taxi driving; Wall's Taxi; Wilf Watson
baseball; Smithers; social interaction; sports