Dempsey, Dan: my Royal Canadian Air Force recollections (March 18, 2013)
PublicABSTRACT: Lt. Colonel Dempsey's interview begins with his biographical information and details motives behind joining the Air Force in 1970. The interview than gathers his opinions on R.C.A.F. public relations, and the participation in air shows importance to the Canadian forces before responding to common criticisms of air shows. Dempsey, a former Snowbird lead, then provides a wealth of information and anecdotes about the R.C.A.F. 431 demonstration team Snowbirds. He explains the commitment and skill required to become a Snowbird, and their importance to public relations and as a national icon. Near the end of the interview, Dempsey explains his position in the F-35 procurement debate. 0:00 Standard interview narratives. 0:40 Biographical information. 1:00 First Exposure to the R.C.A.F. and fathers experience in Air Force 2:05 Uncles experience in bombers in WW2. 3:10 The importance of the first air show he attended fostering his desire to join Air Force. 3:58 The scale of air shows in the past. 4:30 Desire to be a demonstration and fighter pilot. 5:25 Story of marriage, birth of children, and relation to his air force career. 6:30 Joining the Air Force in 1970 two years after unification. 8:00 The Air Force is a good way to get an education and career 8:30 First assignment in R.C.A.F. and training for CF-105 fighter. 9:30 Work as instructor, and first acceptance into Snowbirds. 10:20 Public relations importance to the R.C.A.F. and Canadian armed forces 11:50 The room for improvement and many challenges in military Public relations. 13:28 The main strategies the R.C.A.F. employs in public relations and the problem with media relations. 15:55 Talks about why the Canadian public may not know much about R.C.A.F. and compares it to countries that have experienced war. 16:40 Talks about his experience with public relations during the Gulf War 18:30 Talks about Canadian forces actions in Afghanistan, and public relations role in explaining costs. 19:55 Explains the main motives behind R.C.A.F. and the armed forces participation in air shows. 22:15 The importance of demonstrating skill and professionalism of armed forces and inspiring young Canadians. 23:00 Motives do not change if they are attending a public or private air show. 24:10 Why he feels air shows and demonstration teams are an important public relations tool. 25:53 Shows in the North can be the highlight of the year. 25:13 Public's response to Snowbirds and air shows. 27:00 Talks about presentation in Palm Springs about R.C.A.F. 28:05 Negative responses to air shows in terms of noise and pollution. 29:14 Changes in air show practice and methods throughout his career, especially after accident in 1988 in Germany. 30:15 Talks about difference between private air races and air shows. 31:20 Why he does not consider air show involvement to be dangerous. 32:45 Talks about differences between Canadian and American air shows. 32:56 Rules in both countries are exactly the same. 34:30 Why he feels that air shows are important for foreign relations, especially with the U.S. 36:45 Talks about Cold War era Sabre teams that performed in Europe and their role. 37:50 The great aspect of being a Snowbird is being able to represent your country. 38:40 Addresses the criticism of military air shows being used for military equipment sale. 39:50 Addresses criticism of air shows glorifying war machines. 41:28 Addresses the criticism of air pollution. 42:41 Addresses criticism of spending on Snowbirds, and why they are so important 43:38 Addresses the cost of replacing the Snowbird aircraft. 46:50 The total commitment and required attributes needed to become a Snowbird. 48:30 Try-out pilots can be vetoed on their personality, flying skill is of secondary importance. 50:20 The Snowbirds are an all-encompassing job due to training and air show circuit. 52:00 Talks about Snowbird interaction with the public on the ground being one of the most important aspects. 52:34 All the different places and events where the Snowbirds fly and visit 54:25 Explains why the Snowbirds fly the non-combat capable Tudor aircraft and why a 9 plane formation. 57:00 Talks about Snowbird aircraft replacement and costs. 60:10 Explains why the Snowbirds aren't under threat of disbandment. 61:32 Snowbirds are an integral part of public relations and recruiting. 63:50 Shares some personal anecdotes of personal interactions with the public as a Snowbird. 68:45 Re-iterates the importance of the Snowbirds to the Canadian forces. 69:35 States his opinion on the F-35 procurement debate. 74:10 The F-18 Super Hornet is the next best option. 76:00 Interview conclusion. 76:43 Interview ends. Hamilton, Daniel, Dempsey, CF-105, Pilot instructor, public relations, P.R., Cold War, Military spending, media releases, media problems, Canada, foreign relations, inspiration, Canadian Armed Forces, United States, U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, criticisms, recruiting, Tutor, Hawk, F-35, procurement. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: DEMPSEY 10:20 On public relations: "I think that people deserve to know how their money is being spent and be reassured that there money is being well spent. So that's where public relations comes in, and the public relations are to both inform and to educate people as to what the military represents, what the mandate of the military is and where the money is going and why it's going there, and why we may or may not be involved with various conflicts or relationships that are going on around the world." 29:14-Speaking about the 1989 Ramstein air show disaster: "That was an atrocious terrible, terrible accident that should never have happened but it did. And as a result even though our rules in Canada were much more stringent, they became even more stringent. To ensure that that kind of an accident can never happen North America" 31:20-Speaking on air show safety: "The Snowbirds, the Thunderbirds, the Blue Angels, the Red Arrows, to name a few of the Western very famous aerobatic teams are not daredevils, never have been never will be. Lot of people, you'll see in the press daredevils do this, daredevils do that. A daredevil does a manoeuvre where the outcome is dubious or questionable. The professional military aerobatic teams never do anything that is dubious. It is practiced to the nth degree hundreds and hundreds of times before it is ever done in the public." 39:50 Responding to criticism that demonstration teams glorify war: "We're not there to glorify war and we don't. We're through to entertain people, we're there to motivate people, we're there to inspire young kids to do something special with their lives, so yeah I hear the peace movement side of it, I just don't agree with them." 42:41-"The snowbirds have been a bargain for this country since the day they started. Even though the snowbirds fly 9 aircraft, there budget is about 1 tenth of each of what the American teams spend on their teams." 43:38 "Good grief, the last tutor came off the assembly in 1966, we're still flying it, still flying that aircraft and will be till 2020"
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel.
Interviewee: Dempsey, Dan
Interviewer: Kowalski, Luke
An interview/narrative of Dan Dempsey's experiences whilst serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 18, 2013.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 33.13906, 35.85869
- 51.5, 10.5
- Original sound recording (WAV) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- DD_788
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 18, 2013
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2013. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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