Low, John: my RCAF experience (March 9, 2019)
Rank: Major.
ABSTRACT: Major John Low describes his upbringing and early life in Chatham, Ontario before becoming a RCAF pilot. He discusses his Basic Officer, On the Job, and Pilot Training. The focus of this interview is Low’s time as a 1 Canadian Air Group CF-104 pilot in Europe during the Cold War. Low recollects his CF-104 training at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta and CF-104 operations at CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, including squadron exercises and exchanges, as part of 439 and 421 Squadrons. Low describes the characteristics of the CF-104 and the difficult flying conditions in Germany. He recollects some close calls he had on the CF-104 and some pilot fatalities. The interview concludes with Low briefly describing his career after flying the CF-104. 0:38 - 1:32 – Growing up in Chatham, Ontario. 1:40 - 2:14 – Jobs during and after high school before joining the Air Force. 2:16 – 3:00 – University education. 3:00 – 8:09 – Enlistment into military, early interest in aviation, air crew selection. 8:15 – 11:25 – Basic Officer Training in Chilliwack, British Columbia. 11:30 – 12:42 - On the Job Training (OJT) in Comox, British Columbia. 13:03 – 16:28 - Basic Flying training in Portage le Prairie, Manitoba. 16:32 – 18:33 - Jet Training in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. 18:37 – 23: 26 - Fighter Training on CF-5 in 419 Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta. 23:27 – 39:35 - CF-104 Training in 417 Squadron at Cold Lake, Alberta, characteristics of CF-104 (Major Low is pointing to a model CF-104), description of memorable CF-104 flight. 39:40 – 41:42 - Comparison of the CF-104 to other planes. 41:45 – 46:50 - Posting to CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany on the CF-104. 46:51 – 50:04 - Description of Baden, interactions with the local German population, living on economy, life on CFB Baden-Soellingen. 50:05 – 56:17 - Weather and flying conditions in Germany. 56:18 – 1:03:33 - Typical day as a CF-104 pilot, squadron and NATO exercises, Tiger Meets. 1:03:40 – 1:06:14 - Typical “targets” that CF-104 pilots would go after, exercises with the Canadian Army contingent posted to Germany. 1:06:15 – 1:09:20 - Combat ready training in Germany, description of two-plane, section, and mass attack lead roles. 1:09:21 – 1:10:53 - Air-to-air and air-to-ground target training. 1:10:54 – 1:13:56 - Netherlands exchange during his time on 421 Squadron, F-16 pilot fatality. 1:13:57 – 1:15:17 - Description of CF-104 paint color (John points to model plane). 1:15:18 – 1:18:30 - Comparison of CF-104 nuclear strike and conventional attack roles. 1:18:33 - 1:21:37 - Close down of 439 Squadron and move to 421 Squadron, comparison of CF-104 and F-18. 1:21:39 – 1:27:30 - Description of Soviet threat, role if war broke out with the Soviets, deterrence. 1:27:31 – 1:29:35 - Never hard to stay mission-focused, role as Deputy Operations Officer at 421 Squadron, 1:29:37 – 1:30:37- John describes how he never felt unsafe flying in the CF-104. 1:30:38 – 1:35:13 - John’s close calls in the CF-104, description of three hydraulics failures. 1:35:14 – 1:38:01 - Pilot fatality at Cold Lake, pilot ejections, instructor fatalities at Cold Lake. 1:38:03 – 1:38:46 - John talks to the CF-104 being called the “Widowmaker.” 1:38:47 – 1:46:20 - End of CF-104 service in Europe. 1:46:21 – 1:52:50 - Career after CF-104, final remarks on aviation career.
Interviewee: Low, John, 1958-
Interviewer: Lindquist, Sarah
An interview/narrative of John Low's RCAF experiences. Interview took place on March 9, 2019 in Comox, B.C.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- LJ_884
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 9, 2019
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2019. 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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