Skaalen, Lloyd: my armed forces recollections (October 31, 2008)

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Interviewer: Sawatsky, Kristen

An interview/narrative of Lloyd Skaalen's experiences whilst serving in the armed forces. Interview took place on October 31, 2008.

Rank: Brigadier-General.

ABSTRACT: Brigadier-General Lloyd Skaalen Skaalen_L_0591_01.mp3, Skaalen_L_0591_02.mp3 Background - Founding member of Oral History Project on the RUSI side. - Got private pilot's license at age 17, chose to join the Air Force out of High school in order to continue flying- beginning of Cold War preparations. - Began operational career in fighters. First long- term deployment in France. - Sees Humanitarian Operations as complimentary to central defence role - Transport Operations serve as a valuable means to train crews - Provides support in whichever ways Canada sees its interests as - Very rewarding for personnel involved - cites example of airlifting boat refugees following Vietnam War - Air Crew 426 Squadron: airlifted troops and supplies in and out of Gaza - After participated in United Nations mission in the Congo - His first exposure to places and weather that he had not experienced before - Explains certain difficulties in developing areas of world such as issues of poverty. and the perseverance of this regardless of UN efforts - Many Air Crew did not get direct, on the ground experiences as much as ground crew or aid workers - Their job was primarily transport: deposited cargo at military or civilian airports. - Other organizations such as a RA took this supplies and distributed it to smaller communities. Conflicts - Weather constant issue. - Cites tropical front and difficulties of navigating aircrafts that required being under 15,000 feet where most difficult weather resided. - Tells story of difficult time on North Star aircraft running on only 3 engines when as pilot he decided to press on through the weather to complete the mission. Equipment and Training - Used North Stars and then later Yukons which could fly above the weather - No specific training for those involved in Humanitarian Operations aside from inoculations - Regular training very adaptable to variable Humanitarian Aid Operations - Got briefings on what to expect prior to missions in contentious countries - Individual research, external affairs and members of Humanitarian Operations all aided. Impressions - Crew often had days off in between missions. - Got opportunity to go to the beach, to the market, to meet people, to learn about the culture. - Local impressions of Canadian or UNEF forces was variable - tells story of communicating with school boys in Gaza strip - now greater caution needed with civilians like Afghanistan - Talks about bringing back souvenirs for family (shows bust of women purchased in Leopoldville) - Suspects Canadian Air Force has served to educate many others through the re- telling of their experiences· most have good recollections although some may nol. - Different way of life of Air Crew: less exposure to danger in comparison to ground crew - tells story of loss of entire Air Crew in Kashmir area - But, often has responsibility of returning wounded and killed UNEF Forces - UNEF role as a buffer zone, keeping warring factions separated in the Sinai zone. - Headquarters were in Gaza - Commander had both sides come to his location in Gaza. speaker met Egyptian General and had a good impression. - "Gentlemanly type of Peacekeeping" - Majority of Operations are on the fringe of ultra- contentious issues and are consequently more welcoming. - Canadians have proved exceptional in their role in Peacekeeping Operations - In multi- national forces, the cooperation is determined by the ability of the commanders - countries colonized by Britain often much more effective than other countries - Canadians often in command and effective - Canadian politicians have often had a mediatory role - Racial tensions within military forces not a factor in his experiences - Cultural tensions more a factor between warring factions ex. Egypt and Israel - UNEF forces have been effective in getting two sides to negotiate for peace. - In tribal conflicts, often does not seem to have an end - They are successful, but it is discouraging that nothing could be done that was truly stabilizing, fault of the people in the area for continuing confrontation. - Efforts mostly short- term: always has to happen before long·term solution In General - Well- trained and effective forces paramount in solutions - Now Canadian Air Force is in a situation which is less than desirable - Describes diminishing equipment of Air Force and the effects, often compromising missions because of lack of equipment - Previously had an agreement with the U.S. that gave us more flexibility with our limited resources. - Agreement no longer exists - Feeling amongst crew that "you might have done more." - Impression that what you do cannot be enough Role As Commander - Commander of Air Transport Command 1979- 1982 (command no longer exists) - Describes background experience prior to posting such as exchange experience and service in NORAD - Many changes in aircrafts from his beginning. such as moving from North Stars to Yukons - ATC had worldwide responsibilities, ranging from Transport to Search and Rescue - Close collaboration with the U.S. Air Force - Through SAR operations and contests - Exceptional form of training Search and Rescue - Flew on some missions with C- 130s in Manitoba but not typically on other missions - Importance of quick landings in tight places, the need to break rules at rimes. - "Do what you have to at the right time." - Need to delegate responsibility to Captains - Instructed them on being aware of their responsibilities and not to go exclusively by manuals. - To an extent emergency decisions are based on knowledge of the "critical point." - Every trip has times that demands decisions in that form Co- operation with United States (18:45) - Mutual co- op between U.S. and Canada since WWII - Usually the U.S. was able to help the Canada more than it could help them - Careful to make sure that Air Force procedures were compatible - Many exchange programs between the two countries - Reached its peak during the Vietnam War - A large instructor contingent was in the U.S. instructing - Not as close now due to cut- backs in numbers in the Air Force - Recently, Canadians got practical flying experience in Iraq on the new C- 17s Cold War - "We won the war." - Canada's participation in NATO during the Cold War helped it in gelling along nationally with other forces - Tells story of trip from Iceland to Scotland when he received a false radio frequency. probably from the Soviet Union, that attempted to thwart their course 30 degrees North. Humanitarian Aid Operations - Evacuation of refugees in South Ea'/it Asia following the end of the Vietnam War - Start and Stop aspects of Humanitarian Aid "out of the hand of the Air Force" - At times certain flights compromised or rescheduled when other needs take precedent - Extent of capability of Air Force is dependent on its man power and how it is equipped - Need at times to fly in ways that would evade enemy fire, which can be common - Areas of instability still endure: discouraging but reality - Will continue so long as there are religious and cultural situations - Consequently, good relations with the military and external affairs vital - Tells story of difficulty in getting clearance in order to fly over Afghanistan Recognition of Canada's Peace keeping forces (50:00) - Belter than previously because of contribution in Afghanistan - Renewed interest in Canadian public now, in his time, ceremonies were poorly attended - He experienced programs that ended 1964/5, such as University Training Programs - Funded by government to promote temporal interest in military during education - Resource problems caused cuts in military and loss of funding - need some sort of program otherwise profile of military will drop in the general public Conclusion (59:25) - Highlights include - Exchange appointment with Military Airlift Command was very informative on what a big Airlift Command could be. compared to the smaller Canadian Transport Command - Reflects on role in NATO forces in Europe - Commander of base in P.E.I. and the honour of hosting the Queen - Importance of government clearly defining the role that it wants the military to do - Need to continue educating the public to make it aware of what the military can do - Temporal support of Canadian public for military, feelings usually return to the idea that the military is "a necessary evil" - Need to publicize stories and photos of the Canadian military engaged in aid operations

Interviewee: Skaalen, Lloyd

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 39.76, -98.5
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 31.50161, 34.46672
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • SL_591
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • September 28, 2009
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2009. 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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file details Skaalen_L_0591_02.mp3 Public