Skaalen, Lloyd: my Air Force recollections (March 9, and 10, 2005)
PublicAn interview/narrative of Brigadier-General Lloyd Skaalen's experiences whilst serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 9 and 10, 2005.
Interviewer: Scales, Peter
Rank: Brigadier-General.
Interviewee: Skaalen, Lloyd
ABSTRACT: Brigadier-General Lloyd Skaalen Royal Canadian Air Force (Cassette 1, Side 1) (0 minutes) Born on February 26, 1931 in Tofield, Alberta. (5) In December 1948 Skaalen joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Flight Cadet. He had been in Air Cadets in Edmonton, and in Army Cadets in Vancouver. He was sent to Manning Depot in Toronto for to two months Dec. 1948 - Jan. 1949) for an introduction to Air Force life. Of 50 people in his class at Manning Depot, 25 were selected for pilot training. (10) Basic training started at Centralia in February 1949, where most students were Canadian. Some students had been in the lower ranks in WWII. (14) Canada bought or borrowed a small number of Vampires, an early jet fighter, in the 1950's. Skaalen's first flight in a Vampire was on April 17, 1950, at Chatham, New Brunswick. Skaalen logged 278 hours and 45 minutes on the Vampire. (23) In January 1951 Skaalen's unit, 421 Squadron, moved to Royal Air Force station Odiham, where they flew leased RAF Vampire V's. The mission or 421 Squadron, in England and in Canada, was air defence vs. enemy fighters and bombers. (28) The squadron returned to Canada for conversion to the F-86 Mk II. Training was held at St Hubert, in Montreal, including ground school and flying time. (30) Discussion about the F-86. (32) Received instruction from F-86 pilots who had been or would go to the Korean War. (34) In 1952 421 Squadron moved to Grostenquin, France. Discussion of life in Grostenquin. (40) Discussion of Soviet threat to Western Europe and preparations for combat, which included simulations, intelligence and study of the latest Russian equipment. (Cassette 1, Side 2) (0 minutes) After flying Sabres in Grostenquin Skaalen worked in the Overseas Ferry Unit, flying and coordinating the move of lighter aircraft from Canada to Europe. He later became a transport pilot at RCAF Station Trenton, flying North Stars. (6) During his years at 426 Squadron, he flew in the Arctic, the Belgian Congo, Nigeria, and points in between. He did not fly behind the Iron Curtain, although many others did, especially 412 Squadron (VIP flight). (12) In August 1966 he started work at the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington. His title was Wing Commander Air Operations and he advised RCAF headquarters on operational matters, training and flight safety. Flight Safety was "a great priority" even in the Sabre days. (20) In July 1972 he became base commander of Canadian Forces Base Summerside, PEI. Maritime patrol missions were flown from Summerside, looking for Russian submarines. Soviet submarines were sought between Iceland and Newfoundland. (28) For about one year, from July 1976 to August 1977. BGen Skaalen was the Director of International and Arms Control Policy at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Discussion of Arms Control Treaties. (39) Discussion of Soviet and North Korean posturing. (44) Skaalen went on to be deputy commander of a NORAD (1977 - 79). (Cassette 2, Side 1) (0 minutes) Discussion of NORAD and the military-industrial complex. (13) From 1982-84 BGen Skaalen returned to NDHQ as the Director General of Current Policy. This set him again into arms control negotiations, during the Trudeau government. Discussion about the state of the Canadian Military. (23) Discussion about the integration of women in the military in the 1980's as well as their role in Afghanistan. The Integration of women was not a military initiative but was "very much a government initiative...equal rights was the order of the day". Discussion of the value of outspoken officers. (Cassette 2, Side 2) (0 minutes) Skaalen retired and joined Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) as their representative in Ottawa. Discussion about Canadian defence and foreign affairs policy. Impressions of the Cold War.
- In Collection:
- 4 sound recordings (MP3)
- 45.50884, -73.58781/33, 66
- Two original audio cassettes in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- SL_453
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- December 6, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. 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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Skaalen_L_0453_01.mp3 | Public |
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Skaalen_L_0453_02.mp3 | Public |
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Skaalen_L_0453_03.mp3 | Public |
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Skaalen_L_0453_04.mp3 | Public |
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