Training pilots since 1972

History Of The Namao Flying Club

Namao Flying Club was formed at CYED / RCAF Station Namao / Canadian Forces Base Edmonton as a Military Recreational Club as part of CFAO-50-20. For liability purposes, these clubs were registered by Armed Forces Members as “Independent Entities” under the Corporations Act. Namao Flying Club received its certificate of incorporation on May 12th, 1972. The document listed 7 Canadian Armed Forces personnel as the founding members, their names displayed in the photo below.

CFAO 50-20 stated “recreation programs are organized for military personnel and, where practical, for their dependants and for civilians residing in quarters on the base or unit”.

The club started with two Cessna 150 aircraft operating mainly on evenings & weekends. The aircraft had permanent PPR numbers to allow them to operate out of the base. Maintenance was performed under a "Nose Dock" with help from the members. In addition to serving Armed Forces members, the club increased aircraft movement statistics, helping prolongue the transfer of the base.

CYED

Founding Members - 1972

Donald Melvin Payne

(26365) – Air Force Cross – No.426 Squadron – awarded as per AFRO 406/52 and London Gazette dated 5 June 1952 and Canada Gazette dated 7 June 1952.

Donald Gordon Macleod

(EK4435) – Air Medal (United States) – 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – Awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 26 June 1954.

Otto Vernon Johnson

Vern grew up in Manitoba and joined the army as a trooper at the age of 17 in 1942. He served on the home front as a radio operator in Armoured cars and later transferred to the Air Force in 1943. He certified on aerial and was commissioned in November of 1944 as a Pilot Officer and sent to Pre-Flight School in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

John Emerson Rees

Jack joined the RCAF as an Aero engine tech, and served in Saskatoon on B-25 Mitchells from 1950-1959. Then in Trenton on DC-4M North Stars from 1959-1967. He finished his career in Edmonton from 1967-1974 with 435 sqd. where he obtained 5000 hours on the C-130E Hercules.