The following letters have been edited for privacy.

October 21, 2020

I found Jennifer Strassel’s article, ”Window on Our Past” in the Oct 15 edition of the Clipper, regarding the RCAF in Lac Du Bonnet, very interesting.

The article raised a question I have had for a while & I thought maybe Jennifer could answer it. Why did the air mail service commence at LDB rather say at Selkirk using the Red River. To me, back in the day when the mail service commenced, the road from Winnipeg to LDB would have been gravel and I assume would have taken a few hours to drive.

There has been a float plane operation for years from Selkirk and I find it interesting the history making mail flights commenced in LDB. Good for LDB and the legacy. Just curious why Richardson’s would have selected LDB over a location closer to Wpg.

Thanks, J.W.

October 22, 2020

Your question about the airmail beginning in Lac du Bonnet rather than Selkirk is intriguing. Though nothing is mentioned in public history records as to why Richardson chose Lac du Bonnet, I may have an answer, or at least a plausible theory.

Western Canada Airway’s main business came from the mines in the regions of Bissett, MB and Red Lake, Ont. The first airmail was flown to these mines. In 1926, soon after their establishment in Sioux Lookout, Ont., WCA operated out of a base in Winnipeg on the Red River, at the foot of Brandon Ave. Their early aircraft were Fokker Standard Universals, which were suited to bush flying, but were not meant to travel long distance. It is only 35 km from Winnipeg’s Brandon Ave. to Selkirk, which wouldn’t save much mileage on flights to the mines.

Lac du Bonnet’s location on the edge of civilization, roughly halfway between Sioux Lookout and Winnipeg, along with the establishment of the RCAF base, likely influenced Richardson’s decision to set up operations here. Besides, flying out of Lac du Bonnet rather than Selkirk would shave off approximately 40 km to Bissett and 60 km to Red Lake, saving both time and money on fuel costs.

For more information on WCA, be sure to watch for my forthcoming article in the Lac du Bonnet Clipper.

Jennifer Strassel

References:

“Buy It or Move It.” Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, June 23, 2013. https://royalaviationmuseum.com/buy-it-or-move-it/

“Fokker Standard Universal, G-CAJD.” Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, June 25, 2011. https://royalaviationmuseum.com/fokker-standard-universal-g-cajd/

Distances: Google Maps