MD# 23 CIAM Radio Fort Vermilion School Division Canadian Heritage Information Network Spirit of the Peace Museums Mighty Peace Tourist Association Travel Alberta
	50th Anniversary of First Aircraft Landing (1971)   "Flying Monsters/Spirit Birds" The First Aircraft at Fort Vermilion   On March 24, 1921 two Imperial Oil Company Junker airplanes landed on skis at Fort Vermilion, causing much excitement. The pilots, Gorman and Fullerton, and engineers, Derbyshire and Hill were entertained at the Hudson’s Bay Company Manager’s home. When the town fiddler, "Peter Wylie" arrived, the music, jigs and reels began. The "Rene" and the "Vic" were the first aircraft to land at Fort Vermilion. The first airmail service was in December 1929, when pilot, "Punch" Dickens, engineer, Lew Parmenter and Post Office Inspector, T. J. Reilly brought 100 bags of mail in a Fokker airplane, landing in the Hudson’s Bay Company field. Source: Anniversary Account by Warren Dease Clarke March 27, 1971.     Click here to return to "Making History"               Acknowledgements: Summer Career Placement Program staff, Keith Klassen (2004/2005) & Jordan Lambert (2006) and Marilee Cranna Toews of the Fort Vermilion Agricultural Society