On August 14th, 2010, there was an invasion of Vintage Wings of Canada from veterans of the Burma theatre of operations during the Second World War. Three successive waves of dry land non-amphibious vehicles were launched from Ottawa - each timed to "hit the beach" in Gatineau one hour apart. These massive red and white troop carriers, disguised to resemble city busses, reached their "jumping off point" in perfect synchronicity with an airborne assault from behind the lines as a Canadian Warplane Heritage C-47 Dakota landed even more troops. Unlike Normandy, all the attackers were Canadians and all were seasoned combat veterans.

But Vintage Wings was not only ready for this well-choreographed invasion, it opened its doors, waved a Canadian flag and surrendered to the Combined Forces of Royal Canadian Air Force and some Army personnel. More than 50 combat-hardened troops, backed by an even larger number of second line "support" or "family" troops overran the hangar, took no prisoners, secured their place in history and shared a day of remembering old friends and old times.

All metaphors aside, Vintage Wings of Canada was very proud to be included on the itinerary of a gathering of veterans of 435 and 436 Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Burma theatre of operations from the Second World War. They were celebrating the 65th anniversary of their victory over the Japanese in the Second World War.

The Royal Canadian Air Force played a very important role in this mostly unsung theatre of war. Two transport squadrons, 435 and 436 (Canucks Unlimited) were deployed there in 1944 and '45 to help supply the British Army as it fought the Japanese back across India and Burma. The famous long distance resupply flights by the RCAF across the mountainous "Burma Hump" are legendary. On the ground, with the British Army were many Canadians including posthumous Victoria Cross recipient Major Charles Hoey.

In addition, Canadians served throughout South East Asia, South Asia and the Far East with the RAF and the British Army. The RCAF's 413 Squadron also flew Catalina flying boats from Ceylon. The squadron gained fame for the actions of Squadron Leader Leonard Birchall, who detected a large Japanese task force approaching Ceylon. This allowed time for the defenders to prepare, and foiled the attack. For this he became known as the "Saviour of Ceylon" or as Winston Churchill spoke of him : "That Canadian who warned us of the impending attack". Squadron Leader Birchall and his crew were shot down minutes after warning the Allies and was mistreated by the Japanese who captured him. He was awarded the OBE for his outstanding leadership while held captive by the Japanese. During his time in the Japanese POW camps, Birchall repeatedly stood up to the Japanese and demanded fair treatment of the prisoners, in compliance with the Geneva Convention. In his first camp, he struck a Japanese soldier who was forcing a wounded Australian to work. This earned Birchall a severe beating and solitary confinement, but won him the respect of the other POWs. While in the camps, Birchall kept a set of diaries that detailed deaths and mistreatment by the guards. In 1944, Birchall encountered a situation in which sick men were being forced to work on the docks. He ordered all of the men to stop working until the sick were excused. Birchall was beaten and sent to a special discipline camp, where he again was beaten. He was liberated on 27 August 1945 by American troops. The squadron was disbanded in February 1945 and reconstituted years later. It still flies Search and Rescue missions to this day from Greenwood Nova Scotia.

Partly because these events were happening in a far off jungle, away from the immediate threat of Germans at the front door, partly because there was not much film and photo coverage and partly because relatively fewer were involved, the men and women who fought this deprivation-filled war against an unforgiving enemy have never fully received the same admiration and credit for their sacrifice as say those who fought the Battle of Britain of the Battle of Malta.

The day was sunny, our volunteers were ready and some of our aircraft were itching to get airborne in the skies over Gatineau. Photographers Pierre Lapprand, Graeme Goodlet and George "The Hammer" Mayer were on hand to provide assistance and to record the wonderful day had by all.

That evening, the “Burma Stars” were feted at a dinner in their honour hosted by the Minister of Veterans Affairs and they were all in attendance at a special ceremony held the next day at the National War Memorial. It was and continues to be a great honour for us at Vintage Wings to be able to pay homage to these great Canadians who played an important role in the social tectonics that constituted the Second World War. For them, our doors are always open wide.