The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Putting Canadian in the Battle of Britain - Encore
May 7, 2025
In a nostalgic encore, Ted Barris, a prominent Canadian author and journalist specializing in military history, revisits his book on Canadian airmen in the Battle of Britain. He brings to light the often-overlooked bravery of Canadian pilots during pivotal air battles in 1940. Barris recounts personal stories and highlights the legacy of Douglas Bader and his influence on Canadian aviators. The episode underscores the importance of recognizing these warriors and commemorating their sacrifices in World War II.
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Canadians Overlook Their History
- Many Canadians don't deeply explore their military history beyond basic education.
- This leaves much to discover, as Canadians played significant but lesser-known roles in WWII.
Beaverbrook's Key Production Role
- Britain was outnumbered and under-resourced at the Battle of Britain start.
- Canadian Lord Beaverbrook's leadership doubled aircraft production, outpacing Germany two to one.
Ernie McNabb’s Flying Feats
- Ernie McNabb of Saskatchewan showed raw determination and developed top flying skills.
- He performed complex aerobatics with other pilots in Canada's 1930s Trans-Canada Air Pageant.