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McRAE, William Robertson "Bill" RCAF Veteran, Second World War Peacefully at home, his family by his side, on January 9, 2011, in his 92nd year. Predeceased in 2008 by his wife of 62 years Mary Denholm McRae. Survived by his loving children Wendy Vistorino (Brian), Ian McRae (Wendy) and Marilynn Best (Duncan), dear grandchildren Thalia, Alex, Sam, Angela, Robin and Colin, and faithful assistant and friend Ailene Lampa. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1919, raised in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) Ontario. Bill became the sole provider for his widowed mother and younger sister at the age of 17. He volunteered with the RCAF in 1940 and flew Spitfires and Hurricanes with RAF 132 Squadron in Scotland, Fighter Defence Flight Takoradi, RAF 128 Squadron in Gambia, RCAF 401 Squadron in England, and after June 20, 1944 from B4, Beny-sur-mer France. During three years of continuous operations, Bill flew over 240 sorties. Returning to Canada, Bill joined No.7 Photo Wing in Rockcliffe, Ontario, and participated in RCAF photo surveying expeditions over mostly unmapped areas of the then Northwest Territories. In 1945 Bill returned to his pre-war position with the Explosives Division of Canadian Industries Limited (CIL). During subsequent years with CIL he was Branch Manager in Port Arthur, Vancouver, Timmins, Montreal and Toronto. He retired after 49 years of service and moved to Ottawa in 1990. He had many hobbies over the years including photography, model railways and radio controlled model aircraft. In the 1950s Bill joined the Air Force Reserve Flying Training Program and was a part-time flight instructor over several decades, training 300 students on wheels, skis and floats. He also flew commercially for Georgian Bay Airways in South Porcupine. In Montreal, Bill flew his own Globe Swift. Bill enjoyed sharing his knowledge of Canadian aviation history through writing and volunteering with the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, Vintage Wings of Canada and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. He was a familiar sight at the Museum on Canada Day chatting with enthusiastic visitors in front of the Supermarine Spitfire.
