Arnold John Bauer was laid to rest in the Burkholder United Church Cemetery on 3 May 2019.
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,…"
*~Group Captain (Ret'd) Arnold John ('AJ') BAUER, BA, CD, died in the Hamilton General Hospital on 1 Feb 2018, at the age of 94 years, having enjoyed a rich life filled with memorable deeds, memorable places, memorable people.
*~Born on 13 Dec 1924 in Morse, Saskatchewan, he was the only son of the late Lutheran Pastor, Rev. Walter Daniel Bauer and Ora Bertha (née Ehling) Bauer. AJ is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Elizabeth ('Bette') Frame Bruce (née Harris) Bauer; by his three devoted daughters: Susan [Michael] Newman, Nancy Blair and Shirley [Bill] Hearn; by his six grandchildren; by his five great-grandchildren; by his dear sisters: Elda Gordon-Matthews of Arizona, Shirley [Bob] Otterman of Ontario, Ruth Smith of Alberta and Catherine Mattson of Texas; he is also survived by many nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Isabel Cornell.
~*It was on 19 July 1933 when 9-year-old 'Arnie' resolved to become an aircraft pilot: he and his family were living in the small quiet village of Desboro, Ontario, when Italian General Italo Balbo and his Italian Formation Flight of 24 'flying boats', enroute to the 1933 Chicago's World Fair, flew directly over Desboro, creating a lot of excitement for the folks on the ground, especially one young Arnie Bauer who said to himself, "That's the life for me!"
~*Having completed his education at Desboro Public School, Chatsworth Continuation School and Owen Sound Collegiate/Vocation School, 17-year-old AJ was keen to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force because the Second World War was now raging. After persuading his mother to grant her permission for his enlistment and, having finally turned 18 years of age, he filled out and submitted his enlistment papers at Hamilton on 14 Dec 1942, and waited to be 'called up' for duty. On 6 Jan 1943, Arnold John Bauer officially became a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. [As a testament to what an important event this was in his life, AJ can still recall that his 18th birthday, 13 Dec 1942, had fallen on a Sunday that year, so he was forced to wait until Monday before he could go to the recruitment office.]
~*AJ successfully completed his flight training courses and, in April 1943, was pinned with his official pilot 'Wings' at #12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba. Though still eager to join in the air battles going on over European soil, AJ was deemed to be of better service as a flight instructor for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). So it happened that in Yorkton (Ontario), in Souris (Manitoba), and in Centalia (Ontario), he served the war effort by teaching many young Commonwealth airmen to fly a Cessna 'Crane' or an Avro 'Anson'. His pilot training role over, in 1945 he was transferred to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to take an RCAF General Reconnaissance Course. RCAF Summerside is where he met RCAF LAW Bette Harris, his 'Elizabeth, my Queen'. After AJ's release from the RCAF in January 1946, he and Bette were married in Hamilton and they settled down in London, Ontario, where AJ enrolled in the University of Western Ontario's Journalism program and where their three daughters were born.
~*In 1948 AJ quickly accepted the opportunity to re-enlist in the post-war RCAF, beginning his flying career by again instructing and training young pilots.
~*In 1953, now ranked a Flight Lieutenant, AJ participated in 'Operation Leapfrog', ferrying one of his favourite aircraft, a 444 Squadron's F-86 'Sabre (Sword)' jet, across the Atlantic to its new NATO Canadian base at 4(F) Wing in Baden-Söellingen, Gemany. Later, the Sabre even gave him the 30 Dec 1954 experience of having to quickly, but successfully eject/bail out, when the engine of Sabre #23163 konked out over Germany's Black Forest. In May 1969, AJ was pleased to be awarded a membership card + pin of Leslie Leroy IRVIN's "CATERPILLAR CLUB" for his having survived this 1954 parachute experience.
~*New postings sailed the Bauer family back to Canada for a few years until AJ was assigned to join another Sabre squadron (421), this time in France, before moving on and learning to pilot the new CF-104 'Starfighter' aircraft.
~*In 1967, while 'on course' in Manby, Lincolnshire, England, he was re-located to RCAF Chatham in New Brunswick, taking on the role of the base Commanding Officer. Being at Chatham allowed AJ to participate in the 'Sabre Swan' flight: on 9 Dec 1968, he was chosen to be one of the 4 RCAF airmen who participated in the last official flights of the RCAF Canadair F-86 'Sabre' (#23227 and #23363) in an historic cross-country flight from Chatham, N.B., to Cold Lake, Alberta; subsequent to 'Sabre Swan', the much-loved beautiful aircraft was stood down.
~*1971 saw AJ and Bette back in Germany, AJ as the Deputy Commander of 1 Canadian Air Group (Europe); it was during this posting, on their 27th Wedding Anniversary (4 May 1973), that #1 CAG (Europe) welcomed a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, who was there to present three CAF Squadrons (421, 439, 441) with their colours. This well-planned military ceremony featured, not only the 450 officers and men of these three squadrons, but the Canadian Central Band, the CFB Ottawa Pipes and Drums Band (now the 'RCAF Pipe & Drums'); the Royal Canadian Horse Artilliery Gunners fired a 21-gun Royal Salute and there was a spectacular and deafening fly-past of 36 CF-104 Starfighter jets, in perfect formation. Bette was thrilled with such a grand and majestic anniversary celebration that AJ had arranged—with so many invited guests wishing them well, too! Group Captain Bauer took the opportunity, with the help and support of Pipe Major Archie CAIRNS, to present Prince Philip with a kilt made from the official RCAF Tartan (worn by the CFB Ottawa Pipe Band), telling Prince Philip about plans afoot in Ottawa to replace this traditional and much loved RCAF Tartan kilt with the new-fangled 'Highland Queen' Maple Leaf Tartan. Would HRM be able to suggest to Ottawa that the tartan need not be changed? It is interesting to note that today the RCAF Pipe & Drums Band members still sport the RCAF Tartan kilt, as well as RCAF Tartan 'trews'.
~*In 1974, AJ lived in tent quarters in Egypt, where he served as the Deputy Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force. Following this unique tour of duty, he returned to Ottawa where he served for two years as the Director of Air Operations and Training.
~*In 1977 came the final posting of AJ's air force career: he and Bette moved into MacDonald House on Grosvenor Square in London, England; they had an apartment upstairs and AJ, as the Air Force Advisor (Attaché) to the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, had his offices on the first floor. The highlight of that London posting was their receiving/accepting an invitation to be presented to HRM Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
~*In December 1979 AJ was discharged from the force he had loved and had served so well.
~*But being officially retired didn't mean he stood down: he and Bette completed renovations to 'Roundel', their Sauble Beach cottage near the sandy shores of Lake Huron and welcomed summer visits from their six grandchildren.
~*AJ volunteered to take on the chairmanship of a group of Owen Sound citizens determined to restore Canada's First World War's Flying Ace, RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED 's family home (after years of hard work and heavy-duty fundraising, it is now 'The Billy Bishop Home & Museum').
~*From 1981 to 1983 he stood as National President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, attending all their major conventions and meetings for many years.
~*Since its inception, AJ has been a proud member of SPAADS (Sabre Pilots Association of the Air Division Squadrons), a brotherhood of pilots, each a member of one of the twelve RCAF squadrons supporting NATO in Europe from 1951 to 1963, who had all piloted the F-86 Sabre; AJ and Bette looked forward every two years to getting together again with their SPAADS comrades.
~*After they moved into 'Roundel' AJ and Bette became members of the small Lutheran congregation in Southampton, near Sauble Beach; warmly welcomed, they helped to support the church and enthusiastically participated in the church's summer Vacation Bible School.
~*Not only a staunch Toronto Blue Jays and Hamilton Tiger Cats supporter, AJ was a life-long Toronto Maples Leafs fan--loyal and ever-hopeful for another Stanley Cup win for his team.
~According to his wishes, AJ's body was donated to McMaster University for medical research, after which his remains were cremated. AJ Bauer was laid to rest in the Burkholder United Church Cemetery in Mount Hamilton, Ontario.
".....Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,…"
*~Group Captain (Ret'd) Arnold John ('AJ') BAUER, BA, CD, died in the Hamilton General Hospital on 1 Feb 2018, at the age of 94 years, having enjoyed a rich life filled with memorable deeds, memorable places, memorable people.
*~Born on 13 Dec 1924 in Morse, Saskatchewan, he was the only son of the late Lutheran Pastor, Rev. Walter Daniel Bauer and Ora Bertha (née Ehling) Bauer. AJ is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Elizabeth ('Bette') Frame Bruce (née Harris) Bauer; by his three devoted daughters: Susan [Michael] Newman, Nancy Blair and Shirley [Bill] Hearn; by his six grandchildren; by his five great-grandchildren; by his dear sisters: Elda Gordon-Matthews of Arizona, Shirley [Bob] Otterman of Ontario, Ruth Smith of Alberta and Catherine Mattson of Texas; he is also survived by many nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Isabel Cornell.
~*It was on 19 July 1933 when 9-year-old 'Arnie' resolved to become an aircraft pilot: he and his family were living in the small quiet village of Desboro, Ontario, when Italian General Italo Balbo and his Italian Formation Flight of 24 'flying boats', enroute to the 1933 Chicago's World Fair, flew directly over Desboro, creating a lot of excitement for the folks on the ground, especially one young Arnie Bauer who said to himself, "That's the life for me!"
~*Having completed his education at Desboro Public School, Chatsworth Continuation School and Owen Sound Collegiate/Vocation School, 17-year-old AJ was keen to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force because the Second World War was now raging. After persuading his mother to grant her permission for his enlistment and, having finally turned 18 years of age, he filled out and submitted his enlistment papers at Hamilton on 14 Dec 1942, and waited to be 'called up' for duty. On 6 Jan 1943, Arnold John Bauer officially became a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. [As a testament to what an important event this was in his life, AJ can still recall that his 18th birthday, 13 Dec 1942, had fallen on a Sunday that year, so he was forced to wait until Monday before he could go to the recruitment office.]
~*AJ successfully completed his flight training courses and, in April 1943, was pinned with his official pilot 'Wings' at #12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba. Though still eager to join in the air battles going on over European soil, AJ was deemed to be of better service as a flight instructor for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). So it happened that in Yorkton (Ontario), in Souris (Manitoba), and in Centalia (Ontario), he served the war effort by teaching many young Commonwealth airmen to fly a Cessna 'Crane' or an Avro 'Anson'. His pilot training role over, in 1945 he was transferred to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to take an RCAF General Reconnaissance Course. RCAF Summerside is where he met RCAF LAW Bette Harris, his 'Elizabeth, my Queen'. After AJ's release from the RCAF in January 1946, he and Bette were married in Hamilton and they settled down in London, Ontario, where AJ enrolled in the University of Western Ontario's Journalism program and where their three daughters were born.
~*In 1948 AJ quickly accepted the opportunity to re-enlist in the post-war RCAF, beginning his flying career by again instructing and training young pilots.
~*In 1953, now ranked a Flight Lieutenant, AJ participated in 'Operation Leapfrog', ferrying one of his favourite aircraft, a 444 Squadron's F-86 'Sabre (Sword)' jet, across the Atlantic to its new NATO Canadian base at 4(F) Wing in Baden-Söellingen, Gemany. Later, the Sabre even gave him the 30 Dec 1954 experience of having to quickly, but successfully eject/bail out, when the engine of Sabre #23163 konked out over Germany's Black Forest. In May 1969, AJ was pleased to be awarded a membership card + pin of Leslie Leroy IRVIN's "CATERPILLAR CLUB" for his having survived this 1954 parachute experience.
~*New postings sailed the Bauer family back to Canada for a few years until AJ was assigned to join another Sabre squadron (421), this time in France, before moving on and learning to pilot the new CF-104 'Starfighter' aircraft.
~*In 1967, while 'on course' in Manby, Lincolnshire, England, he was re-located to RCAF Chatham in New Brunswick, taking on the role of the base Commanding Officer. Being at Chatham allowed AJ to participate in the 'Sabre Swan' flight: on 9 Dec 1968, he was chosen to be one of the 4 RCAF airmen who participated in the last official flights of the RCAF Canadair F-86 'Sabre' (#23227 and #23363) in an historic cross-country flight from Chatham, N.B., to Cold Lake, Alberta; subsequent to 'Sabre Swan', the much-loved beautiful aircraft was stood down.
~*1971 saw AJ and Bette back in Germany, AJ as the Deputy Commander of 1 Canadian Air Group (Europe); it was during this posting, on their 27th Wedding Anniversary (4 May 1973), that #1 CAG (Europe) welcomed a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, who was there to present three CAF Squadrons (421, 439, 441) with their colours. This well-planned military ceremony featured, not only the 450 officers and men of these three squadrons, but the Canadian Central Band, the CFB Ottawa Pipes and Drums Band (now the 'RCAF Pipe & Drums'); the Royal Canadian Horse Artilliery Gunners fired a 21-gun Royal Salute and there was a spectacular and deafening fly-past of 36 CF-104 Starfighter jets, in perfect formation. Bette was thrilled with such a grand and majestic anniversary celebration that AJ had arranged—with so many invited guests wishing them well, too! Group Captain Bauer took the opportunity, with the help and support of Pipe Major Archie CAIRNS, to present Prince Philip with a kilt made from the official RCAF Tartan (worn by the CFB Ottawa Pipe Band), telling Prince Philip about plans afoot in Ottawa to replace this traditional and much loved RCAF Tartan kilt with the new-fangled 'Highland Queen' Maple Leaf Tartan. Would HRM be able to suggest to Ottawa that the tartan need not be changed? It is interesting to note that today the RCAF Pipe & Drums Band members still sport the RCAF Tartan kilt, as well as RCAF Tartan 'trews'.
~*In 1974, AJ lived in tent quarters in Egypt, where he served as the Deputy Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force. Following this unique tour of duty, he returned to Ottawa where he served for two years as the Director of Air Operations and Training.
~*In 1977 came the final posting of AJ's air force career: he and Bette moved into MacDonald House on Grosvenor Square in London, England; they had an apartment upstairs and AJ, as the Air Force Advisor (Attaché) to the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, had his offices on the first floor. The highlight of that London posting was their receiving/accepting an invitation to be presented to HRM Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
~*In December 1979 AJ was discharged from the force he had loved and had served so well.
~*But being officially retired didn't mean he stood down: he and Bette completed renovations to 'Roundel', their Sauble Beach cottage near the sandy shores of Lake Huron and welcomed summer visits from their six grandchildren.
~*AJ volunteered to take on the chairmanship of a group of Owen Sound citizens determined to restore Canada's First World War's Flying Ace, RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED 's family home (after years of hard work and heavy-duty fundraising, it is now 'The Billy Bishop Home & Museum').
~*From 1981 to 1983 he stood as National President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, attending all their major conventions and meetings for many years.
~*Since its inception, AJ has been a proud member of SPAADS (Sabre Pilots Association of the Air Division Squadrons), a brotherhood of pilots, each a member of one of the twelve RCAF squadrons supporting NATO in Europe from 1951 to 1963, who had all piloted the F-86 Sabre; AJ and Bette looked forward every two years to getting together again with their SPAADS comrades.
~*After they moved into 'Roundel' AJ and Bette became members of the small Lutheran congregation in Southampton, near Sauble Beach; warmly welcomed, they helped to support the church and enthusiastically participated in the church's summer Vacation Bible School.
~*Not only a staunch Toronto Blue Jays and Hamilton Tiger Cats supporter, AJ was a life-long Toronto Maples Leafs fan--loyal and ever-hopeful for another Stanley Cup win for his team.
~According to his wishes, AJ's body was donated to McMaster University for medical research, after which his remains were cremated. AJ Bauer was laid to rest in the Burkholder United Church Cemetery in Mount Hamilton, Ontario.
".....Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
Arnold John Bauer was laid to rest in the Burkholder United Church Cemetery on 3 May 2019.
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,…"
*~Group Captain (Ret'd) Arnold John ('AJ') BAUER, BA, CD, died in the Hamilton General Hospital on 1 Feb 2018, at the age of 94 years, having enjoyed a rich life filled with memorable deeds, memorable places, memorable people.
*~Born on 13 Dec 1924 in Morse, Saskatchewan, he was the only son of the late Lutheran Pastor, Rev. Walter Daniel Bauer and Ora Bertha (née Ehling) Bauer. AJ is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Elizabeth ('Bette') Frame Bruce (née Harris) Bauer; by his three devoted daughters: Susan [Michael] Newman, Nancy Blair and Shirley [Bill] Hearn; by his six grandchildren; by his five great-grandchildren; by his dear sisters: Elda Gordon-Matthews of Arizona, Shirley [Bob] Otterman of Ontario, Ruth Smith of Alberta and Catherine Mattson of Texas; he is also survived by many nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Isabel Cornell.
~*It was on 19 July 1933 when 9-year-old 'Arnie' resolved to become an aircraft pilot: he and his family were living in the small quiet village of Desboro, Ontario, when Italian General Italo Balbo and his Italian Formation Flight of 24 'flying boats', enroute to the 1933 Chicago's World Fair, flew directly over Desboro, creating a lot of excitement for the folks on the ground, especially one young Arnie Bauer who said to himself, "That's the life for me!"
~*Having completed his education at Desboro Public School, Chatsworth Continuation School and Owen Sound Collegiate/Vocation School, 17-year-old AJ was keen to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force because the Second World War was now raging. After persuading his mother to grant her permission for his enlistment and, having finally turned 18 years of age, he filled out and submitted his enlistment papers at Hamilton on 14 Dec 1942, and waited to be 'called up' for duty. On 6 Jan 1943, Arnold John Bauer officially became a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. [As a testament to what an important event this was in his life, AJ can still recall that his 18th birthday, 13 Dec 1942, had fallen on a Sunday that year, so he was forced to wait until Monday before he could go to the recruitment office.]
~*AJ successfully completed his flight training courses and, in April 1943, was pinned with his official pilot 'Wings' at #12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba. Though still eager to join in the air battles going on over European soil, AJ was deemed to be of better service as a flight instructor for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). So it happened that in Yorkton (Ontario), in Souris (Manitoba), and in Centalia (Ontario), he served the war effort by teaching many young Commonwealth airmen to fly a Cessna 'Crane' or an Avro 'Anson'. His pilot training role over, in 1945 he was transferred to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to take an RCAF General Reconnaissance Course. RCAF Summerside is where he met RCAF LAW Bette Harris, his 'Elizabeth, my Queen'. After AJ's release from the RCAF in January 1946, he and Bette were married in Hamilton and they settled down in London, Ontario, where AJ enrolled in the University of Western Ontario's Journalism program and where their three daughters were born.
~*In 1948 AJ quickly accepted the opportunity to re-enlist in the post-war RCAF, beginning his flying career by again instructing and training young pilots.
~*In 1953, now ranked a Flight Lieutenant, AJ participated in 'Operation Leapfrog', ferrying one of his favourite aircraft, a 444 Squadron's F-86 'Sabre (Sword)' jet, across the Atlantic to its new NATO Canadian base at 4(F) Wing in Baden-Söellingen, Gemany. Later, the Sabre even gave him the 30 Dec 1954 experience of having to quickly, but successfully eject/bail out, when the engine of Sabre #23163 konked out over Germany's Black Forest. In May 1969, AJ was pleased to be awarded a membership card + pin of Leslie Leroy IRVIN's "CATERPILLAR CLUB" for his having survived this 1954 parachute experience.
~*New postings sailed the Bauer family back to Canada for a few years until AJ was assigned to join another Sabre squadron (421), this time in France, before moving on and learning to pilot the new CF-104 'Starfighter' aircraft.
~*In 1967, while 'on course' in Manby, Lincolnshire, England, he was re-located to RCAF Chatham in New Brunswick, taking on the role of the base Commanding Officer. Being at Chatham allowed AJ to participate in the 'Sabre Swan' flight: on 9 Dec 1968, he was chosen to be one of the 4 RCAF airmen who participated in the last official flights of the RCAF Canadair F-86 'Sabre' (#23227 and #23363) in an historic cross-country flight from Chatham, N.B., to Cold Lake, Alberta; subsequent to 'Sabre Swan', the much-loved beautiful aircraft was stood down.
~*1971 saw AJ and Bette back in Germany, AJ as the Deputy Commander of 1 Canadian Air Group (Europe); it was during this posting, on their 27th Wedding Anniversary (4 May 1973), that #1 CAG (Europe) welcomed a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, who was there to present three CAF Squadrons (421, 439, 441) with their colours. This well-planned military ceremony featured, not only the 450 officers and men of these three squadrons, but the Canadian Central Band, the CFB Ottawa Pipes and Drums Band (now the 'RCAF Pipe & Drums'); the Royal Canadian Horse Artilliery Gunners fired a 21-gun Royal Salute and there was a spectacular and deafening fly-past of 36 CF-104 Starfighter jets, in perfect formation. Bette was thrilled with such a grand and majestic anniversary celebration that AJ had arranged—with so many invited guests wishing them well, too! Group Captain Bauer took the opportunity, with the help and support of Pipe Major Archie CAIRNS, to present Prince Philip with a kilt made from the official RCAF Tartan (worn by the CFB Ottawa Pipe Band), telling Prince Philip about plans afoot in Ottawa to replace this traditional and much loved RCAF Tartan kilt with the new-fangled 'Highland Queen' Maple Leaf Tartan. Would HRM be able to suggest to Ottawa that the tartan need not be changed? It is interesting to note that today the RCAF Pipe & Drums Band members still sport the RCAF Tartan kilt, as well as RCAF Tartan 'trews'.
~*In 1974, AJ lived in tent quarters in Egypt, where he served as the Deputy Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force. Following this unique tour of duty, he returned to Ottawa where he served for two years as the Director of Air Operations and Training.
~*In 1977 came the final posting of AJ's air force career: he and Bette moved into MacDonald House on Grosvenor Square in London, England; they had an apartment upstairs and AJ, as the Air Force Advisor (Attaché) to the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, had his offices on the first floor. The highlight of that London posting was their receiving/accepting an invitation to be presented to HRM Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
~*In December 1979 AJ was discharged from the force he had loved and had served so well.
~*But being officially retired didn't mean he stood down: he and Bette completed renovations to 'Roundel', their Sauble Beach cottage near the sandy shores of Lake Huron and welcomed summer visits from their six grandchildren.
~*AJ volunteered to take on the chairmanship of a group of Owen Sound citizens determined to restore Canada's First World War's Flying Ace, RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED 's family home (after years of hard work and heavy-duty fundraising, it is now 'The Billy Bishop Home & Museum').
~*From 1981 to 1983 he stood as National President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, attending all their major conventions and meetings for many years.
~*Since its inception, AJ has been a proud member of SPAADS (Sabre Pilots Association of the Air Division Squadrons), a brotherhood of pilots, each a member of one of the twelve RCAF squadrons supporting NATO in Europe from 1951 to 1963, who had all piloted the F-86 Sabre; AJ and Bette looked forward every two years to getting together again with their SPAADS comrades.
~*After they moved into 'Roundel' AJ and Bette became members of the small Lutheran congregation in Southampton, near Sauble Beach; warmly welcomed, they helped to support the church and enthusiastically participated in the church's summer Vacation Bible School.
~*Not only a staunch Toronto Blue Jays and Hamilton Tiger Cats supporter, AJ was a life-long Toronto Maples Leafs fan--loyal and ever-hopeful for another Stanley Cup win for his team.
~According to his wishes, AJ's body was donated to McMaster University for medical research, after which his remains were cremated. AJ Bauer was laid to rest in the Burkholder United Church Cemetery in Mount Hamilton, Ontario.
".....Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,…"
*~Group Captain (Ret'd) Arnold John ('AJ') BAUER, BA, CD, died in the Hamilton General Hospital on 1 Feb 2018, at the age of 94 years, having enjoyed a rich life filled with memorable deeds, memorable places, memorable people.
*~Born on 13 Dec 1924 in Morse, Saskatchewan, he was the only son of the late Lutheran Pastor, Rev. Walter Daniel Bauer and Ora Bertha (née Ehling) Bauer. AJ is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Elizabeth ('Bette') Frame Bruce (née Harris) Bauer; by his three devoted daughters: Susan [Michael] Newman, Nancy Blair and Shirley [Bill] Hearn; by his six grandchildren; by his five great-grandchildren; by his dear sisters: Elda Gordon-Matthews of Arizona, Shirley [Bob] Otterman of Ontario, Ruth Smith of Alberta and Catherine Mattson of Texas; he is also survived by many nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Isabel Cornell.
~*It was on 19 July 1933 when 9-year-old 'Arnie' resolved to become an aircraft pilot: he and his family were living in the small quiet village of Desboro, Ontario, when Italian General Italo Balbo and his Italian Formation Flight of 24 'flying boats', enroute to the 1933 Chicago's World Fair, flew directly over Desboro, creating a lot of excitement for the folks on the ground, especially one young Arnie Bauer who said to himself, "That's the life for me!"
~*Having completed his education at Desboro Public School, Chatsworth Continuation School and Owen Sound Collegiate/Vocation School, 17-year-old AJ was keen to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force because the Second World War was now raging. After persuading his mother to grant her permission for his enlistment and, having finally turned 18 years of age, he filled out and submitted his enlistment papers at Hamilton on 14 Dec 1942, and waited to be 'called up' for duty. On 6 Jan 1943, Arnold John Bauer officially became a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. [As a testament to what an important event this was in his life, AJ can still recall that his 18th birthday, 13 Dec 1942, had fallen on a Sunday that year, so he was forced to wait until Monday before he could go to the recruitment office.]
~*AJ successfully completed his flight training courses and, in April 1943, was pinned with his official pilot 'Wings' at #12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba. Though still eager to join in the air battles going on over European soil, AJ was deemed to be of better service as a flight instructor for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). So it happened that in Yorkton (Ontario), in Souris (Manitoba), and in Centalia (Ontario), he served the war effort by teaching many young Commonwealth airmen to fly a Cessna 'Crane' or an Avro 'Anson'. His pilot training role over, in 1945 he was transferred to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to take an RCAF General Reconnaissance Course. RCAF Summerside is where he met RCAF LAW Bette Harris, his 'Elizabeth, my Queen'. After AJ's release from the RCAF in January 1946, he and Bette were married in Hamilton and they settled down in London, Ontario, where AJ enrolled in the University of Western Ontario's Journalism program and where their three daughters were born.
~*In 1948 AJ quickly accepted the opportunity to re-enlist in the post-war RCAF, beginning his flying career by again instructing and training young pilots.
~*In 1953, now ranked a Flight Lieutenant, AJ participated in 'Operation Leapfrog', ferrying one of his favourite aircraft, a 444 Squadron's F-86 'Sabre (Sword)' jet, across the Atlantic to its new NATO Canadian base at 4(F) Wing in Baden-Söellingen, Gemany. Later, the Sabre even gave him the 30 Dec 1954 experience of having to quickly, but successfully eject/bail out, when the engine of Sabre #23163 konked out over Germany's Black Forest. In May 1969, AJ was pleased to be awarded a membership card + pin of Leslie Leroy IRVIN's "CATERPILLAR CLUB" for his having survived this 1954 parachute experience.
~*New postings sailed the Bauer family back to Canada for a few years until AJ was assigned to join another Sabre squadron (421), this time in France, before moving on and learning to pilot the new CF-104 'Starfighter' aircraft.
~*In 1967, while 'on course' in Manby, Lincolnshire, England, he was re-located to RCAF Chatham in New Brunswick, taking on the role of the base Commanding Officer. Being at Chatham allowed AJ to participate in the 'Sabre Swan' flight: on 9 Dec 1968, he was chosen to be one of the 4 RCAF airmen who participated in the last official flights of the RCAF Canadair F-86 'Sabre' (#23227 and #23363) in an historic cross-country flight from Chatham, N.B., to Cold Lake, Alberta; subsequent to 'Sabre Swan', the much-loved beautiful aircraft was stood down.
~*1971 saw AJ and Bette back in Germany, AJ as the Deputy Commander of 1 Canadian Air Group (Europe); it was during this posting, on their 27th Wedding Anniversary (4 May 1973), that #1 CAG (Europe) welcomed a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, who was there to present three CAF Squadrons (421, 439, 441) with their colours. This well-planned military ceremony featured, not only the 450 officers and men of these three squadrons, but the Canadian Central Band, the CFB Ottawa Pipes and Drums Band (now the 'RCAF Pipe & Drums'); the Royal Canadian Horse Artilliery Gunners fired a 21-gun Royal Salute and there was a spectacular and deafening fly-past of 36 CF-104 Starfighter jets, in perfect formation. Bette was thrilled with such a grand and majestic anniversary celebration that AJ had arranged—with so many invited guests wishing them well, too! Group Captain Bauer took the opportunity, with the help and support of Pipe Major Archie CAIRNS, to present Prince Philip with a kilt made from the official RCAF Tartan (worn by the CFB Ottawa Pipe Band), telling Prince Philip about plans afoot in Ottawa to replace this traditional and much loved RCAF Tartan kilt with the new-fangled 'Highland Queen' Maple Leaf Tartan. Would HRM be able to suggest to Ottawa that the tartan need not be changed? It is interesting to note that today the RCAF Pipe & Drums Band members still sport the RCAF Tartan kilt, as well as RCAF Tartan 'trews'.
~*In 1974, AJ lived in tent quarters in Egypt, where he served as the Deputy Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force. Following this unique tour of duty, he returned to Ottawa where he served for two years as the Director of Air Operations and Training.
~*In 1977 came the final posting of AJ's air force career: he and Bette moved into MacDonald House on Grosvenor Square in London, England; they had an apartment upstairs and AJ, as the Air Force Advisor (Attaché) to the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, had his offices on the first floor. The highlight of that London posting was their receiving/accepting an invitation to be presented to HRM Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
~*In December 1979 AJ was discharged from the force he had loved and had served so well.
~*But being officially retired didn't mean he stood down: he and Bette completed renovations to 'Roundel', their Sauble Beach cottage near the sandy shores of Lake Huron and welcomed summer visits from their six grandchildren.
~*AJ volunteered to take on the chairmanship of a group of Owen Sound citizens determined to restore Canada's First World War's Flying Ace, RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED 's family home (after years of hard work and heavy-duty fundraising, it is now 'The Billy Bishop Home & Museum').
~*From 1981 to 1983 he stood as National President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, attending all their major conventions and meetings for many years.
~*Since its inception, AJ has been a proud member of SPAADS (Sabre Pilots Association of the Air Division Squadrons), a brotherhood of pilots, each a member of one of the twelve RCAF squadrons supporting NATO in Europe from 1951 to 1963, who had all piloted the F-86 Sabre; AJ and Bette looked forward every two years to getting together again with their SPAADS comrades.
~*After they moved into 'Roundel' AJ and Bette became members of the small Lutheran congregation in Southampton, near Sauble Beach; warmly welcomed, they helped to support the church and enthusiastically participated in the church's summer Vacation Bible School.
~*Not only a staunch Toronto Blue Jays and Hamilton Tiger Cats supporter, AJ was a life-long Toronto Maples Leafs fan--loyal and ever-hopeful for another Stanley Cup win for his team.
~According to his wishes, AJ's body was donated to McMaster University for medical research, after which his remains were cremated. AJ Bauer was laid to rest in the Burkholder United Church Cemetery in Mount Hamilton, Ontario.
".....Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
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