Harvard pilot, 101, flies again

Pilot Allan Paige, front, took 101-year-old Ken Raven up in a Harvard, giving him a chance to be in a Harvard for the first time since 1946. Raven flew the plane for about 10 minutes of the 30-minute flight. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The last time Allen Paige was in the seat of a Harvard, he was in the Royal Canadian Air Force. That changed when the 101-year-old flew with the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association on Nov. 27.

At the time, during the Second World War, the roar of Harvards flying in southern Ontario was common with bases for the Commonwealth Air Training Plan scattered across the province. Although there were several bases within an hour of Tillsonburg, and the Tillsonburg airport was a reserve landing field, Raven started with the Royal Canadian Air Force by flying Tiger Moth biplanes in Oshawa. He then moved to Ottawa to train in Harvards.

The Toronto resident said he joined the air force because his brother did. His brother flew in a Lancaster bomber, had 28 trips in, and only two to go when he was shot down over the water. The plane or bodies were never found.

Transferring to England, he trained in Hurricanes and Spitfires. Raven arrived in England in June 1944, four days before D-Day. He was stationed with the 541 Squadron in Benson, England, and flew in reconnaissance units. Although he earned his commercial license, Paige never flew as a commercial pilot. Raven now lives with his daughter Dee and son-in-law in Huntsville. They own a resort there, and when they heard about CHAA, arranged the flight, and accompanied him and wife Sandy on the trip. Although 101, Raven still golfs and skis.

Asked about his experience flying Harvards, Paige said it was a heavy plane, but easy to fly. The Tiger Moths Raven started in were cloth and wood.

Paige was discharged in 1945 and was last in a Harvard in 1946. He was part of a private group of pilots providing instruction during the Korean War in de Havilland Chipmunk trainers.

Between talking to members of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association that hosted him about technical information on the Harvard, Paige was sharp and knew his stuff. He said he was looking forward to the flight. When there was talk of putting another stick in the plane to let Paige fly, he perked up, quickly saying, “Yep, yep,” when asked if he was interested in flying it.

“I’ll take him up, give him the stick and see what he wants to do,” said CHAA pilot Allan Paige.

The flight lasted 30 minutes, with Raven taking the stick for about 10 minutes.

“He was very smooth on the controls and everything seemed to come back to him on how to fly,” Paige said.

Outside of special events like Raven’s flight, CHAA makes flights available to the public several times per year. For more information, visit the group’s website, www.harvards.com.