Simcoe veteran who led NATO air defence during Cold War celebrated as ‘hometown hero’

Simcoe native and retired lieutenant-general Larry Ashley, third from left, at the Hometown Hero ceremony in Shearwater, Nova Scotia.

J.P. Antonacci

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Larry Ashley’s first night flight was nearly his last.

It was 1960 in Nova Scotia, and the future lieutenant-general was then a rookie helicopter pilot ordered to patrol the skies around the Royal Canadian Navy base near Halifax Harbour.

It would be Ashley’s maiden nighttime flight without an instructor in the cockpit.

“Which is a big event,” recalled Ashley, 87.

“I had a whole head full of instructions - don’t do this, don’t do that,” he continued.

“‘Now you go out there and make sure you don’t get tangled up in those high-tension wires across the Narrows.’”

Despite focusing on the task at hand, the young naval aviator soon became lost in the sparkling scene below.

“I took off and I was in total awe of being alone out there, in control, at night, with all those beautiful lights of Halifax Harbour. And I totally forgot about the wires,” Ashley said.

“Well, I was high enough to escape my demise that evening. But I’ll tell you, my blood ran cold, and I never, ever made that mistake again.”

It was an early teachable moment in a military career that saw the son of a millworker in Simcoe rise to run NATO’s European air defence during the Cold War and retire as the only naval officer ever to command Canada’s Air Force.

LIFTOFF

Young Ashley did not have one eye on the sky when he applied to the Royal Military College of Canada during his final year of high school.

The family lived in modest company housing and, despite his talent for picking strawberries, Ashley needed help to cover the “insurmountable” cost of higher education.

“I had never flown. I knew nothing about helicopters. And I knew almost nothing about the Canadian armed forces,” he said. “My focus was ‘How can I go to university?’ And an avenue came forward.”

He enrolled in the RMC’s officer training program, choosing to become a navy cadet after reading a Toronto Star story about the navy’s “sleek” new St. Laurent-class destroyer, which had been designed to counter nuclear and chemical attacks.

Four years later, he had a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a commission in the Royal Canadian Navy as an aviator.

Ashley was stationed at the naval base at Shearwater, Nova Scotia, where he stayed for 15 years, becoming a test pilot and logging well over 3,000 flight hours on a dozen aircraft.

Displaying his keen interest in technological innovation, Ashley helped develop the Beartrap haul-down system, which lets helicopters land on destroyers, enabling the aircraft to operate at sea.

As a test pilot for Sea King helicopters, which became a mainstay for the Canadian military, Ashley advised on upgrades to improve the chopper’s operational capabilities.

He even ended up serving as first air officer on the St. Laurent, the ship that had caught his eye in the newspaper as a teen. Ashley sailed around the globe aboard the St. Laurent, showcasing the new destroyer class to Canada’s allies. 

“I had new challenges and tried my very best to rise to each occasion,” he said. “I just enjoyed every second.”

Despite showing nerves of steel as a test pilot, Ashley shudders to recall the one time he found himself upside down in a helicopter.

“It scared the hell out of me,” he said.

“But you can’t be a naval aviator without an adrenalin rush. Flying off an aircraft carrier is pretty exciting. There isn’t a moment out there when you’re not part of a team, and you need to respect that.”

Ashley cultivated a respect for collaboration on the ball fields and hockey rinks of Norfolk County.

“I liked being a team player, which I really learned growing up in Simcoe,” he said. “That work ethic I learned as a young man carried me through my career.”

NATO’S EYE IN THE SKY

Ashley’s success as a pilot and squadron leader prompted a promotion to command the naval base at Shearwater in 1976.

Three years later, he was tabbed to work at Air Command headquarters.

Soon after that, in the thick of the Cold War, Ashley was dispatched to Europe, tasked with creating the NATO alliance’s first Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).

Launching NATO’s “eye in the sky” — meant to warn the West of approaching Soviet ships and warplanes — was a “monumental task,” Ashley said.

“The appointment came as quite a surprise to me. I felt like saying, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right guy?’”

Ashley understood the tactical deployment of air power and had experience in procurement when he got to the NATO base in the Netherlands. But he was still intimidated by the prospect of stickhandling the details of a completely new defence system with input from 12 allied countries.

“Running NATO’s most complex program ever — a multi-billion-dollar program — seemed like quite a reach for me,” he said.

“But you know, I loved it. I was exhilarated by the challenge.”

Aircraft with advanced radar systems were soon patrolling the eastern edge of NATO airspace, forming a flying bulwark against the Soviets by conducting long-range aerial surveillance over land and sea and being ready to co-ordinate air space command should a conflict erupt.

“I became well-known and trusted across NATO in my negotiation of every aspect of that program,” Ashley said, calling his three years in Europe “a real milestone for me.”

AWACS remains one of NATO’s flagship programs, contributing to combat missions while supporting search and rescue, disaster relief, counterterrorism and anti-piracy efforts. Today the system Ashley created is busy monitoring the skies over Ukraine to track the movement of Russian warships, drones and tanks.

HOMETOWN HERO

Ashley had barely touched down in Canada after his overseas deployment before he was promoted to deputy commander of the Air Force.

A few years later, he was chosen to lead Air Command, which Ashley called “a privilege beyond measure.”

“I was the only naval officer to command Canada’s Air Force, of which I’m enormously proud,” he said.

After retiring in 1989, Ashley became president of Lockheed Canada and was a consultant in the aerospace industry for nearly 20 years.

He was an original director of the Canada Science and Technology Museum Foundation and longtime board member with Bytown Brigantine, an Ottawa-based sailing program for underprivileged youth.

Ashley and his wife, Gail, now call Halifax home, and he remains connected to his old posting of Shearwater as a volunteer at the Shearwater Aviation Museum.

It was at the museum where Ashley was recently honoured with a “Hometown Hero” award from Parks Canada in recognition of his leading contribution to global security and the evolution of naval aviation in Canada.

Launched in 2015, the Hometown Heroes program has recognized the lifetime achievements and community contributions of more than 140 Canadians from coast to coast.

Speaking at the award ceremony on Aug. 9, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Ashley’s career “reminds us of the strength, courage, and unwavering commitment that define the Canadian Armed Forces.”

“His distinguished service is a powerful example of leadership in a polarized time (and) should serve as a reminder to all Canadians of what we, as individuals, can achieve during times of instability and conflict to safeguard and shape our country,” McGuinty said.

The current commanders of Canada’s Air Force and navy also applauded Ashley, saying his career “broke new ground and built enduring bridges between our naval and air forces.”

Ashley told the crowd he was humbled by the recognition, sharing the accolades with Gail and four generations of their family in attendance, while also thanking “the trainers and mentors that prepared me for my rather non-standard career.”

“If it were not for the white hair, I would do it all over again,” Ashley said in his acceptance speech.

Reflecting on the honour, Ashley said he “has had some difficulty with the word hero.”

“I’ve never looked upon myself as a hero. I was an ordinary guy confronted with extraordinary circumstances and I rose to the occasion,” he said.

“But I think it is important to demonstrate to Canadians that within our midst, we have capable, dedicated people who are prepared to invest in the future of our country.”

When assessing Canada’s place in the modern military landscape, the self-described Cold Warrior sees a nation that needs to “reinvest in our security” by procuring new technology to meet emerging threats.

“We have a very different world today than I confronted,” Ashley said. “The world order is being turned upside down. Technology is advancing at a furious pace. Relationships are changing. Alliances are being threatened.”

Forging a modern military capable of defending Canada’s sovereignty well into the future is “a big task,” Ashley added. “But I have hope.

“Canada seems to have a fresh wind blowing. Canadians want us to return to a position of respect in the global community of nations. It’s so important to have leadership that can rise with that new patriotic vision.”

To Ashley, there is “no question” Canada has the talent and resources to reclaim its place on the world stage, buoyed by “our standards and our compassion and our commitment to peacekeeping.”

It will be future hometown heroes leading the charge, a message Ashley shares when speaking with young people.

“I encourage them to pause and think about our wonderful country and one’s responsibilities as citizens,” he said.

“Canada is our home, and its future is ours to protect.”

J.P. Antonacci is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.