Members of 888 (Komox) Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force Association of Canada and many family and friends dropped in at Glacier View Lodge, Comox, to wish Ken Dougan a happy 100th birthday.
Ken reached this milestone on June 16, 2017. He is a decorated World War II veteran, navigator and pilot. A brief description of his accomplishments follows:
Ken enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), October 19, 1940 at Kingston, Ontario. Throughout his training he received Observer Wings and with further training he reclassified as Navigator and Bomb Aimer.
He was sent overseas and was attached to the Royal Air Force (RAF), 15th Squadron, 3 Group Bomber Command in November 1942. At this phase of his early career he was promoted to Flight Sergeant.
Ken flew in the RAF Short Stirling 4-engine bomber as the Navigator/Bomb Aimer and also as second pilot. He completed one tour of 30 missions over Germany, France, Holland, Norway and Italy. Some missions were over Berlin, Essen, Stutgart, Frankfort, Hamburg, Cologne, Nuremberg, Munich, Genoa and Turin.
It is to be noted that while in hospital for a short stay after a crash landing, the rest of the crew went on a mission and were shot down over Holland, with only the rear tail gunner surviving who was captured and spent three years as a prisoner of war.
Ken returned to Canada in December 1943. He became a fully qualified pilot and went on to become an instructor. He was discharged from the RCAF in September 1945 with the rank of Squadron Leader.
During 1946 he started his second career as an announcer/newscaster. This experience led him to CBC Winnipeg in 1949 as an announcer. He was transferred to CBC Regina in 1956 and in 1959 transferred to CBC Ottawa, completing a 30-year career in Ottawa. To his credit he worked with such notables as Peter Jennings and Lloys Robertson. Alex Trebek interned under Ken in Ottawa.
He moved to the Comox Valley 22 years ago and now resides in Glacier View Lodge, Comox. He is the oldest member of 888 Wing and one of the “Old Bold Pilots”. Per Ardua ad Astra.