Frederick McCall
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Frederick Robert Gordon McCall (4 December 1896 – 22 January 1949) was a Canadian
air ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace varies, but is ...
during
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, with 35 confirmed and two unconfirmed victories. After a career in civil aviation, he returned to service in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.


Early life

Born in
Vernon, British Columbia Vernon is a city in the Okanagan region of the British Columbia Interior, Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is northeast of Vancouver. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly, MLA of British ...
, McCall came to
Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...
with his family in 1906. In February 1916, McCall enlisted with the 175th Battalion of the
Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...
(CEF). Eight months later, he was in France with this battalion as a sergeant. McCall expressed interest in transferring from the army to the
Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
(RFC), and received a commission as a lieutenant pilot trainee in March 1917. In December was assigned to No. XIII Squadron on the Western Front, flying the two seater Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 reconnaissance aircraft with F.C. Farrington.


Aerial service in World War I

McCall's first aerial victory occurred while flying the R.E.8, shooting down a German aircraft. McCall was awarded the
Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...
"for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", and two weeks later the accompanying Bar for downing an enemy scout aircraft while on a mission to take photographs. After his third victory while flying the R.E.8, McCall was transferred to No. 41 Squadron RAF and began flying the
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 is a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory by a team consisting of Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Major Frank Goodden. It was one of the ...
. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after scoring four 'kills' in May 1918. On 28 June 1918, McCall downed four enemy aircraft, including one shared with Eric John Stephens. On 30 June 1918, now Captain McCall downed five more Germans, four in the morning and the fifth that evening. For this McCall was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...
. On 17 August, he was accompanying William Gordon Claxton when the pair of them ran into Jagstaffel 20, which consisted of at least 40 aircraft. In the ensuing fight, which saw Claxton shot down, McCall scored a victory. McCall was ordered to England, and eventually to Canada, on convalescent leave. The
armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from t ...
ending World War I was signed while McCall was in Canada recuperating from illness.


Life between the wars

Following the armistice, McCall embarked upon a variety of civil aviation ventures, beginning with stunt flying. On 5 July 1919, while barnstorming, he crash-landed when his engine failed while he was taking off. His landing site was the top of the merry-go-round at the
Calgary Exhibition and Stampede The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and fea ...
. He and his two passengers were not injured. He founded his own company, McCall Aero Corporation Limited, in 1920. With this company, McCall flew commercial freight and passengers across Canada, pioneering air travel to Banff. In 1928, he founded, with
Emil Sick Emil George Sick (June 3, 1894 – November 10, 1964) was a Canadian-American brewing worker and industrialist in Canada and later the U.S. He is best known for his involvement as owner of baseball teams and stadiums in Seattle and Vancouver, ...
, another aviation company Great Western Airways. One of his more spectacular achievements was the flying of 200 quarts of
nitroglycerin Nitroglycerin (NG) (alternative spelling nitroglycerine), also known as trinitroglycerol (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless or pale yellow, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by ...
from
Shelby, Montana Shelby is a city in and the county seat of Toole County, Montana, Toole County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,169 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Shelby was named in honor of Peter O. Shelby, General Manag ...
to Calgary in 1928. The following year, he ignored bad weather to fly a doctor to the Skiff oil fields to treat two seriously injured workers. McCall also worked to encourage the formation of Canadian flying clubs in the inter-war years.


World War II and beyond

With the arrival of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, McCall was recalled to service with the
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
as a Squadron Leader, based at numerous western Canadian bases. McCall died in Calgary Alberta on 22 January 1949 at the age of 52. In the city of
Calgary, Alberta Calgary () is a major city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a Metropolitan area, metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the List of ...
, the McCall industrial park and the road 'McCall Way' are named after him, as well as McCall Lake Golf Course. Freddie McCall appears in exhibits in several museums in and around Calgary, such as the
Glenbow Museum The Glenbow Museum is an art and history local museum, regional museum in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The museum focuses on Western Canada, Western Canadian history and culture, including Indigenous perspectives. The Glenbow was establ ...
and the Calgary Aerospace Museum. In 1939, the Calgary Airport was named after him, but has since been renamed
Calgary International Airport Calgary International Airport , branded as YYC Calgary International Airport, is an international airport that serves the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately northeast of downtown and covers an area of 20.82 square ...
. There is also a provincial electoral district bearing his name,
Calgary-McCall Calgary-Bhullar-McCall is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. It was created in 1971, and was named after Frederick McCall and the McCall Industrial Park. As of the 2010 redistricting, the industria ...
, which was established in 1971. A book entitled ''Mavericks History of Alberta'' contains some information on McCall as well.


References

;Additional sources * * * - Total pages: 96 * * * - Total pages: 96 {{DEFAULTSORT:Mccall, Frederick 1896 births 1949 deaths Canadian World War I flying aces Canadian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Canadian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Canadian recipients of the Military Cross People from Vernon, British Columbia