John Alexander Douglas McCurdy

John Alexander Douglas McCurdy (August 2, 1886 – June 25, 1961) was a Canadian aviation pioneer and the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1947 to 1952. ^{[N 1]}

Early years

Born in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, McCurdy was known as "Douglas". He was schooled at St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ontario and graduated from the University of Toronto in mechanical engineering in 1906, where he had been a member of The Kappa Alpha Society along with his friend Frederick W. Baldwin.

Aviation

In 1907, he joined Alexander Graham Bell's Aerial Experiment Association. In 1908, McCurdy helped another AEA member, Glenn Curtiss to set up the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company.^[2]

After co-developer Frederick W. Baldwin first flew in 1908, on February 23, 1909, McCurdy became the first British subject to fly an aircraft in the British Empire when he piloted the Aerial Experiment Association's Silver Dart off the ice of Bras d'Or Lake in Nova Scotia. The Silver Dart was the first designed Canadian aircraft to fly. In 1910, he was the first Canadian to be issued a pilot's licence and the following year, he made the first flight from Florida to Cuba. For the next few years, he continued to set aviation records in Canada and North America, until 1916, when vision problems grounded him.

First World War

In 1915, McCurdy established the first aviation school in Canada, the Curtiss Flying School, operating from 1915 to 1919. and was the first manager of Long Branch Aerodrome, Canada's first airport. He was also instrumental in setting up the Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd., an aircraft manufacturing company located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that built aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Formed on December 15, 1916, when the Imperial Munitions Board bought the Curtiss (Canada) aircraft operation in Toronto (opened in 1916 as Toronto Curtiss Aeroplanes), Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd. manufactured the JN-4 (Can) Canuck, the Felixstowe F5L flying boat, and the Avro 504.^[3]

Inter-war years

In 1928, McCurdy created the Reid Aircraft Company in Montreal and became its first president. After a merger, he remained at the helm of the Curtiss-Reid Aircraft Company, a position he held until the advent of war.^[4]The most notable product of the company was the Curtiss-Reid Rambler. ^[5]

McCurdy married Margaret Ball of Woodstock, Ontario, daughter of Margaret and Robert N. Ball, Queens Counsel for Sullivan Co, Ontario.

Second World War

At the beginning of the Second World War, McCurdy became Assistant Director General of Aircraft Production. He remained in that position until 1947. ^[6]

Postwar

In 1947, McCurdy was appointed lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, a post he continued until 1952. He was awarded the McKee Trophy in 1959 on the 50th anniversary of the flight of the Silver Dart. He attended official ceremonies and sat in the replica Silver Dart built for the occasion. He was also named an honourary air commodore at the time. ^[6]

After a lengthy illness, McCurdy died in 1961 in Montreal, Quebec, and was buried the following month in Baddeck, where a family home had been maintained.^[6]

Legacy

The McCurdy Award at McGill University in Montreal was introduced in 1954 by the Institute of Aircraft Technicians. The award commemorates the contributions made by John A.D. McCurdy during the development of the aviation industry in North America. Following its creation in 1973, McCurdy was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

On July 27, 2009 Sydney Airport was renamed J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport in his honour.^[7]

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• CBC 1949 radio archive
• J.A.D. McCurdy and the Silver Dart: Canada's First Aerial Navigator at Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
• Photograph of J.A.D. McCurdy memorial plaque by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board