14

Squadron 514 vrs 810.
12 August 1954
C.F.B. Greenwood, NS

15

When the six Carbonear boys attended camp in the summer of 1954 with 514 squadron of St. John's , they were also expected to compete for them against other squadrons.

16

Barracks at Greenwood.
5 August 1954
C.F.B. Greenwood, NS

17

When the 6 cadets attended Greenwood in 1954 they stayed in this barracks with the 514 Squadron from St. John's.

18

Bay of Fundy area.
8 August 1954
Bay of Fundy, NS

19

The cadets also got an opportunity to tour parts of Nova Scotia while attending camp in 1954. Two popular spots were the Annapolis Valley and the Bay of Fundy.

20

Kingston, NS.
10 August 1954
Kingston, NS

21

The boys also got an oppurtunity to visis historic Kingston, Nova Scotia.

22

Pike, Ern.
8 August 1954
C.F.B. Greenwood, NS

23

No sight-seeing tour would be successful without the trusty box camera. Most cadets took lots of photographs.

24

The United Church schools.
17 August 1954
Carbonear, Conception Bay, NL

25

When school began in September of 1954 the cadet movement truly started in Carbonear. Because it was a school sponsored squadron all parades and meetings were held at the United Church Academy on Church Hill. Forty five boys enrolled that first year. In September of 1955 the squadron was opened up to boys of all religions.

Audio Transcript:
Fred Saunders recalls... I grew up in Carbonear and attended school there during the Forties and Fifties. In the Forties and early Fifties there was very little to do with your spare time except the usual pastimes involving some crude attempt at organized sports, movies at the Bon Theatre, girls and mischief. It was immediately before the days of television although Test Pattern had reached us and that along with the anticipation of television fascinated us for a time. The biggest event in my life at that time was getting my first bike and exploring the other parts of Carbonear and the neighbouring communities. In addition to the enjoyment of riding, a bike gave you a degree of independence and put you in touch with other teenagers in other parts of the community. Life was not boring, but it lacked purpose and organization and there was very little else to soak up your energy and create a sense of accomplishment on a daily, a monthly or yearly basis except for school and school work.

That all changed in 1952 when Hudson Davis arrived in Carbonear to teach at the United Church College. Harold French arrived at the same time and was appointed Principal while Hudson became Vice-Principal. The school was renamed United Church Academy and the improvements implemented by the Principal and Vice-Principal over the next couple of years brought education in Carbonear into the Twentieth Century. Out of Hudson's desire to fill a gap in the lives of the young boys of Carbonear, he and other interested citizens of the town were successful in forming an Air Cadet Squadron. 589 Carbonear Squadron. I was fortunate to be one of the first six menbers of the Squadron and in the summer of 1954 along with Keith Taylor, Ern Cole, Ern Pike, Dave Pike and Art Oates attended Air Cadet summer camp in Greenwood, Nova Scotia at the invitation of 514 Kiwanis Squadron of Saint John's. That was the beginning of my involvement with the Air Cadets I attended other camps and leadership courses and was very fortunate to receive an exchange visit to England, Scotland and Germany in the summer of 1957 and that was the highlight of my cadet life.

The cadet experience was the highlight of my teenage years. I often wonder what path I would have taken in life if it had not been for the training and guidance I received from the leadership and comradeship of 589 Carbonear. As a squadron we acheived the highest distinction of the province and in competion at the regional summer camps in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. We achieved hockey, softball, volleyball and shooting supremacy and had several of our cadets win individual awards in provincial competitions. It was a time when everything we did revolved around cadets. We learned to be proud in victory and humble in defeat. But most of all we had a purpose. We had goals and we learned that goals were achieved through hard work and team spirit. We were taught that there was nothing we couldn't achieve if we tried and we learned how to have fun trying. The leadership and devotion provided by Hudson Davis, Lloyd Powel, Roy Noel, Johnny Clarke and the many civilian instructors was first class and molded the lives of many of us who were fortunate to be members of 589 Carbonear Squadron.

26

Davis, Hudson.
10 August 1954
C.F.B. Greenwood, NS

27

Hudson Davis was the First Commanding Officer in 1954.

Audio Transcript:
My name is Fred Saunders. Carbonear was extremely fortunate to have had Hudson Davis arrive in town in 1952. I was 13 years old at that time, and I can vividly recall the impact he had on me and on the town's youth. That impact was manifested in the improvements he brought to the total education of the student body of the United Church schools and the drive and determination he displayed in launching 589 Carbonear Air Cadet Squadron. Except for my parents and my family, there was no other individual who had such a positive impact on my youth, nor on my life. I owe a lot to Hudson as a teacher, as a Commanding Officer, and as a role model. His ability to organize and instill enthusiasm in his pupils and the members of "589" was just what needed in Carbonear in 1952. I will forever be thankful for his guidance, leadership, and tutoring during my formative years.