14

Aikenhead listening to Morse Code during a lesson at London South Collegiate Institute (High School)
1940
London, Ontario

15

Aikenhead (middle row, second from right) in the 'Radio Fundamentals and Servicing' course
1941
Hamilton, Ontario

16

Nearing the end of the Radio Fundamentals course, students were given an opportunity to take the Air Force Trades Test in Radio Servicing. Upon passing this course, the students pay would increase by $2.00 a week. Aikenhead was successful at the test, and completed his course at Westdale Technical School in late November, 1941.

The bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japaese convinced Aikenhead that the war was no longer just being fought in Europe. He decided to join the Air Force and enlisted on December 16th, 1941 in Hamilton.

17

Aikenhead served as a radio mechanic in Britain and India in the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force from 1941-1945.

Shortly after enlistment, from January to April 1942, Aikenhead took a course in Clinton, Ontario set up by the Royal Air Force which taught repair and servicing for equipment aboard British night fighter aircraft. Night fighters used special Range and Direction Finding (RDF) equipment, a precursor to RADAR (Radio Direction and Ranging), to detect enemy aircraft.

In May of 1942, he was posted as a radio mechanic to a training unit in Scotland (Charter Hall and Winfield) where air crew were trained to become night figher crew. In April of 1943, he joined other RDF mechanics who were being sent to air force units in India.

18

Aikenhead's sketch of Beaufighter RDF installation
Drawn in 1990s
Salmon Arm, British Columbia

Credits:
Bruce Aikenhead

19

Aikenhead had photos taken before he went overseas. He paid $1.00 for 5 pictures in the photography studio.

20

Aikenhead enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II
1942
London, Ontario

21

Aikenhead describes his work as a RDF/RADAR technician in WW2 in Britain and India
15 April 2013
Vernon, British Columbia
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Okanagan Science Centre

22

Aikenhead in his military uniform
1942
England

23

Map of Aikenhead's military travels in World War II, 1943-1945
Drawn in 1990s
Salmon Arm, British Columbia

Credits:
Bruce Aikenhead

24

From 1945-1950, Aikenhead was a student at the University of Western Ontario, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics.

25

University of Western Ontario at the time of Aikenhead's graduation
1950
London, Ontario

26

Kappa Tau Sigma Fraternity at the University of Western Ontario (Aikenhead front, second from right)
1949-1950
London, Ontario

27

The Radio Amateurs Club at the University of Western Ontario (Aikenhead on the right)
1949-1950
London, Ontario