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An "Exchange Visit" is probably the highest reward a cadet can receive. Cadets have an opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom, Europe, or the United States. They must be top students as well as successful cadets. To represent your country is indeed and honour and a priviledge. Fred Saunders , in 1957, was the first cadet chosen from the 589 Squadron for such a reward and Harvey Pye, in 1990, was another.

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Saunders, Flt/Sgt. Fred. At Greenwood.
4 August 1955
C.F.B. Greenwood, NS

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WO2 Fred Saunders had been chosen as one of 33 air cadets from across Canada to make an exchange visit to the United Kingdom. He left the second week in July for a weeks training in Montreal and then went on to the "old country". Fred had to be an exceptional cadet with a good academic record. He also had to pass an oral exam.

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Postcard from WO Saunders, Exchange Visit, 1957.
15 July 1957
Montreal, Quebec
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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Dear Mom and Dad,

Arrived in Montreal at 11:00 p.m.. Stayed at Dorval Inn till 5:30 p.m. Boarded plane for Toronto at 5:45 P.m. Am now in Toronto. Will be delayed 1 1/2 hours as London is fogged in. Everything o.k. so far. Not a hitch.

Love Fred

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Postcard from WO2 Fred Saunders, Exchange Visit, 1957.
20 July 1957
London, England
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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Dear Mom and Dad,
Just a note letting you know I am wonderful and am having a wonderful time. We've just finished touring London and tomorrow we're leaving for Bristol. We had lunch today with the Lord Mayor of London in his mansion. This morning we went all through St. Paul's Cathedral.
Fred

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Itinerary, Fred Saunders' Exchange Visit. 1957.
24 July 1957
Bath, England

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Included in Fred's itinerary were visits to London, Bath, Somerset, Weston, and Wookey Hole.

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A Fine menu, 1957.
12 July 1957
Imperial Hotel, Exeter, England
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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This menu was presented to WO2 Fred Saunders during his exchange visit to Great Britain in 1957. They were dining at the Emperial Hotel in Exeter. The menu included roast sirloin of beef, leg of lamb, smoked Scotch salmon, veal, steak and kidney pie, ox tongue, and, for dessert , loganberry and apple tart. A glass of Medoc red wine was suggested with the meal. Why would a cadet want to come home?

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Two weeks in Germany.
25 July 1990
Carbonear, Conception Bay, NL
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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"I loved every minute of it".

That's how 18 year old Harvey Pye of Carbonear described the two weeks he spent in Germany this summer. The son of Harvey and Bessie Pye of Carbonear, Pye has served five years with 589 Royal Canadian Air cadets in Carbonear and holds the rank of Sergeant. Although other Canadian Cadets travelled to various parts of Europe this summer, Sgt. Pye was the only Newfoundlander to make the trip and the only Canadian selected to go to Germany. He departed Carbonear on July 25 and arrived back in Carbonear on August 11, 1990.

Pye applied for the trip as an "Exchange Cadet" and had to go before a three member board before he was recommended as the "Outstanding Royal Canadian Air Cadet" in the Air cadet Exchange Program. The purpose of the program is "to promote friendship and goodwill amoung young people of the participating countries; to encourage Canadian Air Cadets to develop an interest in international affairs; and to reward air cadets who have given outstanding service to their squadrons over a period of years".

The Newfoundland cadet flew to Lahr in West Germany and went to Bonn by train where he met his host, Mr. Limbach. During his stay in Germany, Harvey, and two cadets from Great Britain, stayed in a hotel in Buchholz, a small town outside Bonn.

Mr. Limbach owned an aircraft engine assembly plant where Harvey worked for 44 hours during the 2 weeks. Away from the factory he spent his time taking in the sights along the Rhine River from a tour boat , flying over several German towns in a small aircraft , or cruising along the Autobahn in a porche or BMW. He also went to the raceway, attended several fairs, and dined in German restaurants.

Harvey has now applied for a career in the Canadian Armed Forces.

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In the past, there have been several cadets from the 589 Air Cadet Squadron to have been chosen to represent their province and their country in an Exchange Visit. They will probably not be the last.