Text & Photos by Brook Bangsboll

Over the past few years, the RCAF Association and the RCAF Foundation have collaborated on a number of important projects, including the opening of the Lieutenant-Colonel William Barker Park, in Ottawa, Battle of Britain and Remembrance Day ceremonies both in Ottawa and in Toronto and most recently on a joint scholarship program for Canadian University students. Specifically, this past summer, the RCAF Association has financed, through its Trust Fund, two named scholarships for Canadian University students who are studying STEM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and who have an interest in pursuing a career in the Royal Canadian Air Force or civilian aerospace industry upon graduation.

The two named scholarships have been named after two incredible RCAF veterans: Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Sydney Burrows (deceased) and Major (Retired) Desmond Peters (101 years young), who lives in Ottawa and is an active member of 410 (LCol William Barker) Wing.

Recently, I had the opportunity – no, the honour and privilege to arrange a visit to Desmond “Dez” Peter’s residence in Ottawa and introduce him to the young woman, Ms. Aiden Chamberlaine, who is the 2026 recipient of the inaugural Desmond Peter’s Scholarship.

I’ve had the honour to know and work with Dez for the last ten years, both as the Chairman of 410 Wing and now as the Executive Director of the RCAF Association and am fully aware of his amazing career with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) during the Second World War and his subsequent career with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The man flew Spitfires and Barracuda Torpedo Bombers, the Vampire, Mustang Mark IV, the F-86 Sabre, the CF-100, T-33, and the CF-104 to name just a few of the thirty-six different types / models of aircraft he piloted during his illustrious career.

However, when I introduced Dez to Aiden Chamberlian, it was Dez who seemed impressed with Ms. Chamberlain’s accomplishments! Aiden is a second-year student at the University of Waterloo, pursuing a degree in Honours Physics and Astronomy. She is a former Canadian Air Cadet herself; Aiden has her glider pilot licence and is pursuing her private pilot licence, an is a member of both the Ottawa an Gatineau Flying Clubs. Aiden explained that she intends to complete a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and ultimately train to become a test pilot, with a strong interest in serving with the Canadian Armed Forces. In her own words, she told us that her long-term goal is to work on experimental and innovative projects that shape the future of aviation.

After chatting for over an hour, Desmond took the opportunity to show Aiden a few photographs of himself and his aircraft as well as several aircraft scale-models he has on display in his apartment. When Aiden asked Desmond what his favourite aircraft was, he gave a wink and a wry smile and said: “My favourite aircraft is always the one I’m flying.”

Desmond regaled us with some of his wonderful stories about his military career, including his four “Mayday” emergencies, one of which resulted in a crash landing in a “lovely Spitfire in a farmer’s field in southern England. The farmer’s wife invited me in for tea, whilst we waited for the RAF recovery team to arrive.”

After we finished our coffee and the last few Tim-Bits, we bid our farewells, and just before leaving, Desmond presented Aiden with a very special, and historically significant gift from his personal collection of career items…a pilot’s Computer Air Navigation, Dead Reckoning chart, saying that “Aiden, though you already seem to know exactly where you are going in life, you might need this more than him now – fly straight and true.” Aiden reluctantly accepted the gift and again thanked Desmond, the RCAF Association and the RCAF Foundation for their generosity regarding her scholarship.

On behalf of Jeremy Diamond, Chief Executive Officer of the RCAF Foundation, Henri Levasseur, Chairman of the RCAF Association, as well as Ian Whiting and his RCAFA Trust Fund Committee and on behalf of all of the members of the RCAF Association, we wish Aiden Chamberlain all the best in her academic pursuits – Per Ardua Ad Astra!