A/M C.R. Dunlap passed away October 20 in Victoria Hospice care. His memorial service was held in St Mary's Anglican Church at 1701 Elgin in Oak Bay at 1400 hrs on Friday 24 October.

Air Marshal Clarence R (Larry) Dunlap CBE CD DCL DEng BSc

1908-2003

“Born in the shadow of the Silver Dart, John McCurdy and Bras d’Or Lake, Larry Dunlap became a military aviation pioneer in 1928 by distinguishing himself in early photo map and survey work, followed by an inspired leadership performance as a WWII operational commander in North Africa and Europe. The last living Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force he has made a substantial and lasting contribution to the development of Canada and Canadian Aviation.”
—Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame

Air Marshal Dunlap was born in Sydney Mines, NS in 1908. He attended Acadia University and achieved a BSc in electrical engineering in 1928. He was soon deflected from a career in engineering by the exploits of Alexander Graham Bell and John McCurdy, which kindled in him a lifelong fascination with aviation. The urge to fly was fulfilled when he enlisted as an Air Force pilot in 1929.

Air Marshal Dunlap’s flying career began in the cockpit of an Avro 504N, a vintage aircraft of the Great War era. For some years he was engaged in aerial photography and mapping of large sections of Canada. In the mid-thirties he became an armament specialist and served as Director of Armament at AFHQ during the early years of WWII. He was posted overseas in 1942 to command RCAF Station Leeming in No.6 Group Bomber Command. In 1943 he was dispatched to the sands of Tunisia in command of No.331 RCAF Bomber Wing comprised of 420, 424, and 425 Squadrons flying Wellington bombers. These units supported the invasion of Sicily and Italy. He returned in late 1943 to England to take Command of No.139 Wing 2nd TAF on B25 Mitchell aircraft flying daylight operations. It was a very cosmopolitan wing manned by crews from RAF, RCAF, RAAF and the RNZAF. He commanded the Wing through the D-Day invasion and then their subsequent move to Brussels (Melsbroek Airfield). While in Brussels he was promoted to Air Commodore and returned to No.6 Group to take command of four Lancaster squadrons. He was awarded the United States Silver Star and French Croix de Guerre for his leadership role in the Allied cause.

With VE day approaching he returned to Canada and he quickly rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal and assumed the position of a Deputy Air Member with the Air Staff. In that rank he served as Deputy Member for Air Plans, Air Officer Commanding North West Air Command and later Air Defense Command. Follow on appointments were to be Commandant, National Defence College and Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He returned to Europe in 1958 as Deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Promoted to the rank of Air Marshal in 1962 he was appointed Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

He retired as an Air Marshal from the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of NORAD in 1964. During his early retirement years he devoted much of his time to the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. The Air Marshal was a driving force in the creation of the new museum structure we have today which houses our aviation treasures.

In 1979 he retired to Victoria to play golf, his great enjoyment, a game he played until last February. He died in his 96th year after a long and productive contribution to Canada and his beloved Air Force. Hester, his wife of 68 years, survives him. She was the other half of a great team.

Last year the Air Marshal was honoured by the aviation community by being inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Vancouver….a fitting tribute indeed for a life-time of achievement.

Prepared by: BGen JR Neroutsos
Publisher, Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island Newsletter

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