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 Second World War 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.”
—Profile, 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. After a short time in the professional world of engineering, his interest in aviation, kindled by the achievements of Alexander Graham Bell and John McCurdy, he enlisted as an RCAF 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 Air Force Headquarters during the early years of the Second World War.

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 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 139 Wing 2^nd Tactical Air Force on B25 Mitchell daylight operations. It was a cosmopolitan wing manned by crews from RAF, RCAF, RAAF and the RNZAF. He commanded the Wing through the D-Day invasion and 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 in the Allied cause.

With VE day approaching, he returned to Canada and quickly rose to the rank of air vice marshal and to the position of Deputy Air Member of the Air Staff. In that rank he served as Deputy Member for Air Plans, Air Officer Commanding North West Air Command and later of Air Defence Command.

Later 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. In retirement he was appointed to the Board of Acadia University and volunteered with the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. He was a driving force for its fund raising and for coordinating the creation of the new structure which today houses our aviation treasures.

In 1979 he retired to Victoria to play golf three times a week until very recently. He died in his 96th year after a long and productive contribution to Canada and his beloved Air Force, having recently been honoured by the aviation community by being inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

JR Neroutsos, Pub.

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