Metz, France
RCAF Aid to Hungarian Refugees

Comments by Ray Stone - During the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, S/L Bill Lee - SO/PR - organized an assistance program for the Hungarian refugees by arranging a collection of food, clothing and money throughout the Air Division. We drove a convoy of several trucks to Vienna, and then to Wiener Neustadt where the Canadian Hungarian refugee camp was located. The gifts and clothing arrived in time for Christmas and the Hungarian refugees were very pleased - many of them later immigrating to Canada. I was there along with S/L Lee, W/C Light and Cpl Thibault. Although we weren't supposed to go near the Hungarian border, we snuck down to the border area and helped a few of them out of their small rubber dinghy craft as they crossed the river at night.


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  1. 1 Air Division Report on Aid to Hungarian Refugees - December 1956.
    Courtesy National Archives of Canada.

  2. Canadian Air Division truck convoy passes through the border into Austria - December 1956.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  3. An RCAF Bristol aircraft was used to ferry some of the more than 15 tons of used clothing to the refugees - December 1956.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  4. S/L Bill Lee, Staff Officer Public Relations for the Air Division and organizer of the aid drive, speaks with a customs officer at Schweckatt Airport in Vienna - December 1956.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  5. RCAF supplies are unloaded by Hungarian refugees as they arrive at Wiener Neustad - December 1956.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  6. Thankful hands rumage through 15 tons of used clothing delivered to the Canadian Hungarian refugee camp at Wiener Neustad in Austria - December 1956.
    The clothing was a gift from airmen stationed with Canada's NATO Air Division in Europe. In addition, the 6000 man Division also contributed more than $30,000.00.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  7. Hungarian refugees receiving gifts at a Christmas party held at the Canadian refugee camp at Wiener Neustad - December 1956.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  8. W/C Ted Light, Chief Padre for the Air Division, chats with a refugee family - December 1956.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.

  9. (L-R) LAC Ray Stone, S/L Bill Lee, and Cpl. Dick Thibault drove their staff car onto the Bristol and hitched a ride home after delivering Christmas supplies to Hungarian refugees - December 1956.
    They were thinking about the mileage they would claim on their travel vouchers.
    Courtesy Ray Stone.


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All photos are used with permission.

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Updated: December 30, 2003