The first operational jet fighter squadron in RCAF history was 410 (F) Squadron which was re-formed on December 1st, 1948 coincident with the formation of Air Defence Group in St. Hubert. The Cougars were about to enter an exciting new era following their distinguished record of achievements with the Mosquito during WW II. The first squadron commander in the post-war era was S/L RA (Bob) Kipp. His squadron was tasked to train in jet interceptor operations, to develop tactics using the new jet and to set the standard for other squadrons that would follow. By the summer of 1949, aerial duels were daily events as fighter pilot pride pushed the Vampire to the edge of its operational envelope.
Formation flying has always been a necessary skill in fighter operations and 410 pilots, all of whom were veterans of WW II, easily adapted to the responsive Vampire. With the widespread interest that the advent of the jet had created in Canada, it was to be expected that public appearances by the RCAF's most advanced aircraft would continue to be in high demand. It was in the spring of 1949 that F/L Don Laubman stepped into the forefront and created the enduring legacy known as the Blue Devils. Laubman had impressive credentials with 15 aerial kills to his credit as a WW II fighter pilot. So too did his initial cadre of teammates - Joe Schultz with nine enemy aircraft and Omer Levesque with the distinction of being the first allied pilot to shoot doen the dreaded Fw 190 Focke-Wulf. Laubman's first candifate for a formation trail was a young 25-year-old Flying Officer by the name of Mike Doyle. He had only joined the RCAF in 1942 but still saw action with 411 Squadron scoring two kills in air-to-air combat. He explains how the 410 team got started:
The de Havilland Vampire Aerobatic team, known as the Blue Devils, was born on May 4th, 1949 when F/L DC Laubman, a flight commander on 410 (F) Squadron based at St. Hubert, invited (ordered?) me to "have a go" at some formation aerobatics. Soon, on May 12th, another Vampire flown by F/L Omer Levesque, was added to the duo and the initial element of 410's aerobatic team became a fact of life.
This threesome practiced often throughout May and the early part of June. To add some activity to our repertoire while the formation was away from the airfield preparing for our next run, we added a solo Vampire flown by F/L Joe Schultz. He performed solo aerobatics during the formation's temporary, but sometimes prolonged, absences and joined up as No. 4 in the box for our finale which was to be a loop.
Our first airshow performance was held at RCAF Station Rockcliffe on Air Force Day, June 11th, 1949. The team was a great hit as few of the spectators had seen formation aerobatics flown in jet aircraft at low level before. It was not too long after this display that G/C WR MacBrien, Commander of Air Defence Group, authorized our OC, S/L Bob Kipp, to form and develop an aerobatic team that could perform at airshows in Canada and the USA. Thus, the Blue Devils became the first organized and officially sanctioned Air Defence Group aerobatic team in the post-WW II period. Shortly after this, a second solo Vampire, flown by F/L Bill Tew was added to the team - he would coordinate his simultaneous solo aerobatics with Joe Schultz. Also added in time for the CNE was a permanent No. 4 flying box in the person of F/O Bill Bliss who rounded out the symmetry of the team previously added by Joe Schultz during the final pass. Bill also added a new dimension to the team's social life!
Our next show was at RCAF Station Rockcliffe on July 22nd. Following our return to St. Hubert, S/L Bob Kipp, who had accompanied us to Chicago flying the spare aircraft, decided that he would participate in a solo capacity on the team replacing F/L Bill Tew. Unfortunately, during a team practice over the airfield at St. Hubert on July 25th in preparation for the Michigan Air Fair, he was killed when his aircraft crashed during an inverted opposing pass with Joe Schultz. Nevertheless, we participated in the Michigan Air Fair at Willow Run Airport, Detroit on August 6th and 7th - Bill Tew resuming his former role as partner to Joe Schultz in performing solo aerobatics.
The next airshows we flew that first year were 11 successive shows at the Canadian National Exhibition starting on August 25th plus a two-day show at the National Races in Cleveland, Ohio on September 3rd and 4th. We were given the honour of closing the show on the first day and opening it on the next. We flew the Windsor Air Show the following weekend prior to our finale for the year at the dedication of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Memorial Gates at RCAF Station Trenton on September 30th, 1949. This latter ceremony was attended by various figures who played a prominent part in establishing and running the British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and other Commonwealth nations' aircrew training in Canada during World War II. This was a significant event in RCAF histry. In all, we had flown 26 shows in our frst season.
In 1950, now officially known as the Air Defence Group Aerobatics Team, we opened our season by flying to Chicago, Illinois for the Chicago Fair on June 1st. As well that year, we flew numerous airshows in Canada, including Air Force Day on June 10th and again at the CNE. As F/L Bill Tew had left 410 Squadron for other duties and F/L Joe Schultz was posted to the RAF Central Fighter Establishment at West Raynham as RCAF Liaison Officer, F/O Fred Evans of 421 Squadron undertook the solo role. On one occasion he also extracurricularly entertained the rest of the team by his antics on a fine escape on the outside of a downtown Chicago hotel. Also joining the team from 421 were F/Os Larry Spurr who flew right wing (replacing F/L Omer Levesque who was posted on exchange to the USAF to fly the F-86A Sabre) and Bill Paisley who became our spare.
It was in Boston immediately prior to the CNE that we had one of our more humorous incidents take place. By now we had become recognized, for all intents and purposes, as the RCAF's official aerobatic team. As such, were were invited to take part in the airshow associated with the annual USAF Association convention which had also extended an invitation to the CAS, A/M Wilf Curtis, and the chairman of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington, A/V/M Hugh Campbell, among others. The airshow was to take place at Logan Field and Don Laubman was briefed by organizers that he was to conduct his show over an inlet or river about a mile away from the spectators. This was an absurd restriction which was placed on our team for no apparent reason - at that distance, hardly anyone would see us! Canadian pride was at stake.
After takeoff, Don managed to "get lost", miraculously ending up very close to the thousands of spectators who had turned out for the show. We completed our normal show to great applause from the Americans. That evening at the gala banquet, we were milling around in the presence of our American hosts when A/M Curtis approached our group. He placed himself squarely shoulder to shoulder with Don Laubman, and after exchanging pleasantries, quietyly proceeded to publicly chastise him for having flown too close to the crowd. What no one else could see however, was that with his right arm which was hidden from view, he was patting Don on the back as he scolded him.
Following the Boston affair, we proceeded directly to the CNE for the annual airshow from September 1st to 9th. These were to be the last appearances for the Blue Devils and we disbanded on September 11th to prepare for the F-86 Sabre and our impending move to Europe as part of the new No. 1 Canadian Air Division.
As it turned out, 1951 was a most interesting year. The squadron re-equipped with F-86 Sabre aircraft and Don Laubman was promoted to Squadron Leader. He was posted to RCAF Station Uplands where he was appointed OC of 416 (F) Squadron which was forming at that base on Mustang fighters prior to getting their own Sabres. No thought was given to the now extinct Blue Devils until one morning early in August when someone way up the command ladder realized that a commitment had been made to field an aerobatic team at the forthcoming Michigan Air Fair at Detroit on August 17th, 18th and 19th.
As a result, the Blue Devils were hastily reformed on August 8th with Don Laubman being sent to St. Hubert on temporary duty. I temporarily relinquished my duties as a flight commander on 410 (now in the process of concerting to Sabres). Bill Bliss was recalled from staff duties at Air Defence Command HQ and F/O Jerry Billing was thrust into the right wing position in the formation replacing Larry Spurr who was now in Korea flying with the USAF. As well, F/L Dean Kelly was drummed into service as the solo performer replacing Fred Evans. Needless to say, six intensive formation aerobatic sessions were flown to re-acquaint the pilots with the Vampires and with the demands of formation aerobatics. The new and hurriedly assmled team then flew off to Detroit where they performed for three successive days, once again upholding the honour and prestige of the RCAF. This was the final airshow flown by the Blue Devils.
Altogether over a period of three years, the Blue Devils performed in 45 airshows in Canada and the United States. The initial assembly of the team was done on 410 (F) Squadron strictly as a squadron matter and it was not until after our first performance on Air Force Day at RCAF Station Rockcliffe that any official recognition was forthcoming. Subsequently, of course, the Blue Devils became the Air Defence Group Aerobatic Team, although support from that higher headquarters was mostly moral with the pilots of the team having, for example, to paint the distinguishing insignia of our team on our aircraft ourselves. We did a pretty good job!
>P>Ground support for the Blue Devils Aerobatic Team was provided throughout our existence by the groundcrews of 410 (F) Squadron, with WO2 Charlebois being in charge for three years".Michael F Doyle, with Don Laubman and Joe Schultz
The final disbandment of the Blue Devils in August 1951 was not the end of an era, but the beginning of a new exciting one. Jet aircraft teams would slowly take prominence in Canada as the piston-engine teams gradulally took their honoured place in history. And Canadians would continue to throng to airshows from coast-to-coast to watch the transition unfold.
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Updated: May 18, 2003
