Veteran pilot honoured with Snowbirds fly-over for 100th birthday
One Edmontonian received a special birthday surprise to help celebrate the occasion of turning 100.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds conducted a fly-over of retired pilot Chris Bellchamber’s care home in Mill Woods on Monday.
Flight Lieutenant (ret.) Bellchamber flew with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and Royal Canadian Air Force in the Cold War, including secret missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“My dad learned to fly on this plane in Africa where the Brits had their flying school,” said Chris’ daughter Jeanie.
“He was a special operations pilot during the Cold War.”
The veteran recalled to CTV News Edmonton how he helped disable an enemy submarine in the Indian Ocean during the Second World War.
Bellchamber overcame his share of health battles too – including COVID-19 this past December.
“He’s had cancer three times,” Jeanie said. “He had COVID, he had malaria twice in the war.
“The guy just keeps on tickin’, ya know?”
Jeanie emailed the Snowbirds her father’s military history who agreed to conduct the flyby in his honour.
“They said, ‘Sure, we’d love to,” she told CTV News Edmonton. “They honour their own.”
While his birthday is not until Wednesday, Chris watched with joy as the Snowbirds conducted two passes.
“I think it’s terrific,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”