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
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.