Commandant Series

LB Pearson and D.A.R. Bradshaw XXI Commandant of RMC

(Researched by 3161 Victoria Edwards)

2140 Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Douglas (Doug) A.R. Bradshaw (RMC 1934), DFC, CD, studied at the Royal Military College in Kingston from 1930-1934. Wing Commander D.A.R. Bradshaw served as Commanding Officer of the 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron from March 1942-April 1943. When he joined No. 420 Squadron, it had been at war for more than two months, bombing German cities, and dropping sea mines in coastal shipping lanes used by the German merchant marine and navy. 420 Squadron helped the R.A.F. smash at the remaining vital points of Bremen in a “very heavy” attack July 2, 1942 – Wing-Commander D.A.R. Bradshaw, said searchlights were heavy, but their aircraft had little difficulty in finding bombing targets.

Wing-Cmdr. D. A. R. Bradshaw was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 for service against the enemy. He returned to Royal Military College as Commandant from 1954-57. Under his leadership, the continuance of the four year course at RMC was reinforced. In 1959, Air Commodore DAR Bradshaw DFC, CD, served as Deputy Air Officer Commanding Operations, Air Defence Command. In 1963 he was promoted Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and made Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of Canada’s N0. 1 Air Division Headquartered in Metz, France. Prime Minister Lester B Pearson and AVM Bradshaw were photographed on 17 January 1964 in Metz, France.

AVM Bradshaw returned to Canada in August 1966. AVM (ret`d) Bradshaw was the first president of Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology in Thunder Bay from March 6, 1967 to 1974. His vision of an aviation program in the north was implemented in the College’s Aviation Centre of Excellence. He died on 1/10/1996. In his memory, the D.A.R. Bradshaw Athletic Achievement Award is presented to a graduating student, having the most improvement in and contribution to athletics and whose quality of spirit and competitive drive contributed to the overall success of the Confederation College Athletic program.  Source