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Happy 100th Birthday to Kaare Nevdal!

Distinguished Fellowships awarded by the Norway Canada Institute

Candis Jones and I are deeply honoured to receive Distinguished Fellowships from the Norway Canada Institute of Huntington University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The Fellowships were awarded in recognition of "Distinguished Contributions to Norwegian-Canadian Military History," through our book Exile Air: World War II's 'Little Norway' in Toronto and Muskoka. As the author of Exile Air, I am fully aware of the historic and allied relationship between Canada and Norway. I am deeply honoured that my writings about "Little Norway," the Royal Norwegian Air Force training base, which was established during WWII in Toronto and Muskoka, have been recognized by the Norway Canada Institute.  I commend Dr. Kevin McCormick, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Huntington University, for their roles in launching the Norway Canada Institute as a means to promote and celebrate our two nations, our shared military history, and the countless contributions made by Canadians and Norwegians across the globe. Candis Jones, photographer and photographic-editor for Exile Air, notes: "The story of 'Little Norway' and the young servicemen and women of the Royal Norwegian Air Force who trained in Canada during WWII is remarkable. It is especially important to my family as my Father in Law, Lieutenant Harald Olafson, was a flight instructor at Little Norway. I'd like to thank the Norway Canada Institute for focusing on important stories, such as this one, which bring into focus the ties that bind both nations together. Canada and Norway have a long history of cooperation, and it's inspiring to see positive stories from both countries, along with the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups, being promoted at an international level."  

Cheers to CANAV Books on their upcoming 40th Anniversary

Congratulations to CANAV Books on its upcoming 40th anniversary! Toronto's Larry Milberry established CANAV Books in 1981 as a publishing house focusing on Canadian aviation history.  Since then, CANAV Books has published 36 Canadian military histories, including the widely-respected Sixty Years -- RCAF & CF Air Command 1924 - 1984.  Larry Milberry is posting a history of CANAV Books on his blog, which you can read at www.canavbooks.wordpress.com At Old Stone Books, we'd like to thank CANAV Books for its excellent contributions to Canadian aviation history for the past four decades.  We wish it many more years of success ahead!  

Covid-19 and tuberculosis

  As the world lives through this pandemic, similarities between Covid-19 and another terrible plague, tuberculosis, come to mind.  Both can be transmitted by air, both attack the lungs, and both commonly cause fever and coughing. Differences include the fact that tuberculosis is a bacterial illness and Covid-19 is a viral one. When scientists discovered antibiotics like streptomycin near the end of WWII, tuberculosis was drastically beaten back, though due to factors like multi-drug resistant strains of the disease, it has not been totally eradicated.   As international scientists work to find a vaccine to battle Covid-19,  we hope that history repeats itself, and that these dedicated men and women quickly find the answer the world awaits.    

Inger Stene Passes Away

We were saddened to learn that Inger (Dietrichson) Stene passed away in Toronto on May 28, 2020, at age 102.   Inger was born in Norway. During World War II, she worked with the Norwegian Resistance fighting the country's Nazi occupiers, until she was forced to flee to Sweden to avoid capture. After the war, Inger married John Magne Stene.  John had been an officer and pilot with the Royal Norwegian Air Force, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross for acts of valour during active operations. Inger and John moved to Toronto, Ontario, in 1956, where Inger worked at the University of Toronto for many years.  John predeceased Inger in 2008. Inger is survived by her step-daughters Sheila Stene and Kristin Basso; her son-in-law Guido Basso; and their half-sisters, Vanessa and Katharine Vansittart. Here is a link to Inger's obituary, which appeared in the Globe & Mail newspaper on June 6, 2020: http://ww.legacy.com/obituaries/Hertheglobeandmail/obituary.aspx?n=inger-stene&pid=196303757&fhid=9911 On a personal note, Inger generously shared her wartime memories with me, while I was writing Exile Air.  She was an elegant, wise, and charming lady. May she rest in peace. (Photo of John and Inger Stene at Little Norway Memorial, Muskoka Airport, 2007.)                        

75th Anniversary of VE Day

May 8, 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of  Victory in Europe Day, when Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to Allied forces following nearly six years of war.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to the cancellation of most public events, Veterans Affairs Canada will be commemorating the day digitally. Here is a link to Veteran Affairs  Canada's website: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/commemorative-events/netherlands-ve-day For my part,  I remember my late father, Andrew Baston, who served in the Canadian Army  during  WWII, and had landed at Juno Beach, Normandy, France, on D-Day plus one.  He was still overseas with the troops on May 8, 1945. In the photo, Dad is on the left.                       

Passing of Oivind Lorentzen Jr.

World TB Day, March 24, 2020

As the world awaits the discovery of a vaccine to combat Covid-19, today we remember another global epidemic, tuberculosis.  March 24, 2020, is World TB Day, commemorating the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacteria which causes tuberculosis. This eventually led to the diagnosing and curing of tuberculosis, though the disease remains the world's No. 1 infectious killer.

Many thanks to the Scarborough Tuesday Probus Club!

It was great to speak to the Scarborough Tuesday Probus Club on Feb. 18, 2020, about Exile Air. The meeting had a Tropical theme, with many straw hats and Hawaiian shirts in view ... the perfect antidote to a wintery day!  Thanks for inviting me!

Upcoming presentation to the Scarborough Tuesday Probus Club

I'm looking forward to speaking about Little Norway and my book, Exile Air: World War II's '"Little Norway" in Toronto and Muskoka, on February 18, 2020, at the Scarborough Tuesday Probus Club. The location is the St. Dunstan of Canterbury Church, 56 Lawson Road, Scarborough, Ontario.  The meeting starts at 10 a.m.  Hope to say hello to many members of the Club!