By: Matthew Marcone
The Hamlet of Fort Vermilion hosted a special ceremony unveiling the Wop May Memorial Airport, which was officially renamed from Fort Vermilion Airport on Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Wilfred Reid “Wop” May is perhaps best known for evading The Red Baron during World War II in his first aerial combat mission. The chase ended in the historic death of the infamous German ace, with May later becoming an ace himself and returning to Canada as a hero. He founded Canada’s first airline company, “May Airplanes,” which operated out of a field on the St. Albert’s Trail and is also considered to be the founder of Canada Search and Rescue.
May’s contribution to Fort Vermilion dates back to a diphtheria outbreak in Little Red River in 1928, which had killed one man in Little Red River and had another 40-60 people in critical condition.
“Dr. Hammond was based in St. Theresa’s Hospital in Fort Vermilion at that time, and two people from Little Red River, William and Bobby Gray, were also heroes of this diphtheria outbreak,” said Danny Friesen, a Fort Vermilion resident who was emceeing the renaming ceremony. “In December 1928, they traveled in -40 degree weather by horse and by foot into Fort Vermilion to inform the doctor of the outbreak. He recognized a need for the antitoxin and arrangements were made for it to be carried to Peace River.”
William Lambert and Joe Lafleur then travelled 280 miles over 12 days to Peace River by dog sled and foot in order to notify health authorities in Edmonton and request help. At one point, Lafleur fell through the ice and the two were forced to head back to Fort Vermilion, however they were able to regroup and fight through temperatures as low as -50 to eventually reach Peace River.
When word of the outbreak reached Edmonton, May was visiting family in Calgary and upon being notified, did not hesitate and immediately started preparing with Vic Horner to make a 500 mile open cockpit mercy flight into Fort Vermilion.
“The serum was actually wrapped in a blanket with a charcoal heater because they were told the serum was not to get cold under any circumstance,” said Denny May, Wop’s son, who flew into Fort Vermilion to participate in the airport renaming event. “They put that parcel in the little compartment, took off and somewhere along the way, and we don’t know where, the package and charcoal heater caught fire. They had to land the plane somewhere, take the parcel out, get rid of the burning blanket, and then took it the rest of the way in their armpits and between their legs.”
They struggled along battling freezing temperatures and arrived in Fort Vermilion on January 3, 1929 to temperatures of -47.
“May’s 1929 flight enabled the community of Fort Vermilion to receive and distribute medicine required to fight an infectious disease diphtheria, saving many lives,” said Bill Neufeld, Reeve of 37 years for Mackenzie County. “In 1929, the Fort Vermilion Airport did not exist. May landed on the frozen Peace River. Today the airport sees increased aviation activity, and Mackenzie County is investing in many improvements at this airport, including enhancing operator and user safety, operator maintenance training, new weather operational systems, new PAPI landing lights and improving its sustainable development.”
May left Fort Vermilion on January 6 and returned to Edmonton to a media frenzy with 10,000 people waiting for them at the airport.
“The press had got on to the story, newspaper headlines were saying the government was stupid sending these two men on this mercy mission, that we guarantee they’re never going to return and will die on this flight,” said Denny May. “The press caught onto this and word spread across North America, even attracting a photographer from New York City to do the story. It was quite an event.”
Wop May’s story has also been immortalized in the Stompin Tom Connors song, “Wop May.”
Denny May cut the ceremonial ribbon for the Wop May Memorial Airport in Fort Vermilion at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Fort Vermilion and Area Board of Trade hosted the celebration with Mackenzie County and several community volunteers. The event featured a community barbeque and fundraiser, ribbon cutting, ceremonial flights and several family activities.