Flew with Wright Bros. Wing Cmdr. Foley Dies
Item
Title
Flew with Wright Bros. Wing Cmdr. Foley Dies
Description
Wing Commander . Royden Foley, who learned to fly with the Wright Brothers on Long Island, died today at his residence, 213 Delaware Avenue. Born in Saint John, N.B., Wing Commander Foley graduated from the Pratt Institute of Technology in New York. Shortly after graduation, he joined. Orville and Wilbur Wright in their flying experiments at Mineola Field, Long Island . In 1916, he joined the Royal Flying Corps, the predecessor of the RAF, and served withSquadron 241 on naval reconnaissance. AFTER THE WAR, he returned to Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Auxiliary Air Force. He became a member of the 19th (now 119th) Bomber Squadron in Hamilton and was second in command under Squadron Leader Norman MacGregor, DFC. When World War II broke out, Wing Commander Foley was sent to Windsor to open an RCAFrecruiting centre. Later, he moved to Ottawa on special assignments and finally to Vancouver, where he was associated with the seaplane base at Jericho Beach. He was then assigned to the first elementary flying training school opened at Malton under the British Commonwealth. Air Training Plan. In 1942, he was promoted from the rank of squadron leader to wing commander. He was a member of the Church of St. Thomas. Surviving are his wife, the former Kathleen Obridge; one son, Paul of Burlington; four brothers, Roland of Hamilton, Samuel of Toronto, and James and Fenwick of Saint John, N.B.; and two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Eckebrecht of Oakville and Mrs. Ada Trainor of Port Hawksburgh, Cape Breton Island. The body is at the Blach-Ford, and Wray Chapel for service on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.
Identifier
022.016.058