Captain Roy Maxwell is an intriguing figure in Canadian Aviation History. His accomplishments are many.
Some of these accomplishments are the stuff of which legends are made.
From: drgalway@hotmail.com
To: leslie.balla094@sympatico.ca
After Maxwell resigned from OPAS in 1935, he was a consultant to E.P. Taylor, Frank Common et al, Directors of British North American Aviation Company (BNAA).Subsequently he became engaged in commercial Fishery operations for several years as partner in Baillie/Maxwell Air Services. Maxwell received a monopoly to trade for Sturgeon & Caviar in the Albany River Basin. The Air Service was based in Nakina, Ontario but the operations centered around Ogoki Post and the upper Albany River. This item is somewhat ironic inasmuch as it was the Mitch Hepburn Government who granted the License. This enterprise was bought by Austin Airways in 1942. Prior to its sale, Maxwell had joined the Royal Canadian Air Force(1939)reaching the rank of Wing Commander.
Source: Canadian Bush Plane Heritage Centre & Bruce West)
William Roy Maxwell in the RCAF.
His service number was C1437. He enlisted as an Administrative Officer, 4 December 1939. Posted to Western Air Command, 2 December 1940.
As of 1 May 1941 he was a Squadron Leader; promoted Wing Commander, 15 January 1942. To Station Tofino, 3 December 1942.
Reverted to Squadron Leader, 15 January 1943. Resigned commission, 26 April 1943.
Source Hugh A. Halliday Jan 10, 2013
Wm. Roy Maxwell died in Toronto, Ontario of Cerebral Vascular Disease in the Red Chevron Hospital on March 15, 1946 at age 54.His good friend and flying companion, Toronto Star Reporter, Fred Griffin, died in January of the same year.
Sources: Ken Molson, Bruce West and Toronto Star Achives
It is this writers considered opinion that notwithstanding the allegations of impropriety by the "Hepburn/Lang Commission" of 1934, they in no way should diminish
the day to day aviation accomplishments of Roy Maxwell as consistently displayed over a period of over 25 years.
His contributions to Canadian commercial Aviation through his endeavors at Laurentide Air Service alone are sufficient to qualify him as a respected member of
the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. To judge otherwise not only diminishes the achievements of Captain Roy Maxwell but does an injustice to the CAHF by putting
in question the credibility of its nomination process.
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