Memory Project

Barbara Dowd (Primary Source)

Published Online August 10, 2023

Last Edited August 10, 2023

This testimony is part of the Memory Project Archive

Barbara Dowd served in the Women's Division of the Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to her testimony below. 

Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.


Barbara Dowd nee Black is introduced to the white hens that friend Sergent Low (right) "jokingly" refers to as the 'WD's' (Women's Division) at Comox, British Columbia in 1944.
Barbara Dowd nee Black touches the Pacific Ocean for the first time upon being stationed in Patricia Bay, British Columbia in 1943.
Barbara Dowd nee Black (right) and Bertha Martin stand in front of Sir Ernest Petter's cottage, a place used as a holiday retreat for airwomen in Pat Bay, British Columbia in 1944
Barbara Dowd nee Black (left) explores a fishing boat near Courtenay, British Columbia while enjoying some time off from Fighter Operations in 1944.
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The whole idea of fighter operations, and the whole west coast, and all the changes of locality I found absolutely stimulating.

Transcript

I was, when I joined up, Barbara Black, and my number was W311777, Women's Division of the Air Force. I had been born on an Indian reservation in Northern Ontario, and had lived there until my mother insisted we move to Kirkland Lake so I could go to school at age six. And I lived there until I joined up. I had to go to North Bay to join up, and I was taken in. And I did my basic training at Rockcliffe Park airbase, and went into fighter operations, and was sent to Pat Bay in BC. Although I had been given the choice of where to go, I had wanted Halifax. I was the only one from our group to go to Pat Bay. And oh, did I love it! There was a lot for me to learn when I got to Pat Bay. The whole idea of fighter operations, and the whole west coast, and all the changes of locality I found absolutely stimulating. I guess I was very naïve, among other things. In our group at Pat Bay was a Pauleen Bruce, whose father was Nigel Bruce - a Hollywood actor. As a result of that, Lassie, Come Home was filmed in BC. Pauleen, who was a WD with me at Pat Bay, had a part in that movie.