List of 150 Alberta Historical People
) Calf Shirt, Snake Charmer from the Kainai First Nation
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- 11) Captain Freddie McCall, DSO, MC and Bar, DFC
- 12) Captain Wilfrid "Wop" Reid May
10) Calf Shirt, Snake Charmer from the Kainai First NationCalf Shirt was a nephew of Chief Calf Shirt (Onistah-Sokaksin), a Blood leader who signed a treaty with the American government in 1855. Calf Shirt, the nephew, took part in several raids against enemy tribes and gained a notable war record. He is best remembered for his role in a major battle between the Cree and the Blackfoot near the site of Lethbridge in 1870. A short time later Calf Shirt was camped near what is now Medicine Hat when both of his parents died. Despondent, he wandered off into the sand hills. There he had a vision in which a rattlesnake came to him in the form of a man and offered to adopt him, saying that all snakes would be his brothers. From then onward Calf Shirt displayed a remarkable skill in handling rattlesnakes in spite of the fact that his tribe loathed and feared them. He had a small snake-pit in his log house and usually carried one of the reptiles inside his shirt. In the 1880s and 1890s his ability was recognized by residents of nearby towns, where he put on demonstrations at 25 cents per spectator. Calf Shirt, said the Macleod Gazette, “claims to have some subtle power over the snakes, and to see him take his present specimen up, she measuring about 3ft. long, catch it by the neck and cram about 8in. of it, the deadliest reptile in America, head downwards down his throat, is calculated to make the marrow in any man’s bones shiver.” In 1888 Calf Shirt established his own band, the Namopisi. He and about 40 followers moved away from the main Blood camps and settled at the northern end of the reserve, close to Lethbridge. From here the chief added to his income by putting on regular snake-handling demonstrations in town. At the same time he was appointed a scout for the North-West Mounted Police and was active in keeping undesirable elements out of the First Nation camps. By Hugh Dempsey 11) Captain Freddie McCall, DSO, MC and Bar, DFCFred (Freddie) Robert Gordon was born in Vernon, BC, on December 4, 1895. The family moved to Calgary in 1905 – the year Alberta officially became a Province. The Great War: On February 16, 1916 McCall enlisted in the Army. He was promoted to Sergeant and sent to England, where he received a Commission and a promotion to Lieutenant. After re-mustering to Royal Flying Corps, he received his wings on November 22, 1917. His first posting took him to France, assigned to No. 13 Squadron (Observation), to fly artillery, observation, and bombing missions. McCall took down his first enemy aircraft while flying a slow, two-place RE-8 observation aircraft, and was awarded the Military Cross and Bar. Then, posted to No. 41 Squadron, he gained further victories flying a SE-5A fighter aircraft and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His official record is 35, with an actual total of 37, including two balloons. He returned to a hero’s welcome as Canada’s fifth ranking air ace in The Great War. Hometown Flying: On return home, he and Edmonton-based WWI pilot “Wop” May barnstormed in JN-4 Curtiss “Jenny” biplanes. When McCall lost an engine while flying at the Calgary Exhibition in 1919, with two young boys as passengers, he expertly set the aircraft onto the canvas top of a merry-go-round. On March 26, 1919, McCall married Genevieve Mullins Strong. They had two children, Geraldine (born 1920) and Fred (1928). Capt. McCall was one of the founders of the Calgary Aero Club, formed in 1919. He also became involved with various Alberta aviation companies and made numerous “amazing” flights, such as transporting nitroglycerine – along with a dozen sticks of dynamite -- from Montana to Calgary in a Stinson Detroiter. In 1935 McCall lost sight in one eye. He relinquished his private license, but kept his Commercial License No. 5 for a keepsake, although his flying career was over. McCall again was called to serve during the Second World War, this time with the BCATP as a Chief Ground Instructor and in Administration (similar to his friend Capt. “Wop” May, who also served in two world wars). McCall died on January 22, 1949, at age 53, but his fame lives on as a “father of aviation in the West, and a pioneer of commercial flying in Western Canada.” In 1956 the City of Calgary renamed the municipal airport “McCall Field.” Also carrying his name is McCall Way, an Electoral District, and McCall Lake Golf Course in NE Calgary. Captain Freddie McCall was inducted as a member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1978. By Shirlee Smith Matheson
In 1903 the family moved to Edmonton. In 1916 Wop signed up in the Army to serve in the First World War. After re-mustering to the Royal Flying Corps in England, he graduated on March 23, 1918, with 5 ½ hours flying time; 39 hours of formation flying and gunnery training saw him posted to 39 Squadron. The aerial fighting was fast and furious, with the famous Baron Manfred von Richtofen (The Red Baron) being an imminent threat. April 21, 1918, May’s diary notes: “Engaged 15-20 triplanes, claimed one. Red triplane on my tail. Guns jammed.” Capt. Roy Brown is credited with bringing down The Red Baron – saving Wop’s life. Captain May won numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Back home, May and Capt. Freddie McCall of Calgary barnstormed around Alberta. Wop and his brother Elgin Court May then formed May Airplanes Ltd. This venture was followed by Commercial Airways Ltd. On January 2, 1929, May and Vic Horner flew diphtheria serum in an Avro Avian to Fort Vermilion, saving many lives. He was the first pilot hired to hunt down a fugitive (The Mad Trapper of Rat River). Wop had married Violet Bode on November 20, 1924. Violet’s and Wop’s son, Denny Reid May, was born May 15, 1935. Daughter Joyce joined the family in 1939. Although he lost an eye (and his pilot’s license) in September 1936, he served during the Second World War as manager of #2 (BCATP) Air Observer School in Edmonton. Following cessation of that war, May became Director of Northern Developments for Canadian Pacific Airlines. Wilfrid “Wop” May died on June 21, 1952, near Provo, Utah, USA, while on a hiking trip with his 17-year-old son Denny. By Shirlee Smith Matheson Download 0.5 Mb. Share with your friends:
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