Description
Mrs. Sallaway explains the process used to refuel aircraft within the airport hangers
Marjorie Sallaway
Mrs. Marjorie Sallaway was born in 1924 in Courtney, British Columbia. Growing up close to the Tofino Airport gave her the desire to join the air force. Mrs. Sallaway went to Victoria, BC and took a driver’s test and later became a Motor Transport Driver with the Women’s Division, Royal Canadian Air Force. Mrs. Sallaway received her basic training at Rockcliffe base in Ottawa and after three years transferred to Mountain View air base where she remained until her discharge. She held rank of Leading Air Woman. After her discharge from the Air Force, Mrs. Sallaway returned to her home province, British Columbia.
Transcript
Well 7 o’clock, there was four of us girls that had refuelling tenders. We used to pick them up in the garage and, of course, they’re all ready to get in and go out because when we finish for the day we always had to back it in between these two pillars. In case there was a fire they could just push it out of the garage. And they were big refuelling tenders and then we were all had certain hangars, there was six hangars there and we each had a hangar and I refuelled Ansons, Lysanders, Harvards and Boeing Boats (sp) and it was very difficult when there was snow and ice underneath so your big truck was full of fuel that you didn’t slip into the wings. And you had to watch the control tower, where they were coming in at because as the wind changed they would come at a different angle so we would have to go down the tarmac a certain way.