Soward Hall

In recognition of his achievements during his naval service, the Shearwater Aviation Museum has generously dedicated the renaming of the West Wing to "Soward Hall". Soward, Stuart Edward (1924 - 2011) from Vancouver, enlisted in the RCAF in June1943 for pilot training. In 1945, he enlisted in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as a pilot, and transferred to the RCN. He had a rewarding career as an operational naval pilot having flown 15 different aircraft, and flying fighter and ASW aircrafts aboard all three of Canadas' aircraft carriers, participating in the Cold War with NATO forces. In 1954, Stu was commended by the Chief of the Naval Staff for his invention and development of an improved aircraft night landing signal system. Following command of the West Coast Naval Air Squadron and Staff appointments, he retired in 1970 at Victoria as Lieutenant Commander. From 1987, Stu wrote and published a total of four books over the next eight years. All were on the subject of Canadian Naval Aviation history and related flying activities. In 1988, focusing his interest in Lt Gray's heroic exploit, he initiated a project to erect a memorial at Onagawa Bay, Japan where Gray was killed. With strong support from the Canadian Embassy Tokyo, the monument was unveiled on August 9, 1989. Accordingly, Stu was awarded the Naval Officers' Association of Canada Medal For Exemplary Achievement in Service to NOAC and Canada. In 1995, Stu was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, recognizing the efforts of those Veterans who in an exemplary way have contributed to the remembrance of the sacrifices and achievements of Canadians in armed conflict on behalf of Canadian Veterans.