McGill Private is named in honour of Air Vice-Marshall Frank Scholes McGill, CB.
Frank Scholes McGill was born in June 1894 in Montreal, graduating from McGill University where he starred in varsity football and hockey, eventually playing professional football for the Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers in a precursor to the CFL. At the outbreak of the First World War, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service, flying anti-submarine missions. In 1918, he was seconded to the US Navy as an instructor, but returned to the UK to resume patrols. Following the war, he served with the Air Force Auxiliary (No. 15 Squadron), as well as, continuing his business interests.
He was called up to active service at the outbreak of the Second World War and became Commanding Officer of No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden followed by an appointment as first Commanding Officer No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands. Further postings followed as Director of Postings and Records at AFHQ, and as Commanding Officer of No. 2 (Movements) Group Headquarters at Halifax and to RCAF Station Trenton in 1942.
In 1943 he was promoted Air Commodore and given command of No. 2 Training Command in Toronto. Following another promotion to Air Vice Marshal, he returned to AFHQ in December 1943, where he remained for the rest of the war as Air Member for Supply and Organization.
McGill retired from the RCAF in 1946, following which he was Director of the Aircraft Production branch of the Department of Defence Production. He died in Montreal in June 1980.
