Memorial Cross...Post Vietnam

Canadian Memorial Cross to Captain Ronald "Buck" McBride. Killed in Italy in 1976 while on a rescue mission. I just obtained this little group and thought it quite interesting. He is the only helicopter casualty in the RCAF while on overseas duty. Captain McBride was on duty with the 444th in Lahr, Germany when an earthquake brought his unit to Italy on a rescue mission. His helicopter struck a steel cable and he was killed in the crash. Captain McBride was awarded the Italian Medal of Valor and the Canadians named the HQ at C.F.B. Toronto in his honor.
Accompanying McBrides named Canadian Memorial Cross is his 444th shoulder flash & padded RCAF wing, original photo's of the dedication of the HQ in his name with the ceremony program, a photo montage on McBride, research, and a copy of the Sentinelle magazine with an article on McBride's honor.

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Cracking group, rare stuff Funnily enough, my CO is a Capt. McBride

[Tony Farrell]

A very scarce acquisition to a CH136 jockey you have there. I'd be interested to know how many post '45 Crosses have been bestowed.

[Greeves]

Very nice cross and paperwork! Funnily enough I was living on base at CFB Lahr when this accident occurred - I don't remember the actual event as I was only 3 years old at the time,but I do remember my father telling me about it a year or two later. He worked closely with helicopter squadrons, being the brigade ops officer, and so knew many of the pilots.

As for your question, Tony, it's a good one. Haven't been able to nail it down yet - I did find out that approximately 1 600 Canadians have died on duty post-war, but not all of them would have qualifed, naturally. 516 died in Korea, 120 on UN Peacekeeping ops and 7 in Afghanistan. Many of these soldiers would have qualified - but then there are those, like Capt. McBride, who died on operations that were neither, war, nor peacekeeping related, but still entitled the widows/mothers to the cross. Hopefully someone has the number...Adam Haslett?!

Very nice cross and paperwork! ...approximately 1 600 Canadians have died on duty post-war, but not all of them would have qualifed, naturally. 516 died in Korea, 120 on UN Peacekeeping ops and 7 in Afghanistan. Many of these soldiers would have qualified - but then there are those, like Capt. McBride, who died on operations that were neither, war, nor peacekeeping related, but still entitled the widows/mothers to the cross.

Can someone elaborate on exactly what the qualifications are for the cross. I know KIA but as noted, McBride was killed in combat.

[Greeves]

Here are the criteria straight from the horse's mouth:

http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/adm...o/018-19_e.asp

From this reading you can see that McBride would be eligible for operations undertaken under the auspices of NATO (ie Helicopter Squadron tasked to NATO on a rescue OP).

[Adam H]

An interesting cross, I remember seeing it around in recent memory.

McBride was entitled as he died on active ops...rather than of causes not directly related to his service (disease, etc, etc.)

I am not aware of the exact number of Memorial Crosses awarded for post 1945 deaths and suspect that official figures may be clouded due to the numerous crosses issued for deaths with "war related causes" that were issued to NOK post war. Certainly a Memorial Cross awarded to a Canadian Miltiary Member for a Peacekeeping Op is far more scarce (and interesting IMHO) than one for a vet who passed away long after cessation of hostilities...but having said that these less glamorous crosses often hold interesting stories themselves.

When I was in Lahr, my hockey coach was a 444 Squadron pilot...and many of my friends' fathers were members of the squadron. Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing this emotive group. I wonder, did McBride have any other medals? Certainly he would have qualified for the SSM...although this medal was introduced after his death.

Cheers,

Adam