Pacific Airways Ltd.
British Columbia, Canada
Company started in 1921 by Major Donald R. MacLaren
Sold to Western Canada Airways May 1, 1928
Company Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Western Airlines later became Canadian Airways Ltd.
Photo of Vancouver Harbour taken by Pacific Airways Ltd.
Postcard courtesy Grant Walker, CA
Photos like the one above, were taken by the new Fairchild and Eastman Aerial Cameras at that time
The Curtiss HS-2L, Flying Boat he used, had a 400 hp Liberty engine.
He bought one of the HS-2L’s in Baltimore.
Planes they used:
G-CACM- Curtiss HS-2L
G-CAEP- Curtiss JN-4A
G-CAFE- Curtiss HS-2L
G-CAFH- Curtiss HS-2L
Genealogy and Bio
Wing Commander, Major Donald Roderick MacLaren
b- May 28, 1893, in Ottawa ON
d- July 4, 1988, in Vancouver BC, age 96
Buried in Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby
Enlisted in WWI, occupation- surveyor
Became 4th Ranking War Ace
Awarded D.S.O., M.C. and Bar, and D.F.C.
He was also awarded the 'French Legion of Honour' and 'Croix de guerre' both from France.
He was the Owner, and Pilot Manager, of Pacific Airways Ltd.
He was a Royal Flying Corps WWI Ace
He was also President of the New Aero Club of BC, in Vancouver,
It was the First Airplane Club in BC, and had 200 members.
Superintendent of Canadian Airways Ltd. until 1937,
Became an Airline Executive with Air Canada after that.
He also Established the Air Cadet League of Canada in 1941.
First Squadron in Winnipeg.
wife (1)- Verna Gladys Harrison
b- Jan 13, 1894 Tiberton ON
d- Nov 9, 1968 in Sidney BC, age 74
daughter of Richard Frank Harrison and Flora Ann McIntyre
shown married to her in 1921 census
she was living in Calgary when they wed.
They had 2 sons
wife (2)- Alice Bryden
Father- Robert James MacLaren
b- Jan 23, 1865 in Cobden ON
d- Jan 1, 1952 in Vancouver BC, age 86
next of kin for Donald, 2798 Yale st., Vancouver
1911- Real Estate in Calgary AB
Retired Oil Geologist when he died
1901 and 1911 family in Calgary AB
Family moved to Vancouver in 1912
Mother- Mary Jane MacLaren, nee MacDonald
b- Feb 10, 1868 in ON
shown Mary J. in 1901 census
Jeanie in 1911 census
Catherine in Robert's death cert
Her father- Donald MacDonald living with them in 1911, b- June 1827 in ON
Grandfather- Robert MacLaren, b- ON
Grandmother- Jane Bain, b- Scotland
sister- Isabel MacLaren
b- Sept 20, 1891 in ON
sister- Jennie MacLaren
b- Jan 11, 1896 in ON
brother- Roy MacLaren
b- Jan 1897, ON
1921, living with mother and father in Vancouver
External Links
Note- not my sites
Good info on MacLaren
http://www.constable.ca/caah/maclaren.html
