Without the countless snippets of fact given me by a great many persons, this book could not hope to be an accurate account of the men with whom it is concerned. The official records give only the barest of outlines and source books can be inaccurate.
In particular, I am indebted to Air Vice-Marshal McEwen for him invaluable assistance and advice. John Shaw of the Victoria Daily Colonist suggested the columns from which this book developed, and without his generous support it would not have been written. And for their interest and encouragement in what proved to be a lengthy project I should like to thank Al Cheeseman and R.W.W. Robertson of Clarke, Irwin & Company Limited.