People in Radar – Charlie Jackson

Charlie Jackson (RCAF)

Charles Jackson was a local of London, Ontario and student of H.B. Beal High School. He went on to study at the University of Western Ontario and later volunteered for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was interviewed by staff from the Secrets of Radar Museum.

Adapted from his oral history interview:

I still don’t know how a kid from the east side of London, Ontario, ended up doing Top Secret stuff for the RCAF in WWII. I guess it all started at Lorne Avenue P.S.

I graduated with good grades. That got me a spot in a 5-year program at H.B. Beal Secondary School. My marks meant that I could get into a good university if I wanted. Sadly, my parents couldn’t afford to send me, so I took a job that didn’t pay much to try to save up some money.

I can’t quite remember what the job was – it’s been a really long time. I just know I wasn’t at it very long when one of my old tech teachers from Beal dropped by. He wondered why a smart lad like me wasn’t off at university. Then he told me I should go on over to Western and sign up for an electronics course they had there. Said it wouldn’t cost me much. He said I had a knack for electronics, so I would do well.

I thought about it a bit, and figured, “what the heck, why not?!” The worst I could do was fail. So, I went over to the university and signed up.

The course was only 3 months long, but they taught us a lot. The course had some pretty advanced stuff, but, you know me, I like a challenge. I aced the final exam. That was the beginning of my adventure.

Well “our” adventure, I guess. Every one of us that passed was asked to join up with the Air Force. The instructor didn’t tell us what we’d be working on, he just said we’d be “well taken care of”. Sounded interesting, so I signed up.

That was in December of 1940. I was sent out to the Manning Depot in Brandon, Manitoba. Guard duty, of all things! They were building some new bases and I helped guard them. Did that for the rest of the winter and into spring.

Next thing you know, its summer. I’m on a ship headed over to England. We came pretty close to not making it. We were a few days out when our convoy of 30 ships was attacked during the night.

Listen to Charlie’s account with a transcript

When we woke up the next morning we’d lost about 10 ships, mostly carrying oil or airplanes. The rest of the boats high-tailed it for Reykjavik, Iceland. We stayed the couple of days to recover our wits, then it was off to Scotland.

We did our final bit of training in RAF Prestwick. It was a little confusing at first. Their circuit diagrams used different terms and symbols. I asked a very nice Englishman to help me “translate” them. Once I figured out what was what, the course was a breeze. There were 120 of us in that course, I was one of only 20 who passed.

Turns out the RAF thought I was too good to send into the field, so they sent me off to RAF Cranwell to learn about the Chain Home system. Then I was sent over to Yatesbury to train the new batch of Canadians.

After 2 years of not getting promoted in the RAF (my CO didn’t like promoting us Canucks), I asked for a transfer.

I was promoted to “temporary sergeant” and given a bump in pay (and responsibility). I spent the next while on a bunch of different Chain Home Low stations before I was sent home to Canada.

They wanted me to teach, and said I could pick wherever I wanted. So I told them I’d love to be at RCAF Clinton. It was close to home and family. I stayed there for the rest of the war, which was okay with me.

After the war when the government asked if I’d like a house or an education, I picked an education. I got my Master’s degree in Radio Electronics at the University of Western Ontario here in London.

I decided I liked teaching so much that I kept at it. I taught at Ryerson U and the Hamilton Institute of Technology. Then I retired back home to London. After 96 years, I think it’s been a pretty good life, so far.