Ken Lett

Ken Lett’s aviation career began as an RCAF fighter pilot during the Second World War, during which he flew Supermarine Spitfires with 402 Squadron. On D-Day, Ken flew top cover at Normandy for the attacking Allied troops. Continuing with the RCAF after 1945, he climbed the ranks, eventually retiring as a Major-General. Ken flew Vampires, the F-86 Sabre, the CF-104 Starfighter, and the CF-101, among other aircraft over the course of his postwar career. As part of Canada’s commitment to NATO, he was posted to 3 Wing, Zweibrucken as Officer Commanding Training Flight, and was promoted to Squadron Leader of 416 Squadron a few years later. After a stint at the Staff College, now Wing Commander Ken Lett was posted to Cold Lake, Alberta. He returned to Germany in 1963 before being posted to Ottawa at Air Defence Command Headquarters the following year. By 1970, Ken was made a Brigadier-General; four years later he was Chief of Staff Operations in Germany and in 1976 he became Chief of Staff at NORAD Headquarters in Colorado. In retirement, Ken remained in aviation, starting several aviation companies including the commercial charter Executive Flight Centre and, later, Executive Flight Centre Fuel Services Ltd.