Maurice D’Arcy Allen Fallow

Maurice D'Arcy Alien Fallow was born on September 5, 1913, in Vermilion, Alberta. In 1937 he received his Private Pilot's Licence under the direction of Maurice Moss Burbidge at the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club.

In 1942 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). When he had completed his training, he became an instructor and served at Nos. 9, 16, and 6 Service Flying training Schools.

At the end of the war in 1945, Fallow returned to Edmonton, Alberta, and founded Western Aero Motive which offered flying training and aircraft maintenance. The next year he established a flying school at Vermilion and barnstormed the country fair circuit in eastern Alberta.

In 1948 Fallow joined the Edmonton Flying Club as its Secretary-Manager, and served the club with great distinction until his death in 1971. During this period he was awarded the Yorath Trophy eight times in the period from 1950 to 1958. The Yorath Trophy was originated and sponsored by Dennis K. Yorath while he was President of the Royal Canadian Flying Clubs Association (RCFCA) during 1947 - 1949. Its purpose was to stimulate, at the management level, active competition among flying clubs across Canada. The trophy was presented annually by the RCFCA to the Flying Club Manager who best utilized the facilities of his club.

As proof of Fallow's administrative ability, the Edmonton Flying Club's membership grew from 154 to 1,500 members, becoming the largest flying club in Canada. He won the RCFCA Best Club Bulletin Shield ten times in the period from 1950 - 1967 for the Edmonton Flying Club's 'Slipstream' publication, judged most effective in communicating with club membership.

As well as excelling in the field of administration, Fallow remained a top flight instructor, setting the standards for the training of Air Cadets on scholarships from the Air Cadet League of Canada. He was also capable of leading prospective pilots from initial training to Airline Transport Ratings. He maintained his Senior Commercial Pilot's Licence up to the time of his death.

In 1951 Fallow became the first Canadian to be elected President of the International Northwest Aviation Council (INAC). His promotion of flight training and safety was recognized when he was awarded the RCFCA Gold Medal in 1959.

In February 1967, a disastrous fire destroyed the Edmonton Flying Club. Fifteen aircraft and all of the Club's assets were lost - everything the Club had built up since it was formed in 1927 as the Edmonton & Northern Alberta Aero Club. Fallow's leadership qualities showed when he was able to have the Club back in operation within a few days, operating out of a trailer and using borrowed training aircraft.

Fallow died suddenly in Edmonton on May 22, 1971. In 1975 he was posthumously named one of the first recipients of INAC's Roll of Honour Award for his promotion of the field of aviation, and particularly the public's understanding and acceptance of aviation's value to the community.

Maurice D'Arcy Alien Fallow was inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1992 at a ceremony held in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.