09/06/2026
Article found in Le Devoir, September 28, 1944, translated by Francois Dutil, 438 Squadron Historian. (Thank you, Frank!)
TRANSLATION:
The first part is about the 143 Wing chaplain. They say squadron chaplain, but I very much doubt individual squadrons each had their own…
An interview with the Reverend Father Squadron Leader Rene Michaud – From chemistry to Typhoons. – An emulator of Madame de Sévigné
With the RCAF, in France, 28 (despatch held back). – The chaplain of a Typhoon squadron, Squadron Leader René Michaud, of the Clerics of Saint Viator, of Montreal, is particularly happy to be in France. We shook his hand, the other day, has we passed in front of his tent. He is such a talented conversationalist that one isn’t sure whether or not it’s time to take our leave to allow him to return to his multiple tasks.
The R.F. Michaud taught chemistry and physics at the Gaspé Seminary prior to enlisting in the RCAF. He was also the seminary’s recruiter and the Gaspesie region people remember often seeing him with His Eminence Monsignor F.-Ross doing many visits with the goal of finding vocations.
In France, in addition to taking care of the spiritual well-being of the airmen, the R.F. Michaud also accepted to fulfill the duties of parish priest in Lantheuil, a small village of 500 people. He sings the parish mass at 9h each Sunday then celebrates low mass for 2 squadrons. He knows all the airmen and is a keen psychologist. In 2 or 3 sentences he describes a character with the depth of a observer experienced in the human spirit.
Like all thoughtful people, Father Michaud thinks of the post war period. He stresses the fact the war allowed Canadians of the 2 languages to better know each other. In the air force, French Canadians learned the English language and got used to speaking it.
And also, he continues, I’m convinced voyages (abroad) are enormously good for our boys. They broaden their horizons. Our boys now ponder on the world’s problems from a new angle. Many would’ve never seen Europe if they hadn’t donned the uniform.
In the opinion of the R.F. Michaud, Canadian airmen took advantage of the opportunity of their time abroad, especially in Great Britain, to more widely promote their own country.
NOTE: Lantheuil was where advanced airfield B9 was, it was 143 Wing’s first foothold on the continent from 27 June to 30 August 1944.
2nd part.
A letter writer
I am now going to introduce you to an emulator of Madame de Sévigné, then tells us the R.V. Michaud. It was about Leading Aircraftsman Yves Brosseau, an ex Royal Bank cashier, of the Place d’Armes branch in Montreal. He writes splendid letters says the padre. As I am a censor, I know a thing or two about it.
Leading Aircraftman Yves Brosseau is a tall chap with a friendly demeanor, who honestly laughs at the father’s jokes at his expense. What do you want? He says, I really like writing and my family is so interested in the events I relate to them that I include all the details on everything going on.
NOTE: Madame (the Countess of) de Sévigné was well known for her long detailed letters.
3rd part.
And the parachutes.
If there exists a more than conscientious aviator, it is certainly Leading Aircraftman Hector Favreau, of St. Remi de Napierville Quebec, who takes care of the maintenance of the parachutes. This is what he told us the other day:
“The folding and maintenance of parachutes are tasks that cannot be taken lightly and require complete attention. We hold the lives of our pilots in our hands. When one of them comes to see me and I hand him his parachute, I’m convinced the apparatus, should he require to use it, will work like a charm. So many lives have been saved in the war thanks to parachutes! When I sign the chute packer’s ID card, I am positive everything is a perfect state.”
