Jim McCombe

James David McCombe (10 July 1932 – 7 January 2011) was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot who was a commander of the Golden Hawks aerobatics team. His career with the RCAF spanned 23 years.

Early years James David McCombe was born on 10 July 1932 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. After high school graduation from Sault Collegiate High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he entered military service with the RCAF in 1951.

Aviation career Following conversion onto the Canadair F-86 fighter, McCombe was stationed at RCAF Station Chatham, New Brunswick. His first major posting was to No. 3 Fighter Wing in Zweibrücken, West Germany where he served on 434 (F) Squadron. After a transfer back to RCAF Chatham, he would instruct at the OTU on the F-86. In his RCAF career, McCombe would have over 900 hours of aerobatic flying on the Sabre.

Golden Hawks In 1959, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the RCAF and the 50th or "Golden" anniversary of Canadian flight, a team of Canadair F-86 Sabres, the "Golden Hawks" was created to fly at air shows. In February 1959, McCombe was selected by team leader S/L Fern Villeneuve to fly the right wing position on the newly formed team.

McCombe spent three years on the team, his last as team leader in 1961. McCombe eventually would fly in over 200 Golden Hawk air shows.

Later career Following his posting on the Golden Hawks, McCombe transferred in 1961 to CFB Trenton in the Personnel Division but then went to Air Division Headquarters in Metz, France in the same department. In 1966, he spent 9 months at the Army Staff College in Kingston, Ontario, and from there went on to CFB Rivers, Manitoba to fly as an instructor for weapons training and air fighting on Canadair T-33 Silver Star jet trainers.

When McCombe retired from the Forces, he served 12 years with Transport Canada, ending his career there as a Regional Inspector for large aircraft. In 1986, he joined up with the new Air Atlantic as Chief Pilot, reluctantly retiring through disability in 1988.

Personal life McCombe married Ferne . The couple had four children together: Karyn, Sheila, Jim and Bill.

McCombe died on 7 January 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.