Foreword
Proud To Be His Kin
It’s entirely possible that early in life I met the legendary “Whispering” Duke Schiller. If that was the case, I probably ignored him. But there was a good reason for doing so if that encounter actually took place – I would have been less than two years of age at the time.
I was born in the summer of 1941 when battles were raging across Europe in a life-and-death struggle to protect democracy from the threatening jackboots of Fascist Germany and Italy. Within months, the conflict would escalate into a world war when the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by 353 aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Navy.
Duke was born to Canadian parents in Onawa, Iowa where his father had a job as a hotel manager that was cut short by illness. The year was 1899 and by the time of his first birthday on July 18, 1900, Duke and family had settled back at the hereditary homestead in Cooksville, Ontario – today part of the City of Mississauga in the Greater Toronto Area of the province. Eventually, Duke married my great-aunt, the former Ada Pearl Greer of Sault Ste. Marie Canada, and spent a fair amount of time in “The Soo” until his tragic and untimely death in 1943.
Sault Ste. Marie was my birthplace as well, and my mother adored Duke. She mentioned many times over the years that, whenever her famous uncle was in town, she made a point of visiting him and her Aunt Ada. His place of lodging on each stopover was the Greer home on Spring Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. That house, for a couple of decades, was “action central” for all the Greer kin and their buddies working as bush pilots out of the local headquarters of the Ontario Provincial Air Service.
Duke had spent four years in the 1920s flying out of The Soo as a pioneer member of that elite group of aviators and had met his future wife at one of the frequent social gatherings in the Northern Ontario city. But by the early 1940s, Duke’s flying experience had expanded to include sometimes-harrowing missions in control of virtually every heavier-than-air machine built up to that point. The intrepid Clarence Alvin “Duke” Schiller had volunteered his decades of flying experience to the war effort by joining the Royal Air Force Ferry Command that delivered vitally needed aircraft to Great Britain from the factories of North America.
As a babe in arms at the time, I could well have been party to a conversation in the spring of 1943 between my mother and her Uncle Duke – a chat that neither of them could have had any idea would be their final farewell to each other – but I of course have no recollection of ever meeting the great man. How I wish I could have talked to him when I reached adulthood. But for a cruel twist of fate, he would only have been in his early 60s when I cut the cake at my 21st birthday party.
What an honour and thrill it would have been to have been regaled first-hand by stories that had made him a flying legend by the time of his death. He could have brought to vivid life the newspaper accounts of such adventures as:
- The times he flew through snow, sleet, high winds and fog to rescue downed airmen;
- The mercy missions he willingly undertook, despite the risks, to save numerous lives;
- His near-death experience of getting into a rumble with rumrunners in The Bahamas;
- The time he raced into a burning building to save the life of a blind man;
- His hobnobbing with the rich and famous as private pilot to a millionaire industrialist;
- The stunt flying that got him into hot water with the authorities time and again.
But a stalled engine over Bermuda and a tactical blunder by a well-meaning soldier on the ground at the island’s air base in Hamilton cut short Duke Schiller’s amazingly colourful career. He had long enjoyed a reputation as a pilot with almost supernatural skills at the controls of any aircraft he climbed into. His ability to meet the many challenges thrown at him as one of those “magnificent men in their flying machines” had captivated newspaper readers and radio listeners around the world for more than two decades.
When “Whispering Duke” Schiller “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” on his first solo flight, he was barely eighteen years of age. At the time, he was receiving his training with the Royal Flying Corps – Canadian component of Great Britain’s fledgling air force at a base near Toronto during the First World War. By 1943, he was ferrying aircraft across the Atlantic – a dream he first had as a youngster when news broke of the Wright brothers’ history-making flight early in the 20th century.
How this universally respected airman went from an unremarkable birth in Iowa to world renown as a “by the seat of his pants” pilot to a tragic – and avoidable – death off the coast of Bermuda is a fascinating tale that it is hoped will keep the memory alive of one of Canada’s greatest aviation pioneers.
Tom Douglas,
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
February 2024
Alex Turner –
I couldn’t put this book down! The life of Duke Schiller is not just about flying; it’s a story of resilience and ingenuity. Tom Douglas has captured the essence of a man who lived on the edge but remained largely unrecognized. This book does justice to his legacy.
Carlo S –
As an aviation enthusiast, I found this book incredibly informative and well-written. The narrative captures the drama and excitement of early flying days and the personal bravery of Duke Schiller. Highly recommended
Grace –
Tom Douglas has crafted a narrative that is as educational as it is entertaining. Learning about Duke Schiller’s contributions to aviation and his adventurous spirit was truly inspiring. This book deserves a spot on every history enthusiast’s shelf.
Mario –
Absolutely fascinating! This book brings the thrilling early days of aviation to life through the adventures of Duke Schiller. Tom Douglas does a brilliant job of painting a vivid picture of a true pioneer. A must-read for anyone interested in the golden age of flight.
Larry –
An exceptional account of an unsung hero in aviation! This book does a stellar job of bringing historical figures to the forefront where they belong. It’s not just a biography; it’s an adventure that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Emma B –
Very compelling and well-researched! I was especially intrigued by the detailed accounts of Duke’s daring rescues and near-death experiences. The narrative feels a bit slow in places, but overall, it’s a great tribute to a forgotten hero.
Maria J –
Interesting biography with a lot of potential. It’s great to see someone shine a light on lesser-known figures in history like Duke Schiller. However, the pacing of the book could be improved to better maintain the reader’s interest throughout. Still, it’s a worthwhile read for those curious about aviation history.
Dick R –
It needed to be written. We need to be reminded of the early days when our pilots developed a natural skill, and flew with daring but with a natural feel for the aircraft.
They flew with a feeling for the weather and the winds, and rode those winds rather than just pushing through them. They developed a healthy respect for Mother Nature. Due to their efforts, we’ve come a long way, and maybe we have become too complacent about technology. Today’s airline pilots are, for the most part, not pilots but computer geeks. Very few can fly the plane manually. Why are we flying into areas of high turbulence and hail? Most pilots can’t fly around these disturbances like they used to.
I can relate to many of Duke’s experiences, having earned my commercial pilot’s licence, single and multi-engine, land and sea. I also hold a Class 1 instrument rating and have owned a number of small aircraft and have flown everything from a Cessna to a De Havilland Beaver. Haven’t wing-walked, or flown under bridges, or across the Atlantic, but have flown in and out of some of the places he did and shared some of his experiences. Yes, I even survived a glassy-water landing when it was pitch dark. It scared the hell out of me for weeks afterwards.
I don’t think this was the easiest book for you to write – but it was worth the effort!
Right Honourable David Johnston –
We so need these profiles in courage stories. They are especially important to young people to help them stand on the shoulders of the giants who have gone ahead.
Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine –
There can never be too many stories of Canadian military heroes. Each one offers a new facet of understanding into the meaning of service and courage and determination. Tom Douglas has brought to life the inspiring story of Whispering Duke Schiller for posterity, for his family and for those who seek to serve.
Jim Poling, Sr –
This book reminds us of our country’s major contributions to early aviation. Duke Schiller, daredevil Ontario bush pilot and commercial aviator, captured the world’s imagination with his daring rescues of people in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. This book is an important piece of Canadian history.
Bob Burt –
In the early to middle years of the last century, the front pages of newspapers were often filled with the exploits of aviator Duke Schiller – his mercy and search and rescue flights, his time as a forest fire-fighting bush pilot and his involvement in both world wars. This book recalls the life and times of the man called Canada’s Greatest Pilot by the New York Times and should make us all a little prouder to be Canadian.
Mary S –
What a fabulous story…your family must be proud of the effort you put into this book to remember a family war hero. I hope this story is told to students in our schools. Telling stories through real people gives a very different perspective on war and the sacrifices made.
Deb K –
Good on you mate!!You are a wonderful writer and always dig under every rock for the facts. You have a way of unzipping the emotional jacket of an event so we can meet the men and women who wear the uniforms and stand in harm’s way.
Debbie E –
Beautiful. I love that you continue to write about our military history. All your books need to get into schools.
Harry van B –
Just finished your book last night Tom. What a gift to his family and also to those interested in his life and aeronautical times! He’s be tickled pink that his great nephew went to such great trouble to help the world remember him. I used to fly Cessena 150s in my late teens and could imagine some of the views he must have had. Canada (and Florida-Caribbean and Europe) would have been so beautiful at the time. He had a great and much too short a life. That he gave so much of himself to help others helped create the stereotype we now have of bush pilots. That’s all part of your wonderful family legacy.
Jim G –
I’ve been reading your book about “Whispering” Duke Schiller and I’m loving it. I can only read about six pages at a time and then I stop and ponder. Whispering Duke Schiller is magnificent. I’m just thoroughly enjoying it. I should mention as well that I have read one of your other books – To Wawa With Love – about four times now and enjoyed it every time. You are a master storyteller.
Ron B –
I read your latest book and I want to congratulate you for a super read.
Not only did I enjoy the life of Duke Schiller, but all the ancillary events that were occurring around his time.
Goodness, he even flew on to Wawa Lake…across the street from my home.
I recall a flight I took to the Soo from Wawa on the passenger service piloted by Keith Messenger back in the early 1960s.
And, for around thirty consecutive years, a bunch of us fishermen flew Otters and Beavers out and back to remote lakes north-east of Wawa.
Thanks again for a job well done, my friend!!
I gave the book to my sister to read since she requested to be informed and entertained as well.
Art Osborne –
I am taking my time to savour the details of “Whispering” Duke. Just when I think he’s managed to get himself out of trouble, he jumps back in the frying pan! The background you provide and detail of events given has me right beside Duke as I read. You give him back his wings!
Ken Ross –
When I was reading the Duke, I thought the research must have taken you almost forever to pull everything together – even though you mention in the book that many of the items came from his logbooks, photo albums, scrapbooks and other material his granddaughter provided to you.
Duke had a wild life – lots of successes mixed with lots of failures. Lots of challenges, lots of down time – and yet he still found time to find love with your great-aunt.
I knew it had to come to an end – he couldn’t live on the edge forever – but how sad and disappointing that his life was taken from him so early due to someone else’s mistake.
Thanks for writing this book. I hope we can look forward to another excellent book in 2025.