Jim McCombe

James David "Jim" 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 Soo Collegiate 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 Zweibrucken, 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.