Our City: Lieutenant Roland Groome’s Aviation Legacy

Written By Kelsey Longmoore

Roland J. Groome pictured in his youth. Credit: Saskatchewan Archives.

The city of Regina has a proud legacy of Canadian aviation - all thanks to Regina citizen, Lieutenant Roland Groome. As a founder of the Aerial Service Co., Universal Air Industries, and the Regina Flying Club, he was able to achieve many aviation firsts for the country of Canada. This is his story. 

Born July 10 1897 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK, Roland Groome moved with his family to the city of Regina in 1908 where he attended Albert Public school as an adolescent. His passion for aviation began in the summer of 1911 when the first visiting aero plane flew over Regina’s fairground when he was just 14. This sparked his passion for flying, so while WW1 was ongoing he answered the call to serve by working as a mechanic and then as a flying instructor for the Royal Flying Corps military flying school at Camp Mohawk in southern Ontario from early 1917 until the armistice on November 11 1918. 

Group photograph of the Aerial Service Co., 1920. Credit: Saskatchewan Archives.

When the war concluded he returned to Regina alongside friends he made during his service, Edward Clarke and Robert McCombie. Together they founded a small firm which they named the Aerial Service Co. in 1919. That year, Groome purchased a war surplus JN-4 Canuck biplane from a Saskatoon dealer and flew it home with partner Edward Clarke. This aircraft would become Canada’s first registered commercial aircraft, licence number G-CAAA. While flying the plane home, he also flew the very first intercity air mail in Saskatchewan between Regina and Saskatoon. This air mail consisted of a letter for the Mayor of Regina from Saskatoon’s Mayor.

Roland Groome’s Commercial Air Pilot license, 1920. Credit: Saskatchewan Archives.

Other achievements made by Roland Groome and his firm include the claiming of several aviation firsts for Canada. In April 1920 Groome became the first licensed commercial pilot in Canada. His partner and mechanic Robert McCombie claimed Canada’s first air engineer license. In 1927, Groome set up a second aviation firm with partner Jack Wright called Universal Air Industries with a new airfield that they set up which they named the “Lakeview Aerodrome” in what’s now Regina’s Lakeview district. This airfield was established as Canada’s first licensed aerodrome. During the same year, Roland Groome helped found the Regina Flying Club which is still active today over 90 years later, where they train dozens of new pilots each year! Their training takes place at the Regina International Airport, which is now named the Roland J. Groome Field in honour of their founder. Also named after him are Groome Avenue and Groome Park in the Regina community of Harbour Landing since the community gets its name from the Lakeview aerodrome that used to be in that location and was dubbed an ‘air harbour’. 

Lieutenant Roland Groome remained a flying instructor for the Regina Flying Club until his death in September 1933. Groome and his student, Arnold Sym, were tragically killed due to the malfunctioning control rod in their Avro Avian. The pair crashed and perished just outside Regina. Aviators across western Canada came to mourn him as he was respected and well known in their community due to his many years as an instructor and his radio broadcasts on aviation. 

Regina Flying Club, 1927. Credit: Regina Flying Club Official Website.

Groome’s aviation legacy continued to inspire other feats of flight within the province, including Regina citizen George Speers creating the first air ambulance service in Saskatchewan in 1936. Furthermore, Saskatchewan had the first squadron of smoke jumpers in Canada from 1947-1966. It seems that Saskatchewans’ wide open spaces make it the perfect grounds for flight. 

Kelsey Longmoore
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