At 103 years old, former WWII bomber pilot Reg Crash Harrison is still reading about aviation adventures

Whenever I am in Saskatoon, which is about 250 kilometres north of where I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, I visit my friend and former book subject Reginald "Crash" Harrison. I wrote Reg's life story in the award-winning book Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death, and I always enjoy our visits.

Now at 103 years and two months old, Reg admitted to me, "I think my old age is finally catching up with me."

"Oh my goodness, Reg. You're 103. I suppose it's bound to happen."

This feisty gentleman survived four plane crashes (none of which were his fault) as a bomber pilot during the Second World War. He has a remarkable recall of those events and was a pleasure to interview during the process of writing, editing, and publishing that book. Reg met his late wife as part of his war story, which turned into a beautiful love story and is also detailed in our book. 

Author-publisher Deana J Driver
and 103-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
Saskatoon, SK, Canada, Oct. 5, 2025

Reg still reads every day, even though he's lost some eyesight and some of his previous physical strength, despite lifting eight-pound weights daily for the last few decades. He still follows Canadian news and events, and enjoys watching Toronto Blue Jays games on TV.

During my recent visit, I brought Reg a copy of my latest book, Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures, which I co-authored with the book's subject, Dorrin Wallace. I knew Reg would enjoy the book because he has a vast collection of aviation and war history books that he still refers to in conversation.

Reg immediately took the book over to his screen magnifier and placed it under the viewing device. It was such a delight to watch this unfold!

Reg "Crash" Harrison, getting his first look at Deana Driver's new book
by Dorrin Wallace,
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures

Reg "Crash" Harrison, looking at the cover page of
Deana Driver's new book by Dorrin Wallace,
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures

Reg is a member of the renowned Guinea Pig Club because he received experimental plastic surgery on a wound he suffered during the Second World War. He was also named an Honorary Snowbird by the Canadian Forces aerobatic team, which presented him on his 100th birthday with the metal plaque seen behind Reg and me in the top photo.

Honorary Pilot, SPS Air Support Unit plaque for Reg "Crash" Harrison

Reg's latest accolade came from the Saskatoon Police Service, which named him an Honorary Pilot of their Air Support Unit on the day before his 103rd birthday. Reg was delighted to show off the award, which adds to all the others adorning his apartment walls.

Well earned, kind sir. It's always a pleasure to see you.

Deana J Driver and Reg "Crash" Harrison, age 103,
Oct 5, 2025

Fun book launches should always begin with an author pilot flying in on a Cessna

The latest book I've published has led to numerous "firsts" during my 24 years as an author, editor, and independent Canadian book publisher. Here is a snapshot of what happened during an exciting two weeks launching Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures with the book's subject and author, Dorrin Wallace.

This is the first time I've co-authored an entire book, although I've written five nonfiction books as the sole author and contributed pieces to more than a dozen other Canadian books. So that's been fun!

Dorrin's anecdotes about his 40 years as a bush pilot taught me a lot about what it takes to safely fly airplanes through inclement weather, landing on windy or frozen lakes or small airfields while avoiding trees, rocks, and the occasional animal that crosses the runway while the plane is landing! I've published four other books about aviation adventures (Flight: Stories of Canadian Aviation, Volumes 1 to 3, plus Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death), but this detailed look at being a pilot and aircraft maintenance engineer has given me a first-person look at being a solo pilot. 

Evan Bray with Dorrin Wallace and Deana J Driver
Oct. 1, 2025

Dorrin and I were invited to talk about our book launch on the Evan Bray Show on CJME/ CKOM radio. I've been interviewed several times on the John Gormley Show, the predecessor to this talk show, but this was my first time as a guest on Evan Bray's show. What fun! Listen to the October 1st audio clip.

To get from his home in Saskatoon to the radio studio in Regina for the interview, Dorrin asked his friend Murray Louden to fly him south to Regina in Murray's Cessna 180. That's the second time an author of mine has come to Regina on an aircraft to promote their book. In November 2023, Romie Christie flew to Regina from Calgary, Alberta, to launch her inspiring book about her parents' war story/love story, See You in Le Touquet: A Memoir of War and Destiny. But this was the first time a small aircraft was "chartered" for a radio show interview promoting one of the books I've published! So cool. 

I picked up Dorrin at the Regina airport, and away we went to the CJME studio. After the radio show, we returned to the Regina Flying Club, where we signed boxes of books to send to retailers. That was a first-time experience at that location! Thanks to Murray for arranging the space with the accommodating staff of the Flying Club. 

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver
at the Regina Flying Club

As Dorrin and Murray prepared to go back to Saskatoon, I asked if I could walk out to the airplane with them, which I did. I took their photos in front of Murray's Cessna, to be used specifically in this blog post. Another first!

Murray Louden with his Cessna and author Dorrin Wallace

Dorrin Wallace with the Cessna C-FPXT

As we walked to the Cessna, Dorrin told me a great story about Murray's Cessna, which Dorrin flew as a bush pilot in northern Saskatchewan!

"When Murray told me he bought C-FPXT, I said, 'I know that plane. The last time I flew it, it was loaded with 1,000 pounds of moose meat." On that trip in 1974, Dorrin was flying from Uranium City to Prince Albert with the aircraft overloaded.

Dorrin smiled as he told me, 'Some guys on the dock wanted to make me a bet that I couldn't get airborne, because of the weight of the moose meat and the full tanks of gas. I told them to save their money, I would get airborne, and I did." But it wasn't an easy task, explained Dorrin. "I climbed for 150 miles to get up to altitude. I should have been at altitude at 10 miles. I was about 700 pounds overloaded for that airplane." Oh, my.

Dorrin Wallace, about to board Murray's plane

Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North - A Bush Pilot's Adventures
by Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver
published by DriverWorks Ink, DRIVERWORKS.CA

A few days after the radio interview, my beau, Marlowe, became my chauffeur and assistant for the book launch at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum in Saskatoon, about 270 km northwest of Regina. This was the first time that I had Marlowe's presence and support at a book launch! I am grateful that he took photos and videos of the event so I could focus on the proceedings. I am also grateful to the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild for author reading assistance for this event and to Creative Saskatchewan for book publishing production assistance of Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North!

The Saskatchewan Aviation Museum and Learning Centre, Saskatoon, SK

Surprisingly, this was the first time someone took photos (or perhaps the first time someone showed me photos) of me as I was deep in conversation with the author before an event! Thanks, Marlowe, for that reminder of some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into launching a book.

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver
at the launch of their book
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures

Thank you to everyone who came to our
Saskatchewan Aviation Museum book launch of
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North!

Author Dorrin Wallace with book cover photographer Roberta Wells
and co-author/publisher Deana J Driver of DriverWorks Ink

It was nice to meet Roberta Wells, the woman who took the photo of Dorrin and the DC-3 (also known as a Gooney Bird) that we used on the cover of our book, but this was the first time I've been in a photo as a photographer pretended to kiss the book's author just for a laugh! So silly.

Book cover photographer Roberta Wells pretends to get fresh with author Dorrin Wallace
while co-author/publisher Deana J Driver of DriverWorks Ink just sits back and smiles

To end this terrific day, Marlowe added more firsts by suggesting that he could take a video (1) of Dorrin and me chatting in front of the DC-3 (2) that is a prized exhibit at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum. Enjoy the video!