New book covers life and times of CFB Chatham

More than five decades of old base's history documented in Vickers' latest book

John Vickers’ new book, Wings Over Miramichi, documents the history of the former CFB Chatham. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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MIRAMICHI - John Vickers says his intrigue with the Canadian Armed Forces’ Miramichi presence during his childhood, and his curiosity about CFB Chatham’s role in Canada’s national defence, recently inspired him to write a book about the base’s history.

Vickers, a Northumberland Free Press columnist, released his latest book, Wings Over Miramichi: The Story of CFB Chatham, on Thursday.

The former journalist and Historic Chatham Business District general manager — who’s lived, worked, and travelled across Canada — said nostalgia for a bygone era also sparked his interest in self-publishing his third book about the base, which operated in the former town of Chatham for more than five decades.

“The sound in the sky of jets, the types of jets, their formations, and air shows were a significant part of living on the river,” he said. “There are people today who miss the sound of jet aircraft in the sky because it’s all they ever knew. The base’s legacy spans generations.

“Growing up in that era, and having it all gone now, is why I felt motivated to dig deeper into the base and its stories.