Which all lines up nicely, albeit slightly later than my estimate above. The NATO Air Training Plan (NATP - ignore my reference to the NFTC, which is the more recent initialism) ran from 1950 and ended in 1958, so your colleague would have been on one of the latter courses. Chipmunks were used on the Primary Training School at RCAFS Centralia from 1954; progression from there would have been to No1. FTS on Harvards, then Advanced Flying Training; probably on the CT-133 Silver Star (Canadair licence-built, RR Nene-engined, version of the T-33 Shooting Star) and possibly at No.3 AFS, RCAFS Gimli. Perhaps the photo is following promotion to F/O, leaving or arriving back from a spot of UK leave between courses; before the presentation of wings.
And the transfer to the reserve on return was a well trodden path. Of the more well-known NS pilots, Norman Tebbit (who trained in the UK) and William Woollard both went on to fly Meteors in the reserve with 604 Sqn. William Woollard is still with us at 83 - having survived (and actually apparently enjoyed!) the Meatbox....
Good luck with your continuing investigations and condolences to family and friends.
Last edited by Squipdit Fashions; 10th Jan 2023 at 08:30.
Reason: To add Harvards