Fonds F0098 - Michel Wyczynski / Bernd Horn Canadian Airborne Research Collection

Original Digital object not accessible

Identity area

Reference code

CA ACU TMM F0098

Title

Michel Wyczynski / Bernd Horn Canadian Airborne Research Collection

Date(s)

  • 1894, 1942-2018 (Accumulation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

12.8 m of textual records
ca. 47 audio cassettes
5 CD

Context area

Name of creator

([195-] -)

Biographical history

Prior to his retirement in 2012, Michel Wycynski was a senior archivist at Library and Archives Canada. While there, and prior as a graduate student of history, Wycynski researched and published on the topic of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Over the course of his career, he served as archivist for: the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association, 1995-2010; the Canadian Airborne Regiment and the Canadian Airborne Regiment Association, 1995-present; The Canadian Airborne Forces Museum, 1992-2005; The Royal Canadian Regiment, 2004-2010.

Name of creator

(1968-1995)

Administrative history

Established 8 April 1968. Preceded by 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and 1st Special Services Force. Made up of five united and designed as a rapid response strike and defence force. Disbanded 5 March 1995. Assigned to Mobile Command, the Canadian Airborne Regiment was formed on 8 April 1968. The Regiment was tasked as a parachute unit to be held in a high state of alert and operational readiness in order to provide a rapid deployment airborne force capable of supporting several roles, among them, Aid to the Civil Power, defense of Canada, United Nations missions, and limited or general combat operations. The main body of the Regiment was located in Edmonton, however, 1 Airborne Commando less one company was stationed at CFB Valcartier. On 15 July 1977, the Regiment was placed under the command of the Special Service Force and moved to CFB Petawawa. Emphasis remained on maintaining individual parachute and soldiering skills, but after a series of disciplinary scandals arising from the Airborne's 1992-93 peacekeeping mission in Somalia, the unit was disbanded on 5 March 1995. [Description taken from the Canadian Airborne Regiment fonds description held at the National Defence Headquarters Directorate of History and Heritage.]

Name of creator

(fl. 1960-)

Biographical history

Dr. Bernd Horn, OMM, MSM, CD, is a retired infantry colonel who has held key command and staff appointments in the Canadian Armed Forces, including Deputy Commander of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment and Officer Commanding 3 Commando, the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He is currently the Command Historian at the CANSOFCOM Education and Research Centre. Dr. Horn is also an adjunct professor of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies, University of Calgary, as well as an adjunct professor of history at the Royal Military College of Canada. He has authored, co-authored, edited or co-edited 40 books and innumerable monographs / chapters / articles on military history, Special Operations Forces, leadership and military affairs.

Archival history

Collection was accumulated by donor and research partner Bernd Horn over several decades of research into the Canadian Airborne division. Was kept by donor prior to donation.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Received from donor, by mail, January 2017.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Collection consists of original (25%) and copied (75%) research material related to the history of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. It includes correspondence, taped interviews and transcripts, and photocopies of related material held at various American, Canadian and British archives and museums.

The collection comprises Michel Wyczynski and Bernd Horn's research material over the course of six co-authored books, chapters in military anthologies, and dozens of articles published in Canada, the United States, and Britain.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Archival appraisal conducted on the basis of a provided finding aid to the material. Removal of any material is unlikely but may occur at a later date during processing.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Donor's filing system has been kept intact.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

No restrictions on access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Archival materials do not circulate and must be consulted in the TMM Library and Archives Reading Room. Duplication of materials in the collection may be subject to copyright and other restrictions. Please contact TMM Library and Archives staff for guidance on reproduction.

Note that many of the materials in this collection were reproduced by permission. Folders marked with a red dot may be consulted but not further reproduced.

Language of material

    Script of material

      Language and script notes

      Physical characteristics and technical requirements

      Good. Taped interviews will need to be migrated to digital format.

      Finding aids

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

      Related units of description

      Donation also included a large collection of books and journals which were catalogued by the Military Museums Library and Archives. A complete listing of the books is included with the finding aid.

      Related descriptions

      Publication note

      1. Of courage and determination: the First Special Service Force, "the Devil's Brigade", 1942-44. by Horn, Bernd; Wyczynski, Michel (2013)
      2. Of courage and determination: the First Special Service Force, "the Devil's Brigade", 1942-44 by Horn, Bernd; Wyczynski, Michel (2003)
      3. Paras versus the Reich: Canada's paratroopers at war, 1942-45. by Horn, Bernd; Wyczynski, Michel (2003)
      4. Tip of the spear: an intimate account of 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion, 1942-1945 : a pictorial history. by Horn, Bernd; Wyczynski, Michel (2002)
      5. In search of Pegasus: the Canadian airborne experience 1942-1999.
        by Horn, Bernd; Wyczynski, Michel (2001)
      6. Canadian airborne forces since 1942. by Horn, Bernd; Wyczynski, Michel (2006)

      Notes area

      Note

      Textual primary source documents in this fonds are almost entirely photocopied reproductions. This includes all memos, reports, briefings, instructions, etc. issued by the various allied militaries that were involved with the units of focus. Original documents have been noted in the physicalCharacteristics column.

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Subject access points

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      Name access points

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      Description control area

      Description identifier

      Institution identifier

      Rules and/or conventions used

      Status

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation revision deletion

      Collection processed by Michel Wycynski, November 2016.

      Language(s)

      • English

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        This AtoM record was created by Jason Nisenson, April 2017.
        Description reprocessed by Kevin Ko April 2022

        Digital object (Master) rights area

        Digital object (Reference) rights area

        Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

        Accession area