Germansen Landing, BC - Canada

Takla Landing, also known as McLaing Landing is an unincorporated locality and former steamboat landing on the east side of Takla Lake in the Omineca Country of the Central Interior of British Columbia. In the days of the Omineca Gold Rush, Takla Landing was a port for steamboats connecting trails from Hazelton, to Babine Lake to trails leading from Takla Landing eastwards to the area of the gold strikes in the lower Omineca River.
Inhabitants include Takla Lake First Nation’s which live 320 km north of Prince George, BC. This picturesque community is home to approximately 250 residents. The community, which was isolated until the 1950’s when forestry pushed into the area, is now accessible through Fort St. James on paved and unpaved forestry road. Alternatively, there is summer access to Takla Landing via Germansen Landing on rough unpaved road.
The first aircraft to land at Takla Landing was Junkers JL-6 G-CADP that had been purchased from Imperial Oil in Edmonton in July 1922 by a Hazelton group the Railway Employees Investment Association.The aircraft was flown extensively throughout the Omineca District on prospecting forays with native guide Simon Gun-A-Noot as navigator.
Grant McConachie’s Independent Airways at Edmonton was on the verge of bankruptcy, but a chance meeting with mining promoter Barney Phillips in 1932 was to change this. Phillips was possession of a map indicating a lost gold mine near Toodoggone Lake. Phillips hired McConachie to fly Phillips and three prospectors, into the lake in the spring of 1933.
The aircraft landed at Burns Lake where supplies were acquired, then north to Takla Landing where they re-fueled and dropped off their engineer to lighten the load.
The arrangement between Phillips and McConachie proved successful and a new company, United Air Transport, was formed to provide transportation to the mine. Two Fokker Universals, G-CAHE and G-CAHJ operated out of a forward base at Takla Landing. Supplies were brought by barge to Takla Landing during ice-free months from Fort St. James. In winter month’s supplies were airlifted to Takla Landing from Burns Lake some ninety miles to the south.
In 1936 United Air Transport began flying the mail from Prince George to Fort St. James an on to Takla landing, which was flown by McConachie, Sheldon Luck and Ginger Coote, whose airline (Ginger Coote Airways).

In 1936 Pan Am began planning a scheduled air service from Seattle to Alaska via the British Columbia interior and the Yukon. Facilities were planned at Dog Creek, Prince George, Smithers, Takla Lake, Dease Lake and at Whitehorse where the service would connect with the Juneau to Fairbanks Alaska service.
A Communications station and weather reporting facilities were to be set up at Prince George, Takla Lake and Dease Lake providing information to Pan Am aircraft .
Pan Am applied to Canadian authorities for a license to operate a company radio station at both Takla Landing and Dease Lake but was denied. Pan Am president Jaun Trippe contacted Yukon Southern Air Transport president Grant Mc McConachie who applied for the license in YSAT name and was approved
Pan American Airways began using these facilities in 1937 when Pan Am’s Lockheed 10A Electra and Boeing 247 passenger airlines flew overhead Takla Landing and Dease Lake.
On September 17, 1943 a detachment of four men of the U.S. Army’s AACS (Army Airways Communications Squadron) and four men from the U.S. Army 16th Weather Squadron took over the operation of the Takla Landing station from Pan Am personnel and occupied the Pan Am facilities on site.
Today - The community is served by the Takla Landing Water Aerodrome

References:
Chris Weicht is an accomplished 18,000 pilot and has chronicled the history of aviation in BC. He is the author of the book series "Air Pilot Navigator". Air Pilot Navigator, Volume 3: Air Route To The Klondike is where the story for this videos story can be found as part of the video series “British Columbia Airfield Stories”. Chris’s research included interviewing aviators and their next of kin who opened up their photo albums and often related exploits of flights creating some outstanding historical aviation books.
If you would be interested in buying Chris Weicht’s books go to coasteaglepublications.com
Special thanks to Doug Rollins and Geoff Hallett Archival Photos for providing this material.
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Linda R Stagg: Host / Script
Chris Weicht: Author book series "Air Pilot Navigator"
Geoff Hallett: Archival Files / BCAM Librarian
Back Ground Music: “Moondance” Instrumental by Van Morrison
Randy Stagg: Video Production / Script

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Playlist: “BC Airfield Stories”