Atlin Airport’s Peterson Field was built on the site of the previous smaller airstrip that had served Atlin since the 1930s. Upon completion of the new airstrip, it was named after local aviation pioneer Herman Peterson.

Herman Peterson was born on December 29, 1913 in La Tuque, PQ, where he was taught to fly by the pioneering Quebec aviator, Joe Fecteau. Before he even obtained his pilot’s license, he bought himself a slightly damaged Simonds Spartan biplane, CF-ABC, on which he commenced his maintenance engineer’s apprenticeship while carrying out the necessary repairs. While working for his commercial license, he also apprenticed as a welder in Toronto and nearly ended his flying career when carbide exploded in his face. It affected the upper half of his vision, but he was still able to obtain a medical to fly.

Herman and his wife, Doris, moved to Carcross in 1942 to fly for Northern Airways under the ownership of George Simmons. Throughout the war years Herman flew hundreds of hours in the Custom Waco, four vintage Fairchilds, and a 1929 Travel Air 6000, carrying road engineers and top-brass inspectors along the Alcan and Canol routes, as well as serving the mail flights to Atlin and Telegraph Creek. In 1949, Herman decided to start his own charter business, and applied for a license to operate an air charter service in Atlin. While waiting for his license he worked as a handyman on the S.S.Tutshi.

In 1950, he and Doris founded Peterson’s Air Service, later changing the name to Coast Range Airways. Herman had First Island in Atlin Lake designated as a float plane base, and during the long summer months,
any number of his airplanes could be seen docked there, safely in the lee of the island. Herman flew miners, prospectors and hunters all over the region. For 25 years, he flew the mail to Telegraph Creek and Tulsequah, never missing a run (late only once), in spite of the notorious weather in the region.

Herman owned various airplanes – an Aeronca Sedan, CF-GAS; a Cessna 170, CF-FKN; two Cessna 180’s, CF-HST and CF-LCA; a Fairchild 71, CF-AWV; two de Havilland Beavers, CF-ITU and CF-JPM; a de Havilland Otter, CF-SUB; and, for a short time, a Bell 47G-4 helicopter, CF-RQM. Herman retired in 1967, selling his airline to Trans North Turbo Air of Whitehorse, YT. He retained his pilot’s license, flying his 1947 Luscombe, CF-YHQ, on floats, and his Smith mini-plane, CF-RKN, which he built in his shop, and named Susie – his pet name for Doris.

Herman earned an enviable reputation as one of the most outstanding bush pilots of his generation, and hence, the Atlin airport was named Peterson Field in his honour. He is said to have been proud that in his
15,000+ hours of flying he never injured a passenger. Surely a competent professional and a gentleman.

From a biography of Herman Peterson provided by the Atlin Historical Society

Photos provided by the Atlin Historical Society