Biographical data

Biographical Data
Norris-Elye, Oliver Cragg Photo Credit: Unknown

Biographical Data

Norris-Elye, Oliver Cragg

Photo Credit: Unknown

Title	Lieutenant (RCN(R))
Official Number	U-56640

Birth	05/12/1922	Death	15/08/2010
Place	Winnipeg	Place	Winnipeg
Area	MB	Area	MB
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

Titles
Honours
Awards
Qualifications

Biography
In 1942 he was selected for training in radio and meteorology. Posted at a weather station in the Yukon, he took synoptic weather readings to be transmitted in coded form to protect military aircraft. He studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1950, after which he assisted in the flood relief efforts. Due to the flood, the graduation ceremony wasn't held until 1985. In 1950 he accepted a job in Malton, Ontario with AVRO. In 1951 he left AVRO for naval special duty. After reverting to civilian status he joined Canadian General Electric to take their nine month test course in Toronto and Peterborough. He worked for GE in Toronto and Winnipeg where he was Industrial Sales Engineer for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. He joined the Manitoba Hydro Electric Board (forerunner of Manitoba Hydro), where he worked for 30 years. His contributions while at Manitoba Hydro were innumerable, including the conceptual design of the Grand Rapids 230 kV lines. In 1987 Oliver retired from Hydro as Transmission Research and Development Engineer in G and T Planning, and accepted a position with the HVDC Research Centre in Winnipeg as project leader for measurement and analysis of HVDC Electrical Effects.

Biography

In 1942 he was selected for training in radio and meteorology. Posted at a weather station in the Yukon, he took synoptic weather readings to be transmitted in coded form to protect military aircraft. He studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1950, after which he assisted in the flood relief efforts. Due to the flood, the graduation ceremony wasn't held until 1985. In 1950 he accepted a job in Malton, Ontario with AVRO. In 1951 he left AVRO for naval special duty. After reverting to civilian status he joined Canadian General Electric to take their nine month test course in Toronto and Peterborough. He worked for GE in Toronto and Winnipeg where he was Industrial Sales Engineer for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. He joined the Manitoba Hydro Electric Board (forerunner of Manitoba Hydro), where he worked for 30 years. His contributions while at Manitoba Hydro were innumerable, including the conceptual design of the Grand Rapids 230 kV lines. In 1987 Oliver retired from Hydro as Transmission Research and Development Engineer in G and T Planning, and accepted a position with the HVDC Research Centre in Winnipeg as project leader for measurement and analysis of HVDC Electrical Effects.

Military Service
He was appointed as an Ordinary Seaman RCNVR 1943. (He was demobilized.) In 1946 he was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) RCN(R) 1948. He served in HMCS Chippawa for UNTD 1948-1950. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN(R) (With seniority dated 01/09/1950). (In 1951 he served on Special Duty with the RCN.) In 1951 he served in HMCS Magnificent. He was promoted to Lieutenant RCN(R). (He was released.)

Military Service

He was appointed as an Ordinary Seaman RCNVR 1943. (He was demobilized.) In 1946 he was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) RCN(R) 1948. He served in HMCS Chippawa for UNTD 1948-1950. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN(R) (With seniority dated 01/09/1950). (In 1951 he served on Special Duty with the RCN.) In 1951 he served in HMCS Magnificent. He was promoted to Lieutenant RCN(R). (He was released.)

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

Anecdotes
In 1959, he was one of five Canadians selected to attend an eight month course in Schenectady, New York on Power Systems Engineering. Between 1967 and 1971 he was the Nelson River Coordination Engineer. In 1971 Oliver headed a project to evaluate the mechanical performance of 500 kV and 765 kV conductor bundle designs. He sat on committees with the Canadian Electrical Association, the Canadian Standards Association and IEEE. He was a member and at one time Chairman of the APEM Board of Examiners, and from 1975 to 1987 he chaired the Manitoba Hydro Research Committee. He was involved in the Lundar outdoor laboratory project, studying the long term measurement and analysis of environmental effects of HVDC electric fields and small ions generated by Corona sources. Even at the end of his life he felt that this research should be continued.

Anecdotes

In 1959, he was one of five Canadians selected to attend an eight month course in Schenectady, New York on Power Systems Engineering. Between 1967 and 1971 he was the Nelson River Coordination Engineer. In 1971 Oliver headed a project to evaluate the mechanical performance of 500 kV and 765 kV conductor bundle designs. He sat on committees with the Canadian Electrical Association, the Canadian Standards Association and IEEE. He was a member and at one time Chairman of the APEM Board of Examiners, and from 1975 to 1987 he chaired the Manitoba Hydro Research Committee. He was involved in the Lundar outdoor laboratory project, studying the long term measurement and analysis of environmental effects of HVDC electric fields and small ions generated by Corona sources. Even at the end of his life he felt that this research should be continued.

References
The Navy List Volumes I, II and III (HMSO London); Bill Clearihue (Nominal List UNTD); http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-168060/;
Last update
2015-02-25 00:00:00

The Nauticapedia

The Virtual Maritime Museum of Western North America

Biographical Data

Norris-Elye, Oliver Cragg