Captain Ernest Lloyd Janney

1. Sub-Lieutenant (Navy).
2. Captain (Air Force).

Janey was one of 3 members of the first Canadian Aviation Corps formed in 1914. Janney was perceived by many as a shyster. His initial appointment as a captain in the Canadian Aviation Corps and the unit itself are iffy although probably legit.

Janney was born June 16, 1893 at Galt, Ont., (now Cambridge). In September 1914, he visited the United States to scout aircraft availability before approaching Hughes. How he gained access to the minister is unknown, but on Sept. 16, Hughes approved formation of a Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC), appointing Janney as a captain and its provisional commander. He also scribbled authorization for expenditure of up to $5,000 for an airplane. About the same time, two other members of the CAC were appointed. They were Lieutenant William Frederick Norman Sharpe and Staff Sergeant Harry A. Farr.

On Oct. 3, 1914 the First Canadian Contingent sailed for Britain, with its one airplane on the deck of the Athenia and the three CAC members aboard the SS Franconia.

CEF authorities declared that Janney had been absent without leave since Dec. 1, 1914, but how could they discipline the man when there was no paperwork confirming his membership in the force? He was permitted to resign his commission, although there were no documents bestowing one upon him.

Janney returned to Canada in May 1918 and tried, unsuccessfully, to secure a commission in the CEF. That summer, Lieutenant-Colonel J.T. Cull of the Royal Air Force was organizing the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service in response to German submarine operations in the Atlantic. Janney ingratiated himself with Cull who arranged that he be commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and assigned to RCNAS duties.