WINGS OVER THE WEST: RUSS BAKER AND THE RISE OF PACIFIC WESTERN AIRLINES. Condit, John. Madeira Park (B.C.), Harbour Publishing, c1984. 235pp, cloth, $18.95, ISBN 0-920080-49-9. CIP Grades 9 and up Reviewed by Alfred F. Greenwood Volume 13 Number 4 1985 July Trans-Canada Air Lines (Air Canada) and Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CP Air) long remained Canada's only two major airlines. Wings Over The West is the story of how Pacific Western Airlines, shepherded, dragged, and pushed by its founder, Russ Baker, finally emerged to form a third. John Condit was commissioned to write this book, and he follows the airline's progress from a shaky beginning as B.C. Airways in 1945, flying out of Fort St. James and Prince George. Russ Baker and the airline carve their somewhat erratic trail through interior British Columbia: bush flying, the Coast run, the Stranraers, the boom and bust of Kitimat, the Dew Line, the Mackenzie valley run, and manoeuverings in boardrooms and governments across the country. Though Baker died in 1958, he was well on his way to realizing his dream. Others pressed on to forge an airline "spread over more territory than any other regional airline in North America." This is probably the definitive history of PWA, based on detail gleaned by extensive and exhaustive research. Russ Baker was a remarkable pilot whose deeds of rescue and airmanship are legion. Tales of his, and others' exploits leaven the historical narrative, yarns no doubt enhanced with glamour by time and the purple prose of the day. John Condit is familiar with the aircraft industry and covered the aviation beat for the Vancouver Province. He has written on aviation for Macleans, Weekend, and Quest. Wings Over The West contains twenty-four excellent photographs, two appendices, and an index. There is a foreword by Pierre Berton. Recommended for all those interested in Canadian aviation. Alfred F. Greenwood, Victoria, B.C.