Ken Leishman was born in Holland, Manitoba in 1931. He moved to Winnipeg in 1947 and by the age of 19 had his first conviction for theft. While in prison he developed an interest in airplanes and upon his release he became a pilot.
Interested in making easy money, he flew to Toronto in 1957, robbed a bank and returned to Winnipeg with $10,000. An attempt at a robbery in Winnipeg led to his arrest and imprisonment in Stoney Mountain Penitentiary until 1961 when he was released on parole. For a time, Leishman apparently went straight, married and fathered seven children but the lure of quick money was always there.
The Gold Heist
Leishman spent the next few years planning his biggest heist (and what was to be the biggest gold heist in Canadian history). He knew from being around airports that regular flights of gold bullion were made from Red Lake, Ontario to the Winnipeg airport. It was then transferred to an Air Canada plane and flown to the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. With four other men, he devised a scheme to impersonate Air Canada employees and intercept the gold on the tarmac as it was being transferred. They made ground crew uniforms and stole an Air Canada van. The heist took place on March 1, 1966 and the robbers made off with almost $400,000 in gold bullion.
Great Blizzard of 1966
Until this point all had gone according to plan but shortly afterward it started to unravel. Nature took a hand in fouling the scheme when the Great Blizzard of 1966 hit the Winnipeg area three days later dumping 14.6 inches of snow and shutting down the city. Some how Leishman managed to get away, making his way to British Columbia where he was arrested by the RCMP for violating his parole by leaving Manitoba. With their suspect in the gold heist in custody, police had time to make a solid case against him.
The Flying Bandit
Incarcerated in Headingley Jail he escaped in October 1966 but was recaptured in Kildonan by local police. Later, he escaped again, stole an airplane and flew south across the border thus confirming his nickname ‘The Flying Bandit’. He was arrested again in Gary, Indiana after a shoot out with the local police. Returned to Canada he spent the next few years in prison before being released in 1975.
Solid Citizen
Finally seeing the error of his ways, Leishman moved to Red Lake, Ontario where he managed Tomahawk Airlines and opened a tourist shop. He became president of the local Chamber of Commerce and was eventually elected mayor of the town.
Leishman disappeared in December of 1979 while on a mercy medivac flight out of Red Lake. He was declared officially dead when his body was found in Northern Ontario amidst the wreckage if his plane in 1980.
Bibliography
Heather Robertson – The Flying Bandit – Lorimer - 1981
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