Russell McIntyre finished his high school studies with very high marks, and is remembered by many as being very intelligent. Russell assiduously applied himself to his school studies. He was known to keep detailed typed notes of his class lessons. He was popular with the students and was active in the school as a member of the ski club and the camera club. Russell enjoyed the outdoors, especially canoeing, and he drew many maps of the lakes in the Dryden region
Russell enlisted with the R.C.A.F. and trained at the No. 5 Air observer station in Winnipeg. In June 1943, he graduated with a gold identification disc by the R.C.A.F authorities for having graduated first in his class of 27. The ceremonies were attended by his parents, his younger sister Catherine, Mrs. D.E. Scott (wife of teacher of DHS), and others from the Dryden community.
Later that year, Russell was stationed in England. While in England, he wrote to his parents that he had visited the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey, where he saw the tomb of Neville Chamberlain.
While stationed in England, Russell and other Dryden people continued to receive The Dryden Observer. It is interesting to note that during the war, The London Times newspaper was smaller than The Dryden Observer. Due to the fact that England had to import newsprint, advertising in the Times was limited during the war.
