Pioneer bush pilot, born in Hespeler, Ontario, Oaks served with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and won the D.F.C. In 1922, having trained as an engineer, he began flying and prospecting in Northern Ontario and Québec. In1926, with G.A. Thompson, he founded Patricia Airways and in the same year became manager of the newly established Western Canada Airways. First winner in 1927 of the McKee trophy for Service to Aviation, his exploits include the first mid-winter flight to Hudson Bay, made in 1929 with Pat Reid. His later years were spent as a mining analyst in Toronto. He died at Toronto.