Dear Member,

After the last newsletter, I got the same question from several people: “What on earth are you doing in Dawson City, Yukon?” Researching aviation history, of course!

From late September to December 21^st I was travelling around the Yukon (and Inuvik, NWT) as writer-in-residence of the Berton House programme. It was an incredibly enjoyable and productive time and I look forward to getting back ‘up there’ for more research as soon as possible. It doesn’t hurt I’ve been promised rides in a Jetranger helicopter, Fleet Canuck, and Beech Staggerwing! I’m working on an article about the last three months’ research and travel for the Journal, but in the meantime feel free to visit my blog, www.danicanuck.com, for a few stories and photos.

Now as I sit back at my desk in Edmonton, I have time to reflect on how far the CAHS has come in 2010 and how far we want to go next year with the Journal, convention, and our growing online community. I want to thank the other executive and board members for their energy and dedication as we move forward. I especially want to thank you – members, partners, and corporate sponsors – for your interest in all things aviation, and your support as we celebrate and preserve that heritage.

Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

National News

Journal Update

Hopefully many of you already have the Summer 2010 issue in your hands – I just got mine in the mail yesterday! The Journal editorial team is hard at work on the Fall 2010 edition and if all goes well it should follow quickly.

I've received some questions about missing renewal forms with the Summer Journal. If you did not get this form it's likely you previously purchased a two-year membership and are not due to renew in 2011. If you have any questions, however, please feel free to contact Treasurer-Secretary Rachel at rl_heide@yahoo.ca.

In that mailing you should have also received a note from me. Part of that refers to a donation campaign and contest. We've extended the draw deadline to January 31st, so please donate early and often!

Book Reviewers Sought

Speaking of the Journal, Editor Bill March is looking for people to review several titles from 2009 and 2010 (scroll down for the list). If you’ve never done one before, don’t be shy! Past reviews can serve as good examples and Bill will polish your prose. And don’t forget: you can often get a complementary review copy for your library in the process! If you’re interested in one of the following titles or would like to be kept in mind for future review opportunities, please contact Bill at cahsnatpub@cahs.ca.

• C.W. Hunt, Dancing in the Sky: The Royal Flying Corps in Canada (Dundurn Press, 2009)

• Norman Avery, SPARTAN: Seven Letters that Spanned the Globe (Norman Avery, 2009)

• Shirlee Smith Matheson, Amazing Flight and Flyers (Frontenac House, 2010)

• Robert M. Stitt, Boeing B-17 Fortress in RAF Coastal Command Service (MMPBooks, 2010)

• David Mackenzie, ICAO: A History of the International Civil Aviation Organization (University of Toronto Press, 2010)

CAHS Online

We want to remind you that you can connect with us online through our Facebook group, “Canadian Aviation Historical Society (National) and I welcome you to “friend" me (Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail) as well.

I have been faithfully tweeting as CanAvHistSoc on Twitter, a great way to get bite-sized updates to members and the public about our activities, as well as re-send relevant news about aviation and its history. Come follow us!

We're still working on rich features and content for the website and once this is all in place you'll be the first to know!

Convention

We sent out a call for proposals for the 2011 convention (June 22-26^th) and are getting a great response. Remember you still have until January 15^th to drop us a line, so if you have a talk you'd like to do on the theme of "Edmonton: Gateway to the North" be sure to send a 200-word proposal and 50-word biographical note to me at info@daniellemc.com.

Reminder: for those of you keen to reserve your accommodations, we have a block of rooms booked at the Chateau Nova Hotel and Suites (www.chateaunovahoteledmonton.ca), just up the road from the Alberta Aviation Museum. We've secured a special rate, too: approximately $97 for a single queen room and $103 for a double queen room (taxes included). When you reserve, please quote the group name CAHS and number 576.

Chapter News

Vancouver will be holding its next meeting and AGM Tuesday, January 11^th and all are welcome. Keith Wade will give a slide presentation on flying boats and amphibians which is sure to provide lots of eye candy.

Manitoba’s next meeting (7 p.m. on January 27^th) will feature an evening with Dick Bourgeois-Doyle who wrote a biography of Elsie MacGill “Queen of the Hurricanes.” Copies of his book, Her Daughter the Engineer, will be available for purchase and autographs.

Also on Thursday, January 27^th at 7:30 p.m. is the Ottawa chapter’s meeting. Gather in the Bush Theatre of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum to hear Rob Erdos speak on flying Vintage Wing’s recently restored Westland Lysander!

New Brunswick: Harold Wright, historian and director of the NB Turnbull chapter (along with committee members Boyd Trites, Pierre Vachon, and Warren McKim) was able to get the province to declare the former Saint John Municipal Airport a Provincial Historic site. Congrats all around! For more on this achievement, click here.

NB Wellness, Culture and Sport Minister Trevor Holder with Arthur Irving Jr. and several M. Gerald Teed students unveiled a commemorative plaque giving Saint John Municipal Airport Provincial Historic Site status.

Member News

After the last newsletter I got a note from Col. Chris Hadfield, possibly the CAHS’s most famous member! He sent out the following invitation: “If anyone wants to follow along through spaceflight training, Soyuz pilot training, and the 6-month spaceflight itself, I send updates daily on my Facebook page. All the best from Star City, Russia!”

Another happy connection happened on Facebook as well. I always find it fascinating to know who the other CAHS members are and where they hail from. Larry Knechtel obliged my curiousity by sharing the following:

“I currently live in Seattle, Washington and work as a Boeing 777 Captain for United Airlines. I've been a member of the CAHS since I was in Grade 9 - way back when (Member #854). I'm a 58-year-old "Old Timer" now and fortunately my dear wife of nearly 30 years is very tolerant of my love of old airplanes and aviation history.”

If you'd like to share a bit about yourself, your connection to the CAHS and aviation history, please contact me at info@daniellemc.com. We're adding member pages to the website as they come in, and we'd love to hear from you!

More details have come to us about the 2011 inductees into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. In addition to our very own Bill Wheeler, the following individuals will be honoured:

• Richard W. (Dick) Ryan for his service in both World Wars, as well as his founding of the Moose Jaw Flying Club and Prairie Airways Ltd. during the interwar years, and his leadership in Canadian Pacific Airlines post-war. [CAHF historian and CAHS member John Chalmers would like to thank Tim Dube for his assistance regarding Ryan’s details]

• Donald T. Hamilton for his long career in crop spraying, bush flying, and forest fire suppression (Air Spray Ltd) in the prairies and northern Alberta.

• John W. Crichton, president and CEO of NAV CANADA since 1997, and heavily involved in modernizing Canada’s civil Air Navigation System. He has also been the president of the Air Transport Association of Canada and executive VP of First Air.

Hollinger Ungava Transport will be honoured as a Belt of Orion Member (a designation the CAHS also holds!).

Mark your calendars: May 26^th (not the 27th as previously indicated) is the date for the 2011 CAHF Induction Dinner at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, Ontario.  Tickets can be obtained through Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame at cahf@telusplanet.net or 780-361-1351 ext. 241.

Announcements

Vancouver President Jerry Vernon reminded me that the Ice Pilots NWT TV series starts up its second season Wednesday, January 12^th so check out your local listings for exact times. For more info on the show go to their website and you can watch previously aired episodes at the History Television Canada website.

The International Challenger Owners Association (ICOA Canada) Winter Weekend Rendez-Vous is happening Feburary 4th to 6th at the historic Chateau Montebello in Quebec. There will be lots of time to socialize as well as hangar flying sessions on Saturday. Vintage Wings will also try its best to fly in a ski-equipped Tiger Moth! For more info, click here.

ArtFlight Dates Announced! The Canadian Aviation and Space Museum (CASM) in Ottawa announced the theme for Art Flight 2011 would be "Wings & Water" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of J.A.D. McCurdy's attempt to fly from Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba.  Please note the following 2011 dates:

• March 13th - deadline for entries

• April 3rd - notification of artists

• April 17th - latest date for arrival at CASM of selected works

• May 5 - official opening of ArtFlight at CASM

 Preserve and Celebrate!

The Vice-Chair of the Squadron Sponsoring Committee (SSC) for 386 (Komox) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island is looking for material that can be used for recruiting. The material will be directed to potential cadets, but also for parents and potential volunteers. They have several examples of former male air cadets who have done well in life – Gen Natynczyk, Chris Hadfield, Rick Mercer, and others.  They would like to be able to balance the names of the men with those of women who are former air cadets and have done well. They are aware of  LCol Maryse Carmichael, now CO of 431 AD Sqn and a former Snowbirds pilot, but no others at this point.

If you were an air cadet or know of other women who were that would be good examples, please provide names and other available and relevant information (contact info, current position, etc.) to Karen Davis at karen.davis@forces.gc.ca.

The Alberta Women's Memory Project (AWMP) is digitizing original historical materials that document the history of women in Alberta. They will be made available to students and the public on their website: http://awmp.athabascau.ca

If you have any diaries, letters, newsletters, clippings, photographs, periodicals, artwork, audio files, videos, or other original materials relating to women in Alberta, and wish to have them digitized and featured on the site, you can contact the AWMP at awmp@athabascau.ca.

Mosquito Fever

While I was thankfully spared the legendary mosquitoes of the north (apparently they carry off unsuspecting tourists), it has been Mossie fever on the internet lately:

Calgary Mosquito Society Wins the Battle

The CMS – with Richard De Boer at the helm – has been lobbying tirelessly for three years to retain the local Mosquito and Hurricane. At last month’s Calgary city council meeting they were victorious and are now shifting their focus to restoring these aircraft. To learn more, please visit Trevor McTavish’s new website and read the following CBC story.

B.C.’s Timber Terror

Victoria Air Maintenance in North Saanich, B.C. is currently restoring a Mosquito as well. Click here for information and to see a video of the project.

France's ¾ scale Mossie has been burning up the blogosphere and regular websites alike. Here are a couple to give you the scoop: EAA News and the French team's own site.

New Zealand Project with Canadian Parts

Alan Rust of the Pionairs (and our webmaster) wrote the following on November 24, 2010: "The restoration of a flyable de Havilland Mosquito is on track for completion in spring 2011. With remains rescued from a Canadian farm, the aircraft is undergoing an extensive rebuild in New Zealand and would be the only flying copy of this WW II fighter-bomber in the world." For more information, please click here.

Thanks to our Partners

I'd like to take a moment to thank a few of the partners who've been supporting us and spreading the word about the CAHS:

Vintage Wings mentioned the CAHS not once but twice in their last Vintage News edition. Check out pages one and three in the left-hand column.

The Rockcliffe Flying Club in Ottawa, Ont. was also kind enough to post our membership notice on its site and the January issue of COPA Flight has some CAHS content. Thanks folks!

Skyward

Frederick “Jeff” Jeffery

(CAHS member since 1996)

In early December Jeff passed away at North York General Hospital after a brief illness. He was 86 years old.

Born in Vancouver, B.C., he proudly served his country in the Second World War as a pilot with the RCAF on 432 "Leaside" Squadron, No. 6 Group, Bomber Command. According to his Toronto Star obituary, he “joined the RCAF at age 18 and completed his Tour of Operations on Christmas Eve 1944 at age 20.”

George Mitchell brought Jeff’s passing to my attention, reminding me that “he was instrumental in bringing Halifax NA337 from the lake in Norway to its present home in the Trenton National Air Force Museum.” In fact, Jeff was President and Director of the Halifax Aircraft Association for the past 16 years, and even in his parting stood by this organization: people are to donate to the National Air Force Museum of Canada – Building Fund, “The Home of Halifax NA337” in lieu of flowers.

Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com

Peter St-Louis, MBE

I was also alerted to the passing of Peter St-Louis on December 9, 2010 at the age of 87.

His aviation career began in 1941 when he joined the RCAF at 18 and nine years later he was seconded to the RAF. As family friend Desmond Morton wrote, “Pete seems to have been one of those who remained unfazed by awful situations. He did what had to be done, collected the British and conveyed them to safety. For his role in Operation Corkscrew, he received the Member of the Order of the British Empire.”

After so much excitement and adventure in his first fifty years, he spent the next 37 a little more quietly working for the federal government, spending time with family, and “playing a lot of golf.” For the full obituary, please click here.

Morton suggests the following for more info on Op. Corkscrew:

• Douglas Liversidge's White Horizon (Oldham's, 1951).

• Morris Gates' two-part article called "Operation Corkscrew: An Antarctic Rescue" and published in two issues of Airforce, the Air Force Association's magazine vol. 30, no. 2 and 3, pp. 40-43, and 41-45.

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter, {tag:email}. Please feel free to send comments, questions, or content suggestions to me at info@daniellemc.com. Thank you for reading!

Jan 7, 2011 - Issue 3

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear Member,

While the weather has been bizarre in Edmonton, AB this past month, I've managed to get out into the city between shovelling sessions:

• Ken Brown's three-part play Spiral Dive was incredible, and we were treated to an interview with Second World War Spitfire pilot Don Murchie during an intermission; 

• I got a behind-the-scenes tour of Nav Canada's Edmonton Area Control Centre with the Women in Aviation - Polaris Chapter;

• I gave a talk to the local Alberta Genealogical Society chapter called "Finding Family in Canada's Skies" and met great people with tips on titles to add to my library, individuals to interview, and archives to access.

This is such a warm (figuratively, at least), welcoming city full of aviation history. I have no doubt you'll enjoy all it has to offer during this year's convention. Unfortunately I don't have much sway with Mother Nature, but to make the rest of the convention as appealing as possible, I invite you to take this quick, anonymous, ten-question convention survey. Your participation is much appreciated!

Thanks to all who've sent encouraging notes to the executive and Journal teams: we know we're not perfect - we're volunteers, after all -  but we're willing to put whatever skills and time we have in the service of this society. All because of our passion for Canadian aviation history!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

www.daniellemc.com

National News

Holiday Donation Draw Winners

The grand prize goes to Ted J. of Westmount, QC!

The other winners are:

• Clark S. in Calgary, AB
• Paul R. in Davidson, SK
• Charles L. in Bolton, ON
• Allan J. in Big Valley, AB
• Richard F. in Hudson, QC
• Gordon G. in Oakville, ON
• Gordon D. in Breslau, ON
• Helen S. in North Gower, ON
• Al B. in Calgary, AB

Thanks to all who donated – you're helping to fund the important work of preserving and celebrating Canada’s aviation heritage. If you donated and are open to having your name listed on the website as a “Friend of the CAHS,” please email me at info@daniellemc.com.

The CAHS Journal

Sometimes it seems like forces simply conspire against you; this was certainly the case with the Summer 2010 Journal. While it reached the printers and mailing house quite early in December, some of you did not receive your copies until recently. Canada Post had some difficulties during the holiday season, but in one weird twist I heard from a member in Los Angeles who received his copy in late December while one in Toronto was still waiting in late January!

To help you track future issues of the Journal, we will be posting updates on Twitter (CanAvHistSoc), Facebook (Canadian Aviation Historical Society), and the CAHS website. When the Fall 2010 Journal - which is now in its final edits - goes to the printers and mailing house, we'll let you know.

Send in your photos!

Journal Editor Bill March thanks all who answered his call last month for book reviewers. The response was so good he thought he'd try his luck again by asking you for copies of aviation photos he can use in the Journal. As he explains, photos are often difficult and expensive to aquire from museums, archives, and other official sources. By creating a CAHS Journal photo archive, the Journal team can work more efficiently and cheaply, and you get to share your best shots with the world!

Remember: you must have taken the pictures yourself and be willing to give us permission to use them in print and online (with photo credit to you, of course). Contact Bill at cahsnatpub@cahs.ca for more information.

Website Updates

We've posted some fresh content on the website's home page including a Black History Month story by Mathias Joost. You'll also find we've begun adding aviation events to the calendar (if you have any to submit, please contact me) and  2011 convention updates as they become available.

We're still working on those eagerly-awaited members' features. As anyone who's managed a project knows - whether it's remodelling a kitchen or building an aircraft - when you're dealing with contractors and sub-contractors, time delays are bound to happen. We know you're antsy to log in, but please bear with us a little longer. I promise to send around a notice as soon as they're available!

2011 Convention in Edmonton!

The planning is going well and we'll be posting registration information online, soon and CAHS members will receive full convention packages in the mail.

A special thanks to all those who sent in talk proposals. The quality was high and it was very difficult to choose, but I think we've come up with a great line-up of speakers and topics. For a sample of these as well as accommodations info, please go to www.cahs.ca and visit the convention page.

Volunteers and sponsors needed! We're on the lookout for volunteers in the Edmonton area as well as donors of gifts-in-kind and cold hard cash to make this event as successful as possible (and keep registration costs down). To discuss these opportunities, please contact me at info@daniellemc.com.

Chapter News

I'm very excited I'll be in Calgary February 17 to hear Dave Lefurgey talk about a forgotten Calgarian who was recruited from the RAF by the British Special Intelligence Service in late 1938 to begin aerial spying in Italy and Germany. Should be fascinating!

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to these other great talks:

• Vancouver - February 8: photos galore of flying boats and amphibians!
• Regina - February 10: Brent Schill will speak about his eventful career as a commercial pilot
• Toronto - February 12: Alan C. Dares will speak on "Light Sport Aircraft (LSA's) in Canada
• Montreal - February 17: Rachel Lea Heide will give a talk on "The Professionalization of the Royal Canadian Air Force, 1939-1945"
• Manitoba - February 24: learn about the 1CFFTS, formerly the Air Navigation School

Remember: you can access chapter meeting and contact info on the website, and they would love if you offered to be a speaker at an upcoming meeting.

One of our directors, Dr. Richard Goette, will be giving a talk in Waterloo, ON on March 3 on the RCAF and Arctic during the early Cold War. For more information, click here.

If you'll be giving a talk or hosting an aviation-related event, please let me know and we'll put it on the website's calendar and in the newsletter!

Also, if you're willing to be a speaker on your aviation experiences or interests, please contact me with a short bio, a digital photo if you have one, and your preferred contact method. Then we can create a "Member's Page" on the website where organizations, schools, and corporations can find you.

Readers Write Back!

Jean-Claude Marcoux in Montreal suggests you go to www.1000aircraftphotos.com for “literally a GOLD MINE of airplane pictures!”

After reading last month's "Mosquito Fever" Bill Tee wrote in with the following:

"I note in your recent newsletter you didn't mention the old Spartan Mossie that is being rebuilt from an arctic wreck complete with new NZ fuselage. Last I heard it was supposed to be taxiable when finished with NEW Merlin engines. I believe it was British-built imported after the war when Canada sold their remaining Mossies to the Chinese."

FYI: for more info on one of our member's connections to Canadian Mossies in China, check out George Stewart's 1979 (vol. 17) Journal article "Mosquitoes Over the Yangtse." You can always search back issue article titles and authors in the main search bar of the website (and hard copies of most issues are available for purchase).

CAHF 2011 Induction Dinner

If you're lucky enough to be in the Toronto area in late May, you can see CAHS member, Journal editor, and former president Bill Wheeler inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame!

When: Thursday, May 26

Where: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, ON

Ticket prices: $225 each or $2,500 for a table of eight

Accommodation: you can request CAHF rate at Courtyard by Marriott 905-383-7772 or Motel 6 905-679-3355

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the “Special Events” page on www.cahf.ca or contact David Crone cahf3@telus.net or 780-361-1351 (MT)

Announcements and Events

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will be hosting a free webinar on the history of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) February 7 at 7 p.m. CST. (and advance purchase admission tickets and camping for AirVenture 2011 are now available through their website).

February 23 is National Aviation Day and commemmorates the anniversary of Canada's first powered flight in Baddeck, NS. Canada's Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa is inaugurating its new wing facilities and hosting a career day - what's happening in your town? Let us know and send photos!

One of our partner organizations, Vintage Wings of Canada, has just launched a new website. To learn more about this new 'mark', please check out their blog posting. A tip of my hat to their dedicated staff, especially for making the new website completely bilingual. Formidable!

Air Force Historical Workshop Call for Papers: This conference is taking place June 15 and 16 at 8 Wing, Trenton, ON on the topic of “On the Wings of Peace: Aerospace Power in United Nations Operations.” If you would like to submit a proposal, please contact Bill March by March 31 at william.march@forces.gc.ca.

The Aviation Archaelogy and Heritage Association also has a call for presentations out for its conference, being held April 29-May 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. "This is an opportunity for aviation archaeologists/wreck chasers to share current work with each other. Presentations can be about a project you are working on, a site you have found, or a site you are currently researching but have not yet found." If you are interested or want to learn more, please contact Craig Fuller at aair@aviationarchaeology.com by February 28. 

Mark your calendars!

• The Snowbirds schedule is up on the web beginning with their Canadian spring shows through to their Texas and California dates in October. Click here for dates.
• June 11-12: Air Reunion and Air Affair in Red Deer, AB. For more info click here or contact Jim Hall at jimhall@telus.net or 250-675-4002 
• COPA’s Fly-in and Convention in Langley, B.C. will be happening June 22-26. If you live in the Lower Mainland and can’t make it to the CAHS conference I highly recommend you go and check it out. For more info go to their convention website.

Are you an Ice Pilots fan?

I was just forwarded information about a new social TV experience for the show (which airs Wed. on History Television):

"Each week viewers poll and play along with the show on the web, iPhone or iPad answering episode-related questions. They can see what other fans think, and post comments - all while watching the show.  Each week, viewers also unlock a new, exclusive video featuring jaw-dropping footage of classic, vintage planes soaring the majestic Northern skies as gutsy pilots push them and themselves to the ultimate limits." To check it out go to: www.icepilots.com/social.php

Researcher-to-Researcher

I was very excited when I spotted that a Canadian heritage search engine - Canadiana Discovery Portal - had been launched. It's still in Beta, but purportedly links over 60 million pages of Canadian history. To check it out, click here.

CAHS Member Seeks Collaborator

Almont Baltzer of Lawrencetown, NS writes the following:

"I have spent over 30 years researching and compiling a list of approximately 144 Canadian fighter pilot aces. Included in each listing is the pilot's name, complete military biography, photo, and medals. This material is in the form of documents and some photos of their aircraft.  Also in my collection are taped interviews of over 100 aircrew in the Nova Scotia and Ottawa, Ont. areas. I would like to collaborate with a researcher and eventually have the material published. You can reach me at dhhornet@ns.sympatico.ca."

Offer of Aviation Research Help

Harold Skaarup of Fredericton, NB says he is more than happy to field questions related to:

• Aviation museums and gate guardians in Canada
• The United States' involvement in NORAD
• His books on Canadian MiG Flights; RCAF War Prize Flights; German and Japanese Warbird Survivors; and Canadian, Arizona and Florida Warplanes

Our membership secretary, Don MacNeil, wrote the following about Bill McRae, who passed on January 9, 2011:

"WWII veteran and a fighter pilot with close to 300 missions to his credit, Bill was a fine as they come: a warm and friendly gentleman in the true sense of the word. He was actively involved with CAHS, Canada Aviation & Space Museum and Vintage Wings where I had the honour to work with him a few times. He was a favourite of school children who visited Vintage Wings. 

Dave O'Mally had the foresight to organize a commemoration of Bill's military service when Bill and family members were present at the Vintage Wings Gala just before Christmas (2010). Bill's banner was raised to the ceiling of the the Vintage Wings hangar along with the likes of Charlie Fox and I regret I was not there to see it."

Bill also wrote several articles for the CAHS Journal and over 80 columns for the Ottawa chapter newsletter. For the Vintage Wings tribute to him, please click here.

Irving Farmer "Hap" Kennedy passed on January 6, at the age of 89.

He was a Second World War Fighter Ace, a dedicated medical doctor, and loved flying his aircraft out of the Rockliffe Flying Club in Ottawa, Ont. He was also involved at Vintage Wings and Dave O'Malley wrote: "Canada is a greater country for his life and a sadder country for his death."

For his full obituary, which was published in the Ottawa Citizen, please click here.

Stuart "Stu" E. Soward passed away January 10, 2011. He flew in the RCAF during the Second World War and then enlisted in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as a pilot, later transferring to the newly-formed RCN Air Branch - 825 Canadian Firefly squadron.

After a long career as an operational naval pilot and commander of the West Coast naval air squadron, he turned to a variety of other business and volunteer pursuits. Then in 1985 he began researching a biography of Canadian naval pilot Lt. Hampton "Hammy" Gray. It was published as A Formidable Hero in 1987. He went on to write three more books:

• Hands to Flying Stations: A Recollective History of Canadian Naval Aviation vol. 1 (1995) and 2 (1996)
• One Man's War: Sub Lieutenant R.E. Bartlett, RN Fleet Air Arm Pilot (2005)

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter, {tag:email}. If it was forwarded to you, remember to sign up online at www.cahs.ca to continue receiving it. Also, please feel free to send comments, questions, or content suggestions to me at info@daniellemc.com. Thank you for reading!

Feb 7, 2011 - Issue 4

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Aviaelogy

CANAV Books

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Leavens Aviation

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear {tag:email},

I hope you're faring well during March madness!

The snow and cold are seemingly here to stay, but that hasn’t slowed me down too much! I was able to get down to Calgary last month for a whirlwind trip and would like to thank the CAHS Calgary chapter, the Women in Aviation – Rocky Mountain High Chapter, the Aircrew Association of Calgary, and the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton for their hospitality and enthusiasm regarding the upcoming convention.

Here in Edmonton I participated in a Young Readers’ Conference, giving sessions on aviation history. While the “kids” – 10 to 15 years old – were not the usual CAHS demographic and were a departure from my usual audiences, like those of us who are 10, 30, or 70 years older, they love listening to stories and seeing pictures of planes!

I was also able to meet with the Ventura Memorial Flight Association folks at the Alberta Aviation Museum for a tour of their impressive project. They have amassed an amazing wealth of information while working on this restoration project and invite you to contact them with Ventura-related research questions: vmfa@telusplanet.net or 780-453-1078.

One of the best parts about being involved with the CAHS are these kinds of connections, and I hope you are finding the speaking, learning, and researching opportunities you want through us! If you have any ideas on how we can do this more (and better), please feel free to contact me: info@daniellemc.com.

Here's hoping the temperature will be above zero for my next newsletter!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

www.daniellemc.com 

National News

2011 Convention in Edmonton (June 22-26)

Registration details will be going out soon by email and mail (for National members), and will also be posted on the website. I've been working hard with our partners and trying to incorporate your survey feedback as much as possible (thanks for your input!). 

Several of you wondered what the approximate price for the convention will be. I’m still crunching numbers, but am trying to keep it around the $200 mark – which would include the day trip to Wetaskiwin, two full days of speakers (incl. lunches and breaks), AirFest admission, and several other special events TBA.

Breaking News: Cold Lake Airshow to be held June 18-19. Another reason to come early to enjoy Alberta’s hospitality!

Please go to the convention page at www.cahs.ca for accommodation information, talk descriptions and speaker bios.

Volunteer and Sponsorship Opportunities:

Would any authors like to donate a recently published book (2010-11) as a door prize?

Would you or your company be interested in sponsorship opportunities for the convention? For as little as $100 you can be featured on our convention web-page, a sponsor Powerpoint slideshow at the convention, as well as all printed materials!

I'm also looking for volunteers for the following areas:

• Photography/videography
• AirFest booth set-up, tear-down and staffing
• Convention registration booth 
• Runners/VIP-media hosts
• Book Fair

I’m working on volunteer perks! Please contact me at info@daniellemc.com for more information or to sign up.

The CAHS Journal

The Journal team says the Fall 2010 issue is in the final proofing stages. Once it goes to the printers I will post notices on our Facebook page, Twitter account, and at www.cahs.ca.

Website Updates

Stay tuned for details on members only spaces and logins. Still awaiting word from our contractors…

Chapter News

March 9: Join the Regina chapter at the 600 Wing, Air Force Association of Canada’s dinner. Did I mention members of the Snowbirds air demonstration team will be there too? Tickets are $20. Contact Marion Chase at 585-8477 if you plan to attend.

March 12 in Toronto: "Postwar Canadian Lancasters." Speaker: Author & Historian, Richard Banigan.

March 17 in Montreal: Clive Rustin - former British test pilot. Clive reflects on many of his experiences flying over 160 aircraft types including his post RAF involvement in airships and participation on the display circuit in a variety of old warbirds such as the Venom, Vampire, Hunter & Spitfire.

Member News

Check out Richard Goette’s guest blog on “Canada’s Air Power Thinkers” by clicking here.

New member Caitlin McWilliams of Wilfred Laurier University spoke about Second World War air training stations at the Major Tilston Armoury last month. For the Windsor Star write-up, please click here.

Chris Weicht is planning an Alberta-wide book tour for Alberta Skies in June. Catch him in Lethbridge, Calgary, Vulcan, High River, Nanton, Wetaskiwin, or Red Deer before his talk at the CAHS convention in Edmonton. For more information, please visit his website.

Jim Lloyd in Victoria, B.C., owner of www.avhouse.ca, invites you to watch two new videos he recently posted to YouTube: one on the Mosquito and one on the Lancaster. 

If your interests run to trains, automobiles and communications as well as aviation, you should check out the newsletter of the International Association of Transport and Communications Museums. It’s edited by CAHS member Christopher Terry and you can download the most recent issue by clicking here.

Jean-Claude Marcoux recently had a book review published in the Quebec aviation magazine, Plein Vol (Feb-March 2011). Félicitations!

Readers Write Back!

George Mitchell writes: “Our dear friend Russ Bannock has just been awarded the Order of Ontario for his work in aviation. Russ of course was famous during WWII for shooting down 20 of those nasty Buzz Bombs that were flying over London as well as 20 enemy aircraft shot down in his Mosquito. Quite the guy.” Indeed! For more details on his achievement, please click here.

Mystery Airman Image

Can you identify the airman – and CAHS member – in the photograph below?  The first person to email Richard Goette at richardgoette@hotmail.com with the correct answer will receive a free drink from him at June’s CAHS convention plus an aviation-themed book.  Note: the person in this photo may not identify himself (though Richard says he'll buy him a drink at the convention too)….  Happy guessing!

CAHF 2011 Induction Dinner Reminder

See our very own Bill Wheeler get inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame!

When: Thursday, May 26, 2011

Where: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, ON

Ticket prices: $225 each or $2,500 for a table of eight

Accommodation: you can request CAHF rate at Courtyard by Marriott 905-383-7772 or Motel 6 905-679-3355

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the “Special Events” page on www.cahf.ca or contact David Crone cahf3@telus.net or 780-361-1351 (MT)

Speakers sought in GTA

Bob Stobie of the Scarborough/Markham chapter of the Recreational  Aircraft Association of Canada writes the following:  "We are always looking for speakers for our meetings, which are held on the third Thursday evening of the month (except for December, July and August) at Toronto Buttonville Airport.  We take the speaker out for dinner before the meeting." If you're interested in being a speaker, please contact him at bstobie@pathcom.com or 416-497-2808.

Elsie MacGill Northern Lights - Call for Nominations

The Ninety-Nines are accepting nominations for the 2011 EMNL Award until May 15. To find out how to nominate a deserving Canadian woman in aviation and aerospace, click here.

Silver Dart Replica Now in Trenton

The full-scale replica, built by two volunteers over a period of two months is now at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton. To learn more, click here.

New Wing at Canada's Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa

On February 23 - National Aviation Day - CASM unveiled its new wing to the public. To read CBC News coverage, click here.

Upcoming Experimental Aircraft Association Webinars

The EAA has launched a series of free webinars on various subjects. To find out more, click here.

CSI: Amelia Earhart

“Simon Fraser University forensic psychologist Dongya Yang hopes to extract DNA from the saliva of the famed American pilot from sealed letters supplied by the grandson of well-known Earhart scholar Elgen Long….Funded by the Long family, Yang plans to steam open the letters. They were previously opened at the side so the seals are intact. He then plans to create Earhart’s first genetic profile with the extracted DNA to see if it matches bone fragments discovered in 2009 on the south Pacific isle of Nikumaroro, not far from Howland.” – QMI Agency

Mark Your Calendars:

• May 8: Victory in Europe Day - Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Lancaster's First Flight at the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, AB.
• May 28-29: Toronto Wings & Wheels Heritage Festival. Fly-in visitors to Downsview Airport must register in advance to ensure smooth festival operations. Airport and registration details will be posted on the museum web site www.wingsandwheelsfestival.com by March 2011.
• June 11-12: Air Affair and Air Reunion in Red Deer, AB.
• June 18-19: after a 10-year absence, the Hamilton International Air Show returns this year! More details here.
• June 24-26: Canadian Owners and Pilots Association convention in Langley, B.C. Details here.
• June 30: nomination deadline for Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

  ---

  Researcher-to-Researcher

Request from Linda Brubacher, aviation artist and new CAHS member:

"I am always looking for images (especially copyright free/permission granted ones).  As to the type of planes - I am currently in love with those colourful bush planes like the Norsemen and others that were painted canvas sides. I am open to other suggestions as long as there is a good story attached to it!"

The Preservation Centre of Library and Archives Canada (Gatineau, QC) is a state-of-the-art facility for the preservation of priceless historical documents. Its vaults overflow with national treasures and rare works of art illustrating Canadian history. Guided tours of the Preservation Centre are offered on the third Monday of every month starting at 1:30 p.m.

Several people sent me the following link, indicating it could be useful to those researching the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan: http://flightontario.com/bcatp-schools.htm

I recently learned John Cameron Turnbull, a National member for many years, passed away December 10, 2010 in Toronto. Aviation connections were many for this Order of Canada recipient: he joined the RCAF as a pilot with No. 419 and No. 424 Squadrons during the Second World War, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC); he was a member of the Aircrew Association of Toronto; was the Registrar for the Bomber Harris Trust; and VP of the Halifax Aircraft Association. For the full obituary, please click here.

Mar 08, 2011 - Issue 5

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Aviaelogy

CANAV Books

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Leavens Aviation

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

 Dear CAHS Member,

April is upon us already, and the longer, sunnier days are giving all of us here at CAHS HQ more energy to celebrate and preserve Canadian aviation heritage. As you'll see in this newsletter, we've been very busy, and things will only amp up as the 2011 Convention approaches.

Registration for the convention is now open (read on for more details), and it is shaping up very well. There will be plenty of exciting events, speakers, and opportunities to chat with fellow aviation history enthusiasts. Hope to see you there!

The convention has given us the opportunity to reconnect with other organizations across Canada, and we are committed to continuing these partnerships for many years to come. A big thank you to all of our new partners and to those organizations and companies sponsoring this event: your support is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

www.daniellemc.com

Paul Oberman, a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Air & Space Museum in Toronto and a leading heritage preservationist, died in a light aircraft accident March 7, 2011. A lovely website has been created with information on his life and death. To reach it, please click here.

Clifton "Cliff" Wenzel died March 4, 2011 in Brampton, ON at the age of 89. Carl Mills writes the following about his long and distinguished aviation career:

“Cliff was with 400 Sqn. from 1961 to 1969 and as I recall, he was a member of the Mess for some years after this. He was awarded an OBV in 2005.

I don't know specific details about his duty during the Second World War (awarded DFC) or during the Berlin Airlift (1948 -awarded AFC), however, he flew with 426 "Thunderbird' Sqn. during the Canadian portion of the Korean War airlift  (July 1950 to mid-1954).

The post-war history of 426 Squadron has been published in Thunderbirds for Peace by Larry Motiuk (Larry was a nav. with 426 during Korea) and Cliff is mentioned several times.

After the Korean War, Cliff was involved in other significant types of missions with 426 such as the annual resupply flights to the far north including Alert, Eureka, etc., "Leapfrog" missions for the RCAF F-86 Atlantic crossings, and North Star flight training.

426 was disbanded in Oct 1962 (reactivated in Trenton in 1971), and the North Stars were also withdrawn from service at that time. It appears that Cliff also left the RCAF in this era.  According to Larry Milberry's book, The Canadair North Star, Cliff was hired by a company named International Air Freighters. The company bought three surplus North Stars for the purpose of flying freight between Toronto and Cuba. The flights lasted about seven hours and were regularily intercepted by the USAF. The company ran into financial difficulty in 1962. It was just prior to this that Cliff had joined the Air Force Reserves (400 Sqn.) in Toronto."

Please click here for the Toronto Sun obituary.

{tag:email}, I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If it was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, please be sure to go to www.cahs.ca and sign up to keep receiving it. If you have any questions or comments, you can send them to me at info@daniellemc.com. Thanks for reading!

April 9, 2011 - Issue 6

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Alberta Genealogical Society - Edmonton

Aviaelogy

Bomber Command Museum

CANAV Books

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Fondation Aérovision Québec

Leavens Aviation

Linguistek Inc.

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear CAHS Member,

I always say the best part about being an aviation historian is all the great people you get to meet. This is true for my "real" work researching and writing articles and books, but it especially holds true for my CAHS work.

Just in the past week, I've made wonderful new acquaintances at the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, Canadian Women in Aviation, the Provincial Archives of Alberta, and the Edmonton Flying Club - just to name a few. Each of them is passionate about some aspect of aviation or heritage, and it reminds me how many different people and organizations are working towards the CAHS's goals of preserving and celebrating Canada's aviation history.

At this summer's convention - where many of these aviation heritage enthusiasts will come together in one place - I'm looking forward to meeting even more great people. I hope you'll be one of them!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

www.daniellemc.com

Convention

The 2011 Convention is coming up fast - June 22-26^th – and plans are falling nicely into place.

If you’re a member, you should have received your convention registration package with the Fall 2010 Journal. You can also print a registration form at our website, www.cahs.ca, and access details about accommodations, car rental discounts, and events.

Thanks to those who have already sent in their registrations and proxy forms. Remember, mail your registration by May 15^th and you’ll get a bag of coupons and gifts from businesses near the convention site!

A few updates:

• This will be the Alberta Aviation Museum’s LAST Airfest and they are planning to go out with a bang. Friday the 24^th they’re hosting a Swing Dance featuring a full 18-piece band playing music from the 1930s and ‘40s (please note this event's cost is not incl. in the full convention package).

• That evening, the 408 Squadron will also be hosting its 70^th anniversary on site – a great chance to reunite with some friends! Then during the fly-in event on Sunday, they've invited a number of aircraft including six from the Armed Forces and the Watson Family's two Harvards. Generally, 40-60 aircraft fly in for this great day!

• The Air Reunion that was meant to be held June 11-12 in Red Deer has now been moved to Edmonton during Airfest. With all these events, we should have a fantastic concentration of aviation enthusiasts!

• Vintage Wings have confirmed which aircraft they’ll have in Edmonton during Airfest as part of their Yellow Wings tour: their new BCATP-era Stearman and Fleet Finch. Apparently their CF-86 Hawk One may also make a special appearance!

 More details to come…

CAHS Online

Exec member Rachel Lea Heide has worked diligently over the past weeks and now we have a total of 1700 links to our site's directory. Since summer (and therefore air show season) is right around the corner, I'd like to highlight one of those links. Click here for a list of 2011 air shows in Canada!

If you plan on attending various aviation events and would like to promote the CAHS in the process, we'd be happy to send you brochures and past Journal issues to pass out. Please contact Rachel at rl_heide@yahoo.ca for more information.

We are still waiting on our web development company to complete the necessary work for the member's only sections of our website. As soon as it is running smoothly, we'll make an announcement. Thank you for your patience.

You should have recently received your Fall 2010 issue - the first one we've also released in PDF form to our new online members. So far the technology seems to be working, and we are pleased to be able to offer this option to our members.

The Journal team tells me they are wrapping things up on the Winter 2010 issue. I will continue to post on the website, Facebook, and Twitter when it is sent to the printers and mailing house. That seemed to work well last month!

Chapter News

Vancouver Chapter

Date: May 10, 2011

Time: 1900 hrs

Guest Speaker: Jim Jorgenson will show some videos of World War II aircraft

Toronto Chapter

Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011

Time: 1300 hrs

Guest Speaker: Charles Petersen, "Freedom's Wings Canada," providing people with disabilities the opportunity to fly.

Calgary Chapter

Date: May 19, 2011

Time: 1900 hrs

Guest Speaker: "The Prairie Air Mail: 1930-1932" by Bruce Gowans.

Montreal Chapter

Date: May 19, 2011

Time: 1100 hrs

Guest Speaker: TBA.

Ottawa Chapter

When:  Thursday, 26 May 2011

Time:  1930 Hours

Where:  Bush Theatre, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Rockcliffe Airport

Title:  "Aerobatic Adventures" by Jay Hunt.

NOTE:  This is the last meeting of the 2010-2011 Program Year and includes the CAHS Ottawa Chapter's Annual General Business Meeting and Election of Officers.  Meetings resume on Thursday, 29 September 2011.

Manitoba Chapter

CAHS Manitoba is pleased to be involved with the Winnipeg Film Group's "Stories in the Skies" aviation film festival. The first show of the festival, the famous movie "Captains of the Clouds", will take the place of our May meeting on the 27th. The film will be introduced by Bill Zuk, and a short discussion will follow the film.

Afternoon shows start at 2 pm, and evening shows start at 7 pm. All films are at Cinemateque, 100 Arthur Street, in the Exchange.

CAHS members will receive a special rate of $6 per show, or $35 for the entire series. We will provide CAHS members with a voucher which you must present to receive the discount. The regular (general public) admission is $12 per show ($7 for seniors) and $50 for the series.

"Stories in the Skies" - Canadian Aviation History on Film

Thursday 26 May 7 pm - Captains of the Clouds

Friday 27 May 7 pm - The Kid Who Couldn't Miss / Skydive

Saturday 28 May 2 pm - Wings Parade / Flight 6 / Double Heritage / As Close As Brothers

Saturday 28 May 7 pm - Blake / The Defender / The Balgonie Birdman

Sunday 29 May 2 pm - Wings on Her Shoulder / Rosies of the North

Sunday 29 May 7 pm - History in Our Skies / Bush Pilot: Reflections on a Canadian Myth / Northlander

Member News

John Chalmers was recently honoured by the Edmonton and District Historical Society for his tireless work promoting history through the society, his books, and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. John is also on the board of the Alberta Aviation Museum and is organizing the day trip to Wetaskiwin during the 2011 CAHS Convention. Congrats, John!

John with Barni Tryggvason, former Canadian astronaut, who gave a presentation at the Alberta Aviation Museum April 29, 2011 about flying the Space Shuttle and the Silver Dart replica in 2009.

Gord McNulty had an article on Bill Wheeler published on YorkRegion.com this week. To read it, please click here.

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (that's me!) is giving a talk to the Polaris Chapter of  Canadian Women in Aviation May 19th at 7pm in the upstairs classroom of the Edmonton Flying Club (49 Airport Rd. NW). Through a heavily illustrated Powerpoint show, she'll discuss her book, For the Love of Flying, and her recent travels to the Yukon and Northwest Territories in search of northern aviation history. The talk is free, open to the public, and there will be refreshments and door prizes! For more information, please contact me at info@daniellemc.com.

Marc-André Valiquette, author and publisher of IMAVIATION, has announced that Vol. 3 of his (bilingual) Avro Canada and Arrow Books series is now available. To learn more or order your copy, please contact him at 514-862-0807 / 450-669-1808 or Arrow201@videotron.ca.

Dr. Stéphane Guevremont has just begun teaching a new summer course, "Canadian Aviation: A History," at the University of Calgary. Looks like a great syllabus!

Roger Beebe had an article on the Bristol 170 published in the latest issue of AviNation.

Chris Terry would like to share the following information about an organization he's involved with, the International Association of Transport and Communications Museums (IATM):

“IATM has existed for over 40 years. Its members are drawn from all around the world and include most of the major museums dedicated, in whole or in part, to transportation and communications. Consequently, the membership includes museums dedicated specifically to single modes of transport such as rail, aviation, automobiles or horse-drawn vehicles as well as larger institutions who cover them all. Individuals may also join as members.

IATM publishes a periodic Newsletter and professional Journal, it hosts a web site and every two years it holds a conference for anyone interested in transportation and communication in museums.

This year the bi-annual conference will be hosted by the London Transport Museum in London, England.  It runs from Sunday, 26 June to 1 July. The programme will include presentations and discussions about running museum artifacts and restoring Bristol Beaufighter aircraft.  It will feature tours to places of great interest to aviation buffs including the RAF Museum in north London and Brooklands, a place of great interest to those interested in aviation and automobiles.  Details will be found at the “Calendar” tab at http://www.iatm.ws/. You do not need to be an IATM member to attend."

Mystery Airman ID!

Can you identify the airman – and CAHS member – in this photograph? The first person to email CAHS Director Richard Goette at richardgoette@hotmail.com by Sunday, May 8th with the correct answer will receive a free drink from him at the June Convention plus an aviation themed book. 

Note: the person in this photo may not identify himself (though Richard will buy him a drink at the Convention too)….

Happy guessing!

Readers Write Back

George Harper in Minnesota writes:

"Imagine, 75 years old and still making money! Buffalo Airways - possibly the last DC-3 passenger operation - still operates a daily scheduled DC-3 passenger service for residents in Canada’s Northwest Territories and is likely the last airline to do so… Take a look at the spare parts operation in their parts room in this EAA video.

Researcher-to-Researcher

CAHS member Will Chabun is looking for anyone who served at RCAF Station Saskatoon between 1952 and its closure in 1962. Please email him at atlargewc@yahoo.ca

Steve Phillips is looking for maintenance and technical manuals for the Canadair F86 Sabre 6 with Orenda 14 engine. To get in touch, please email sphilips@tetonaviation.com.

Aviation videos about the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Ottawa) collection can be found by clicking here.

Announcements and Events

6 Group Tour to England in October

The Great Canadian Travel Company is organizing a tour of all ten bases that hosted the squadrons of 6 Group (Bomber Command). The tour will depart from Winnipeg October 20, 2011 and the preliminary price is $2095 (double occupancy) for 9 nights, coach, museum admissions, tour group leader and farewell dinner. Air fare is not included and a $400 deposit is required by May 20th. For more information, please contact Christine Murray at christine@gctravel.ca or 204-949-3843.

95th Anniversary of Vimy & Canadian Battlefield Tour

From April 3 -14, 2012 you can tour several important battle sites in England and France with the CAA-Trafalgar Tours of Canada. The price is $2750 per person, land only. For more information, please contact Valerie Radwanski at 613-736-9696 x. 2634 or vradwanski@caaneo.on.ca.

Operation Santa Claus Needs Your Help

Norman Leach of Calgary, Alberta is organizing a donation drive for the annual Canadian Armed Forces Operation Santa Claus. He writes the following:

"Whether they are sitting in a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan or on a peace keeping mission each and every service person (over 4000 of them) gets a present from Operation Santa Claus (an official part of the Canadian Armed Forces). These special packages bring a feeling of home to those serving in remote Canadian locations and overseas.

For many members of the Forces the Op Santa Claus gift is the only one they will receive on Christmas Day. For others, the treasures they find in the boxes will be given out to children on patrol routes and at orphanages and hospitals across the globe.

I am asking you to help by donating new personal items like tube socks (a particular favourite) or company branded items that are no longer current (wondering what to do with the shirts from last year’s golf tournament? Now you know!) or items like playing cards and board games.

Items must be into Operation Santa Claus by mid August so they can make the long trip to Forces Personnel in remote locations around the world in time for December 25.

I am gathering up the donations here in Southern Alberta. Let me know what you might have, and I will see it gets to our troops. If you are not from Southern Alberta I will put you in touch with the right people.

Thanks in advance."

You can reach Norman at 403-279-8455 or nsleach@telusplanet.net.

Mark Your Calendars!

• May 8: the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, AB is holding its first Lancaster engine runs at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. They will also be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Lanc's maiden flight and honouring "Wop" May.

• May 28-29: Wings and Wheels Heritage Festival at Toronto's Downsview Airport. Click here for more information.
  

• June 15 - 18: Canadian Women in Aviation Conference in Montreal, QC. For more information, please click here.

• June 26 - July 1: International Association of Transport and Communications Museums (IATM) Conference in London, England. Details will be found at the “Calendar” tab at http://www.iatm.ws/. You do not need to be an IATM member to attend.

• July 23: Integra Air is hosting a reunion BBQ for Time Air employees in Lethbridge, AB. More information can be found at this link.
  

• October 19 - 21: Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA) Convention in Winnipeg, MB. More info at www.avaerocouncil.ca.
  

CAHF 2011 Induction Dinner Reminder

See our very own Bill Wheeler get inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame!

When: Thursday, May 26, 2011

Where: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, ON

Ticket prices: $225 each or $2,500 for a table of eight

Accommodation: you can request CAHF rate at Courtyard by Marriott 905-383-7772 or Motel 6 905-679-3355

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the (newly redesigned) www.cahf.ca or contact David Crone cahf3@telus.net or 780-361-1351 (MT)

Skyward

Sam Woodend passed away on April 4, 2011 at the age of 84. The following excerpts are from his obituary in the Ottawa Citizen:

"Sam was born in Haileybury in Northern Ontario and worked in the bush and mines to pay his way through Queen's University where he studied physics and engineering. He joined the Operational Research and Analysis Establishment (ORAE) in 1951 and in the late-60's became Director of ORAE's Directorate of Land Operational Research in Ottawa.

In the late-1970s Sam became Director General, General Analysis in ORAE, and in the late-1980s, took over the management of ORAE. Sam retired in 1988 after almost 40 years of service in ORAE. A major inducement was his wife June's 60th birthday gift of flying lessons. Sam took up his new hobby of flying with his usual enthusiasm, and put his operational research skills to use in helping to organize a Civil Air Search and Rescue (CASARA) structure among fellow-enthusiasts.

After 10 years of flying Sam's eyesight began to deteriorate, he sold his Cessna 172 and moved on to other challenges including designing and building kayaks, and harps. Sam had a great love of being outdoors, and in addition to cycling, explored it winter and summer using many of the other traditional modes of transportation, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and sailing. Sam was a member of a vanishing breed, an enormously collegial man who ensured that everyone around him made the most of their work experience and in the process drew from them better performances."

Richard Philippon "passed quietly into the night in the early hours of Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Born June 5, 1928, Richard was predeceased by his loving wife Viola late last year and leaves five children. He will be sadly missed & remembered with love.

As a young man, Richard built the first truck mounted ferris wheel in North America and traveled with Casey Shows midway.  It was during this period that he met Viola in Regina and they were married in Richard’s home town of St. Vital, Winnipeg in 1952. Together, they built a thriving small business, St. Vital Welding & Machine, which they operated until 2009.  Richard also had a passion for flying and in 1965 he bought his first of many airplanes.  It was a sad day for him when he could no longer soar among the clouds."

Cedric Mah died April 29, 2011 in Edmonton. His obituary can be found by clicking here, but I wanted to include some thoughts sent in by CAHS members who knew Cedric and wrote about his incredible aviation achievements.

John Chalmers writes:

"In my association with aviation matters, I frequently have the opportunity to meet with veteran flyers of both the Second World War and other fields of aviation. I consider it a privilege to spend time with such people, and Cedric Mah was one of them. I always enjoyed hearing his stories and marvel at the accomplishments of both himself and his late brother Al Mah, both exceptional pilots with incredible accomplishments to their name. They rose above the prejudice of the times to make outstanding contributions in their careers as pilots. Cedric is one of those who has helped to build our aviation heritage, and will be remembered with fondness by all who knew him. Fly on, Cedric, the skies are all yours."

Shirlee Smith Matheson writes:

"My biography about Ced contained in Flying the Frontiers Vol. III and titled “So, What Do You Want To Do? Live Forever?” is “my” memorial to Ced, with wonderful memories of a friend.

He frequently wrote me letters and sent packages of stuff which are in the Shirlee Smith Matheson “fonds” at the University of Calgary, in Special Collections, should copies be ever required for a collective."

{tag:email}, I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If it was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, please be sure to go to www.cahs.ca and sign up to keep receiving it. If you have any questions, comments, or submissions, you can send them to me at info@daniellemc.com. Thanks for reading!

May 6, 2011 - Issue 7

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate Members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Alberta Genealogical Society - Edmonton

Aviaelogy

Bomber Command Museum

CANAV Books

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Fondation Aérovision Québec

Leavens Aviation

Linguistek Inc.

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear {tag:email},

With the 2011 Convention only two weeks away, things are certainly hopping here in Edmonton! Please read on for updates on registration, events and special guests. I am really looking forward to getting the chance to mix and mingle with attendees, as well as learn from our terrific lineup of presenters.

This newsletter is also packed with information on events happening around the country (and even in California), comments from readers, and news from our chapters and members. I hope you enjoy it!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President and 2011 Convention Chair

National News

Convention

The upcoming 2011 CAHS Convention (June 22-26 in Edmonton) is foremost in my mind as I scramble around doing last-minute preparations.

If you haven't had a chance yet, you can register for the full package until June 15. After that, you can register for day passes through us to the Friday and Saturday seminars (with a $25 late registration fee), but you will need to purchase special events tickets to Alberta Aviation Museum events (Airfest, Swing Dance, and Northwest Staging Route Dinner) at the door.

Also, please note that after June 15, we will not be accepting any more registrations for the day trip to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum and Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in Wetaskiwin due to booking requirements.

With the Canada Post unrest, please send me an email at info@cahs.ca or call me at 780-249-0750 (Mountain Time) if you'd like to register.

Journal

The Canada Post strike action and 2010 Journal schedule also led us to change our voting process for the 2010 Journal Awards. As you may have seen in a previous update, we have created a hidden page on our website where you will find online copies of the 2010 issues to review before voting for the Best Article Award and Research Award through an online survey or PDF form.

Please note that only CAHS National members may vote for the award, but everyone is invited to get a sneak peek at the Winter 2010 Journal (which is currently at the mailing house). To access the hidden page, please click here.

Website

If you've missed any past e-newsletters, you'll be happy to know we now have them all archived on the site. Click here to be taken to the page. You may have also noticed we're testing a new "CAHS Community" section, which should be functional shortly and will allow members to share photos, videos, events, and other information. We will also have a separate forum for more serious research discussions!

Chapter News

Most Chapters are on summer holidays until September, but Vancouver has one last meeting on June 14 at 7 p.m. Harry Hardy, DFC, will give a presentation on flying the Hawker Typhoon in Europe. Harry flew 96 sorties with 4 different Typhoons between the Normandy Beachhead and the Rhine Crossing.

He wore out the first one, force-landed the 2nd one when the entire squadron got lost on a move to a new base, parachuted out of the 3rd one when he was shot down, and turned the final aircraft, "Pulverizer IV" over to a new pilot when his tour ended. For more information, please contact Chapter President Jerry Vernon at cahsyvr@cahs.ca.

The Toronto Chapter was busy recently staffing a booth at the Wings & Wheels event in that city.

Bob Winson (centre) reports that he, Keith Hyde (right), and Ron O'Brian had a great time chatting with people about the CAHS - including some former members who were interested in rejoining the fold.

Bob also tells me that they started working on the next generation as Ron's model airplane attracted lots of kids!

Member News

Keith Hyde will be continuing to inspire budding historians through an eight-week course on Canadian Aviation History this fall at George Brown College in Toronto. He also regularly draws large audiences through CAHS and library presentations, and I hear he regularly does plugs for this organization. Thanks, Keith!

In late May, we had an all-CAHS panel at the Canadian Historical Association's Congress in Fredericton, NB. The panel, "Canada's Air Force as a Learning Organization" included three of our directors: Major Bill March, Dr. Richard Goette, and Dr. Rachel Lea Heide. The facilitator was Dr. Randy Wakelam from the Royal Military College, who is another air force historian.

Jim Lloyd is finishing up his latest video, "Flying Arrows - The Story of the Avro Arrow Flight Test Program" (DVD, 82 minutes, $29.95). If you'd like to learn more or order a copy, please contact Jim at 250-294-3905 (Pacific Time) or visit his website. Video clips from this and other titles are available on YouTube on the “aviationvideosdvd” channel.

Terry Higgins of Aviaeology is giving CAHS Members a generous 15.5% discount off the price of Early Canadian Military Aircraft if they order before midnight on June 24. (Please note: if you are not currently a member, you will receive the same discount if you join the CAHS by June 24^th). For more information, please go to www.aviaeology.com or contact Terry at 519-742-6965 (Eastern Time) or sales@aviaeology.com.

Another Aviaeology title, Dragons on Birds Wings: The Combat History of the 812th Fighter Air Regiment, is also half price right now!

Chris Weicht is in the middle of his Alberta tour promoting his new book, Alberta Skies.

June 10, he will be giving a presentation on the history of aviation in Red Deer and area at the local public library. For more details on this title and Chris's other works, please click here.

John Morin-Reid may be a new CAHS member, but he has been involved in aviation for 70 years by his estimation! He is currently building 1/16th scale museum dioramas for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

CAHF Induction Dinner

Bill Wheeler of Markham ON, centre, who served as editor of the CAHS Journal for 45 years, receives his medal from Gerald Haddon, right, upon induction to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Mr. Haddon, grandson of JAD McCurdy, was a guest speaker at the induction and assisted with presentations. At left is John Holding, outgoing chairman of the board of the CAHF.

CAHF Historian (and CAHS member) John Chalmers has provided us with photos and details of the gala. Please visit www.cahs.ca for these. There will also be a write-up with even more photos in an upcoming Journal issue!

Readers Write Back

Several people sent in this link to a YouTube music video (aka "The Beaver Ballad") about the DHC-2 Beaver. Guess everyone knows what my favourite aircraft is!

Derm Barrett sent me a link to photos of a few interesting aircraft mishaps...

Roger Beebe sent me a link to a video called "FIFI" First Flight With New Engines.

Stoney Jackson on Vancouver Island reports that:

"Bob Dyck’s Canso CF-UAW has been moved to Victoria Air Maintenance from the north side. The plan is to remove the serviceable R-1830’s from CF-UAW. The engines will then be transported to Nanaimo -Cassisy Airport installation in the ex- Saskatchewan Water Bomber #9 . Victoria Air Maintenance will make the this Canso serviceable for a ferry flight to the Evergreen Museum in Oregon. It’s going to be a challenge as this old bird has been derelict for many years.

The 443 Hornet Squadron hangar here is not going to be removed but the original RCAF Administration Building is to be demolished. It is still possible to see “Royal Canadian Navy” on the end of the hangar. It was home to RCN Squadron VU-33 before they moved to Comox in the 70’s."

John Chalmers (and his three grandsons) made it out to the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, AB for the first start-up of the Lancaster engines this year. He says "the Merlin engines started on the first turn!" and a special guest was in attendance to mark the 70th anniversary of the Lancaster: Don Hudson, nephew of Lancaster designer Rod Chadwick.

He goes on to note:

"Also on the program was the return of a simple gold ring worn by Wop May during the First World War. He gave it to Geoff Parker, an air gunner of the Second World War, who wore it then. Geoff flew on a Liberator, which sank a submarine, and was in turn shot down in the sea, where he survived in a dinghy until rescued. The ring was returned to Wop's son, Denny May (in photo at left), by Patsy Parker, Geoff's daughter.

To read a CTV news article about this event, please click here.

Several people also sent me links to various articles on Kate Middleton and Prince William's connections to Alberta aviation (and their visit). Here are a few:

• "Kate's grandad, the doodlebug nudger"
• "Kate Middleton Calgary connection"
• "Researchers find Kate Middleton's Link to Calgary"

Announcements and Events

The Smithsonian is holding a fun "Are You Smarter Than a Curator?" quiz on its website. For every question you get right, 10 cents will be donated to the National Air and Space Museum (plus you get a free sticker and bragging rights!).

Speaking of fundraisers, I received an update from Flt Lt Dave Williams of Royal Air Force Linton-on-Ouse that the RCAF Monument will be be unveiled July 8 in England, but that fundraising will continue afterwards. They are currently at the halfway mark of their 16,000 GPB target. Apparently the base of the monument - made from LaFarge Canada's granite - will look like an RCAF roundel from the air (and it was delivered in a C-130J by 426 Squadron). For more information, please click here.

Maple Flag at CFB Cold Lake, AB has been cancelled this year. For details, please go to this link.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Vintage Wings of Canada's Yellow Wings tour is now underway. To find out when they will be in your area, please click here.
• The Hawk One tour schedule is now available.

• June 11: American Aviation Historical Society is hosting James Douglas, son of Donald W. Douglas (of Dakota fame) at 11am at 15211 Springdale St. in Huntington Beach, California. The event is free and open to the public, but please contact AAHS President, Kase Dekker at GoAAHS@aahs-online.org to RSVP.

• June 15-17: the Air Force Historical Workshop is in Trenton, ON with the theme "On the Wings of Peace: Air Power in United Nations Operations. The keynote speaker will be Senator Romeo Dallaire. More details here.
• June 16: Marc-Andre Valiquette is holding a free presentation on the Avro Arrow at the Air Force Association of Canada - 413 Wing (230 North Murray St. Trenton, ON).
• June 19: Hamilton Air Show. For more details, please click here.
• June 26: Alberta Aviation Museum's last AirFest will feature Hawk One, Vintage Wings of Canada biplanes, military vehicles, and vintage cars. Also it will be hosting a 1940's swing dance on Friday, June 24 and a Northwest Staging Route dinner on Saturday, June 25 (followed by the CAHS's Stage & Screen show!)
• August 19-20: Waterloo Air Show featuring the Snowbirds, Skyhawks Parachute Team, and the CF-18 Demonstration Team. Information here.
• October 19-21: Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace is holding its 20th Annual Forum and AGM in Winnipeg, MB.
• October 29: Feeling adventurous? Depart on a 21-day trip from the UK to New Zealand (with stops in Asia and Australia) in a DC-3 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jean Batten's historic flight. More info at www.dc3-antipodes.com.

Researcher-to-Researcher

Will Chabun has the following request:

"I'm looking to contact former RCAF pilot/civilian helicopter pilot Charles O. Weir, author of the 1977 memoir Vertical Ascent: adventures of a helicopter pilot. Anybody with tips can contact me at atlargewc@yahoo.ca."

Skywards

Sydney "Syd" Clay, treasurer for the Prince Edward Island CAHS Chapter, passed away May 27 at the age of 90. As President of the Chapter - and friend of Syd's - Andy Anderson said, he was intimately connected to aviation history:

"He was one of 'Trenchard's Brats', served in the RAF both in the UK and here in Canada during the second great unpleasantness, remustering prior to the end of the war to aircrew and becoming a Spitfire pilot. He returned here after hostilities and worked for Maritime Central Airways."

To read The Guardian's obituary, please click here.

George Elliott, a Manitoba Aviation icon, passed away May 26 at the age of 78. The following write-up was forwarded to me by Bill Zuk of the Manitoba CAHS Chapter:

"Shortly after the Second World War, George Elliott began work in transportation in the RCMP Marine Division operating out of Halifax, as a radio operator on sailing ships. He then worked in the air industry, first as a radio operator moving on to managing small airports in northern Canada.

George had a lifelong love of nature that was shared by his wife Joy and their entire family; he recently fondly recalled his time in the Arctic and the north.

He eventually became the Superintendent of the Winnipeg International Airport, then run by the Ministry of Transport. He followed that tenure by four years as Regional Manager of Operations for Transport Canada, Central Region. In 1978, he was appointed the General Manager of the Winnipeg International Airport, holding that position until his retirement in 1989.

His positions and achievements include: Executive Director, the Western Canada Aviation Museum, 1989- 2002, Founding member, Board of the Winnipeg Airports Authority, Director, Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, Director, Manitoba Aviation Council, past President, Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, past Chairperson, Commissionaires Manitoba.

Named 2001 Manitoba Transportation Person of the Year, 2010 National Honoree, Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association Heritage Award."

{tag:email}, I hope you have enjoyed this issue of the CAHS e-newsletter. Please feel free to send in your questions, comments and submissions for future newsletters at info@cahs.ca.

June 8, 2011 - Issue 8

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate Members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Alberta Genealogical Society - Edmonton

Aviaeology

Bomber Command Museum

CANAV Books

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Fondation Aérovision Québec

Leavens Aviation

Linguistek Inc.

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear CAHS member,

It's been a very busy and inspiring month of aviation heritage - and history in the making! Over 100 speakers and attendees from across the country (and even one from Washington State) gathered in Edmonton for the 2011 CAHS Convention. We visted the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Alberta Aviation Museum. and not only was it fun, but we got the chance to learn from those who were there or are experts in their fields. From what I've heard, everyone enjoyed themselves, but you can see for yourself at www.cahs.ca where we have testimonials and photos posted on the newsreel, as well as a gallery of 250 photos of people and aircraft under the "Events" tab.

On Canada Day Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield spoke about his big dreams, intense training, and affinity for writing songs in space. As I "tweeted" from our Twitter account afterwards, he is such a down-to-earth spaceman, and a great believer in education, physical fitness and pursuing your goals. I am sure every one of the 400+ adults and kids in the Alberta Aviation Museum hall that day walked away in awe, but also with a sense of the possible.

I hope during these dreamy summer days, you think back fondly on what you've achieved, make plans for those projects you want to accomplish, and take the time to thank those who've helped you along the way. On that note, a very happy birthday to the people in my life who have made many of my dreams possible: my mother, Mary Metcalfe; my father, Jacques Chenail; and my husband, Doug Pagnutti. Thanks for everything!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

www.daniellemc.com

Hawk One Team Coordinator Jeff Hill, me, and Chris Hadfield (Photo: John Chalmers)

National News

Journal Update

The Winter 2010 issue is finally reaching mailboxes now that the Canada Post strike is over. I think it is quite appropriate the cover features a Sabre since we were just treated to a visit by Hawk One in Edmonton during the convention. We got to chat with its pilot, Dan Dempsey, for a bit, which was great!

Journal Award Winners

During the convention we also announced the 2010 Journal Award Winners. Unfortunately, neither was able to join us, but we would like to extend our hearty 'virtual' congratulations to:

• W.J. "Bill" Cameron of Calgary who won the C. Don Long Best Article Award for "The Saskatchewan Feeder Line: 1938-1957"; and

• Matthias Joost of Ottawa who won the M.L. "Mac" McIntyre Outstanding Research Award for "The RCAF and the Civilian Flying Clubs"

Bill Cameron wrote the following once he had learned his article was chosen: "I was of course very surprised, but delighted, to have been given this prestigious award for one of my stories. It has always been a fascinating subject for me. As a 13 year old in 1942 I had my first-ever airplane ride on a Prairie Airways Beechcraft S-18D from Moose Jaw to Regina, SK. In 1948 I was hired in Regina by CPAL as a Radio Operator-Agent, and over several years did relief work at three other airports in that operation - and then for five years was the Radio Operator-Agent-In-Charge at Prince Albert - all bases originally set up by Prairie Airways in 1938.

My thanks to all the CAHS members that chose the story, and a special thanks ot CAHS editor, Bill March, for publishing the tale in the Journal!"

Bill Wheeler Volunteer Service Award

During this year's convention we spent a day visiting the Reynolds-Alberta Museum and Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Part of the program was watching the the video that was created for Bill Wheeler for his induction into the hall of fame this past May (for photos of that event, please go to www.cahs.ca).

The directors decided to resurrect a volunteer service award for the CAHS, and who better to be its first recipient and namesake than Bill Wheeler, a founding member and editor of the Journal for 45 years.

Bill was unable to join us in Edmonton, but good friend and fellow Toronto Chapter member, Gord McNulty (on left), accepted it on his behalf and promised to deliver it.

Convention - Next Stop: New Brunswick!

In September 2012, the Turnbull - New Brunswick Chapter invites you to join them in Saint John for another fantastic CAHS Convention. At right I am passing our new convention mascot, Avi, to Garry MacLean. Avi was donated by David Crone, curator of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, and named by Margaret May!

Moving Forward

We held the annual elections at the AGM during the conference, and last year's executive all stood for re-election: we just had so much fun working together! The directors have changed slightly, with Colin Webster of Hay River, Northwest Territories rejoining the board and George Topple from Toronto rotating in as a Chapter Director. With teleconference calls and email, we are able to have such a geographically diverse board of directors, which I think can only be a good thing for the society. I look forward to us all putting our heads together for future projects!

L-R: Colin Webster (Director), Don MacNeil (Membership), Richard Goette (Director), Dick Pickering (Director), Rachel Lea Heide (Treasurer), Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (President), Gary Williams (VP), Jim Bell (Secretary), Jerry Vernon (Director)

The CAHS Wants You!

For the past year we have been noting the great ideas members have been proposing. As I mentioned in the letter that went out with the most recent Journal, we are asking you to consider donating some of your valuable time, contacts, or knowledge to pursue these projects. If any of the following areas sound interesting, or you think you can give us some leads, please email the person listed in the brackets.

• Products/Branding will look into CAHS-brand products, prices, put together a sales plan, and brainstorm items CAHS could sell or give away in person or online. (Don MacNeil at cahs.membership.secretary@gmail.com or Gary Williams at g.m.williams@sasktel.net)
• Promotions will brainstorm ways CAHS National and Chapters can promote themselves; create a list of events CAHS can participate in; etc. (Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail at info@daniellemc.com)
• Liaison will identify other aviation groups (like airline enthusiasts), historical and genealogical societies for possible partnerships, as well as look into other possible CAHS membership benefits. (Richard Goette at richardgoette@hotmail.com)
• Corporate will solicit memberships, donations and in-kind support from companies. Looking for provincial/regional representatives for: B.C., Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec (outside Montreal), Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland.(Rachel Lea Heide at rl_heide@yahoo.ca) 
• Awards will gather information on existing awards and write short descriptions/criteria for website, as well as the names and years of past winners. Will coordinate with website and corporate committees. (Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail at info@daniellemc.com. We are looking for someone to chair this committee, so please indicate if you are interested!) 
• Website Content will work on producing new content for www.cahs.ca and for posting about the CAHS in other parts of cyberspace (for example, Wikipedia). (Rachel Lea Heide at rl_heide@yahoo.ca).
• 50th Anniversary History will brainstorm ways to celebrate the CAHS's 50th anniversary in 2013 and possibly do some of the following: gather stories and photos from long-time CAHS members; create an online archive of personal papers or photos, etc. (Rachel Lea Heide at rl_heide@yahoo.ca)

Chapter News

The CAHS Chapters are taking their usual summer break from meetings, but several are still holding social events like barbecues or participating in air shows, so feel free to get in touch with them through our website’s contact page to learn more.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say how much I enjoy reading the chapter newsletters and encourage you to check them out!

Member News

Gordon Wilson has a book set to be released this month called Norad and the Soviet Nuclear Threat: Canada's Secret Electronic Air War. For more information on the writing of the book, please see: www.sparksinthenightsky.com.

Terry Higgins of Aviaeology says he is extending his discount offer on Early Canadian Military Aircraft to CAHS members until the end of July because of the postal strike.

Denny May launched a new book, "More Stories about 'Wop' May" at the 2011 CAHS Convention. Copies are currently available at the gift shops of the Alberta Aviation Museum and the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, AB. You can also order them directly from Denny at maycroft@shaw.ca. For more information on the author and subject, please see www.wopmay.com.

Don Emslie recently unveiled a new display for Gateway Aviation Ltd. at the Alberta Aviation Museum. He provided the following brief history of their activities for our edification:

"They were formed in 1952 by Gordon Anderson, and others, and operated out of the first two hangars built on the City Centre Airport. They were primarily an Aircraft Charter company but also offered private and commercial flying training due to Gordon’s experience as a flying instructor in WW2. They also did pipeline patrols, offered medevac services, and maintenance services, and, as well, became a Cessna dealer. Scheduled Services were offered to some locations using DC3’s and Twin Otters until they obtained larger aircraft such as a Hawker Siddeley 748 and a Convair 640.

After gearing up for further expansion, they were denied additional routes by the Canadian Transport Commission due to the complaint of Pacific Western Airlines that it was cutting into their profits. They ceased operation in 1980. Nowadays there is no protection provided by a Canadian Transport Commission. At one point they were considered to be the largest company of its type in Canada." 

Readers Write Back!

Colin Webster reports the following from his travels: "The Norwegian Air Museum in Bødø was interesting but the poor lighting made photography difficult. 3 Norwegian Air Force F-16's took off in front of my Dash 8 flight to Svolvaer in the Lofoten Islands. Stayed only 2 hours in Iceland, as volcanic ash was threatening to close Keflavik Airport again."

Derm Barrett wanted to share this link to a short BBC video and news story on a tiny electric airplane!

Rachel Lea Heide emailed me interesting links to information on RCAF Air Women and a story about the unveiling of the British memorial to the RCAF I have mentioned in previous newsletters.

Steve Sanderson of South Carolina forwarded "Film Found of B-29 Crew Rescued by Submarine." As he says: "This is worth watching... about 2.5 mins. An entire crew of a B-29 was rescued by a US submarine after their plane was shot down in ~1945, 70 miles off the coast of Japan . The entire rescue was filmed on color film but then sat in a guy's closet until now. This is a story from a Denver TV station of one of those rescued aviators to whom the film was delivered. It also shows their transfer to another submarine that is likely headed back to port before the one that accomplished the rescue. Can you imagine 65 yrs AFTER your rescue you get to watch it on film?!?!"

Researcher-to-Researcher

I am going to Yellowknife for the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In later this month to do research for my book on the history of aviation in Canada's north. If you know anyone you think I should interview, who has photos I should scan, etc, please email me (Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail) at info@daniellemc.com. I'll be there July 21-28. Thanks!

Announcements

Pour nos membres francophones (ou francophiles), Gaston Lepage vient de lancer Le livre de bord du commandant: Récits de voyages. C'est disponible exclusivement en édition numérique sur iBooks ou Kindle. Pour d'autres renseignements, svp cliquez

ici pour sa page Facebook.

Rich Hulina has come out with a coffee table book, Bush Flying Captured, featuring his favourite photos from 25 years of photographing bushplanes around Canada and Alaska. For more information and to order, please visit his website: www.richhulina.com.

 Mark Your Calendars!

• Vintage Wings of Canada's Yellow Wings tour is making its way across Canada, including a stop July 16-17 in Regina, where the local CAHS Chapter will help to host them. For the full schedule, please visit www.yellowwings.ca.
• Hawk One is also on the prowl. Check http://blog.hawkone.ca for dates and locations.
• August 20-21: Waterloo Air Show
• September 17: Wings Over Gatineau
  
• October 19-21: Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace is holding its 20th Annual Forum and AGM in Winnipeg, MB.
• October 29: Feeling adventurous? Depart on a 21-day trip from the UK to New Zealand (with stops in Asia and Australia) in a DC-3 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jean Batten's historic flight. More info at www.dc3-antipodes.com.

Skyward

Bob Woodhouse, an active CAHS National and Montreal member, passed away June 11 at the age of seventy-nine. Capt. Donald Van Dyke, Chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society - Montreal Branch, wrote the following about Bob's involvement in aviation:

"For those of you who perchance did not know him, Bob was ex-RAF pilot, an ETPS graduate (class of 1964) and was a recognised world authority on instrument procedures design, including obstacle modelling and clearance criteria. Among his many, many achievements, he supported activities of the ICAO Obstacle Clearance Panel (OCP) for over 35 years and celebrated 38 years of membership in the Royal Aeronautical Society. All who fly owe him so much."

The photo at left shows him and his beloved wife, Claudette, at the 2010 CAHS Convention. It has been on our website since last year's relaunch, and I think shows the kind of energy and enthusiasm Bob had for all things aviation. His family have generously asked people to donate to the CAHS in his memory. An online form can be found here. His obituary can be found by clicking here.

Mary Buch, a CAHS Ottawa member, passed away July 1. Ottawa Chairman Tim Dubé writes the following: "Mary was a wartime RCAF WD and will be remembered for her book Props on Her Sleeve, the finest collection of personal letters of the Second World War that I have ever read.  She spoke to the Ottawa Chapter in the late-1990s about her experiences -- changing only the names to protect the guilty --and at the CAHS National Convention in 2004." Her obituary can be found by clicking here. 

James "Jim" Carmichael was another longtime CAHS member who recently passed away at the age of 96 in Ottawa. He graduated with honors from Queen's University in Mechanical Engineering. A highlight of his varied and colorful career was the ten years he spent in management at Canadian Car & Foundry, Thunder Bay, manufacturing aircraft during WWII. He derived a life-long passion for aircraft, flight and the history of aviation. Other highlights included being appointed to the Canadian Government's Glassco Commission and later the National Defence College. He devoted much time in his retirement to researching and writing books on the origins of aviation and advancing technology during the Industrial Revolution. His full obituary can be accessed here.

Jeff Pritchard died June 3 after a courageous 4-year battle with cancer. He showed his trademark humour and strength to the end, and never lost his love of aviation. As a young man, Jeff earned his pilot's licence, graduated from the University of Toronto as a metallurgical engineer and pursued a career in aerospace at Vac-Aero International in Oakville. There he worked with his dad, Ross, and with a very talented and dedicated group of colleagues who became some of his finest friends. As CEO of Vac-Aero, Jeff helped lead the company in more international ventures, including in Poland and India. To read his full obituary, please click here.

{tag:email}, thank you for reading this edition of the CAHS newsletter. I hope you enjoyed it! Please feel free to send any comments, event submissions, or questions to me at info@cahs.ca.

{tag:subscriptions}

Dear CAHS Member,

Nothing says summer like airshows and fly-ins! This abbreviated issue of the CAHS e-newsletter highlights some such events happening around the country this month and finishes off with an aircraft identification quiz put together by John Chalmers.

It may be the dog days of August, but we are hard at work getting the first two 2011 Journals out the door and the member's only area on the website completed. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy photos and information from my recent trip to Yellowknife to take part in the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In. You can access them on www.cahs.ca as well as my blog, "The Adventures of Dani Canuck." It was great getting to meet the active CAHS members of YZF as well as Max Ward and "Buffalo" Joe McBryan!

The summer is never all sun and fun, however: I was shocked when I learned Don Hamilton had passed away, a mere month after he spoke at the 2011 CAHS Convention here in Edmonton. We have included a short write-up of the memorial service, photos, a link to his obituary, and an email address to which you can send a note to the family at www.cahs.ca. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and his drive and passion will serve to inspire us all.

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (with "Buffalo" Joe McBryan)

CAHS National President

CAHS member G. Christian Larsen sent in this photograph taken at the conclusion of the Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Service (2011), which was held Sunday 24 July 2011 at Pennfield Ridge, NB. A banquet dinner followed at The Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #40), St. George, NB to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Pennfield Ridge Air Station (a former BCATP base).

Researcher-to-Researcher

Larry gray is writing the history of RCAF Station Summerside. He would like to hear from anyone who served there and is especially looking for pictures and artefacts from both the war and peacetime era. He can be reached at landgg@sympatico.ca.

Elizabeth Muir is doing research on Pat Eccleston, one of the first stewardesses in Canada for a children's book on women and flight in Canada. She is looking for the following: birth and death dates, married name, and any other information about her.She also writes: "I understand that Barbara Ann Scott, the Canadian figure skater, was also a licenced pilot. I would appreciate any information about her as a pilot." You can contact her at emuir@eol.ca or 416-469-5097.

Yellow Wings in Regina, SK!

Gary Williams, Regina President and National VP, in the front seat!

(Photo: Will Chabun)

Mark Your Calendars!

• 20-21 August: Waterloo Air Show at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Gates open 10am - 5pm. Air Show runs 1-4pm. General Admission is $20 (discounted advanced purchase prices also available) but children under 10 and seniors (65+)/veterans are FREE! For tickets and information, please go to www.waterlooairshow.com.This year’s line up includes:
  • Canadian Forces Snowbirds
  • Canadian Forces SkyHawks parachute formation team, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary
  • Canadian Forces CF-18
  • U.S. Air Force F-16
  • Discovery Air 'Hawk One'
  • Vintage Wings’ P-40N
  • T-33 Thunderbird                    
  • Harvard Formation Team    
  • Wayne Hadath, a Kitchener resident who will show off his racing F1-Rocket airplane
• 21 August: The Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre (Centre Canadien du Patrimoine Aéronautique) will be jointly exhibiting its large scale model of the Bleriot XI at the celebration of Pointe Claire, QC’s 100th birthday. For more information, please contact Carlo Malaguti at malaguti@sympatico.ca.

• 23 August: CAHS Turbull-NB Chapter is hosting LtCol (ret'd) Dan Dempsey, Hawk One pilot. He will give a lecture from 6 to 7pm at St. Josephs Church H.O.P.E. Hall on Loch Lomond Rd. near the airport. It is free and open to the public. For more information on Dempsey and his recent book, please visit www.canadasairshowheritage.com.
• 24 August: Saint John Airport will hold an open house at the Turnbull Field on from 3-7pm. Hawk One (F86 Sabre) and a Second World War Lysander will be on display, among others.
• 27-28 August: International Air Show to be held in Summerside, P.E.I. For further details please contact PEI Chapter member Lowell Huestis at lhuestis@pei.sympatico.ca.

Summer Aircraft Identification Quiz

By John Chalmers

During the CAHS annual conference at Edmonton in June, a bus trip on June 23 provided the opportunity to visit the Reynolds-Alberta Museum at Wetaskiwin AB to tour the museum and Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Groups were given a tour of the museum's huge transportation warehouse, normally not open to the public. In addition to housing hundreds of vehicles, dozens of aircraft are also in the warehouse, at least as many as are on display in the museum.

Many of these aircraft are in flying condition. From time to time, aircraft are moved out of the museum and put on display in the RAM hangar, and others are moved from the hangar to the warehouse.

Take a look at the following 2 photos and see how many aircraft you can identify. It won't be easy! But a couple of hint photos follow to give you another look.

There are 16 aircraft to identify in this first photo.

Part 2: there are 7 aircraft to identify in this photo.

Thanks to Byron Reynolds for providing the identification in the Answers below. To help you, following are two "hint" photos to give you another look. The unrestored Bollingbroke is not one of the photos to be identifed, but you can see more of CF-AGX in that photo.

Hint photo 1

Hint photo 2

Now the answers!

For the Part 1 photo:

1)     1946 Beech Bonanza CF-FYF

2)     1957 Percival Prospector CF-NWI

3)     1940 North American Yale RCAF 3458

4)     1942 Cessna Crane RCAF 8778

5)     1944 Avro Anson V RCAF 12477

6)     1929 Travel Air CF-JLW

7)     1940 DeHavilland Tiger Moth RCAF 4314

8)     1928 American Eagle CF-AHY

9)     Avro Arrow Replica

10)   1944 Noury-Fleet Canuck prototype CF-BYW

11)   1946 Auster AOP-6 RCAF 16656

12)   1943 Stinson Reliant CF-BGM

13)   1940 Beech Staggerwing CF-DTE

14)   1939 Fleet Finch prototype RCAF 1001

15)   1947 Stinson 108-2 CF-MPJ

16)   1930 DeHavilland Gipsy Moth CF-AGX

For the Part 2 photo:

1)     1942 Cessna Crane RCAF 8778

2)     1944 Avro Anson V RCAF 12477

3)     1943 Beech Expeditor RCAF 1387

4)     1944 Noury-Fleet Canuck prototype CF-BYW

5)     1938 Miles Whitney Straight CF-FGK

6)     1941 Piper J3 Cub CF-YME

7)     1946 Auster AOP-6 RCAF 16656

Sorry, no prizes, just the personal satisfaction of having done the best you can on the quiz!

Dear CAHS member,

September always feels like a time of new beginnings, and this is true for the CAHS as well. Many of our Chapters are getting their 2011-2012 speakers' programmes underway, and would love for you to attend as their guest (a small "landing fee" may apply at some to cover coffee and snacks). These local gatherings are a great way to meet other aviation history enthusiasts, and with a chapter in many major Canadian cities, there is likely one near where you live, or where your travels may take you. Please go to our website to see information on locations and programming.

Don't see one in your town? Consider starting your own chapter either from scratch, or by bringing an existing group into

the CAHS fold! We would be happy to work with you to make it happen. Please email info@cahs.ca for more details.

I got to see a bit of aviation history from east to west this past month, from Salt Spring Air (B.C), to the Brampton Flying Club (which has a small museum on-site, that was unfortunately closed), to the Canadian Air & Space Museum in Toronto (where I ran into David Crone of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, hard at work with the 2012 awards review committee!).

Back at home in Edmonton, I was able to attend the rollout of a B-25 Mitchell restored by the 418 Squadron Association at the Alberta Aviation Museum. What an amazing amount of time, effort, and expertise that went into that restoration project. It was a beautiful ceremony on a perfect day. For the story and more photos, please visit our website.

I hope you enjoy this time of crisp mornings and fresh starts, and seize every opportunity to learn something new - and share it with others over coffee, by email, in publications like the Journal, or on social media. It is through our collective efforts that the important stories of aviation history are researched, written, read, and discussed.

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

www.daniellemc.com

National News

2011 Conference Updates

The 2011 conference may be over, but you can still enjoy the photos from that great event by clicking here. Also, CAHS member Dennis Casper created a fascinating Alberta Aviation Quiz for the conference. The prizes have already been handed out, but feel free to check out the questions and answers on the Regina Chapter's page.

Speaking of the conference, we just received news from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation that our grant application was successful! This means our excellent speakers will receive a small honorarium. Thank you to the AHRF for supporting our event and Alberta aviation history generally.

New Corporate Members

Welcome to our two newest corporate members, Canada's National History Society (which produces Canada's History magazine - formerly The Beaver) and the Northern Air Transport Association!

The CAHS Wants You!

For the past year we have been noting the great ideas you have proposed. Now we are asking you to consider donating some of your valuable time, contacts, or knowledge to pursue these projects. If any of the following areas sound interesting, or you think you can give us some leads, please email the person listed in the brackets.

• Products: will look into CAHS-brand products, prices, put together a sales plan, and brainstorm items CAHS could sell or give away. (Don MacNeil at cahs.membership.secretary@gmail.com or Gary Williams at g.m.williams@sasktel.net)
• Promotions: will brainstorm ways CAHS National and chapters can promote themselves; create a list of events CAHS can participate in; etc. (Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail at info@daniellemc.com)
• Liaison: will identify other aviation groups (like airline enthusiasts), historical and genealogical societies for possible partnerships, as well as look into other possible CAHS membership benefits. (Richard Goette at richardgoette@hotmail.com)
• Corporate: will solicit memberships, donations and in-kind support from companies. Looking for provincial/regional representatives for: B.C., Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec (outside Montreal), Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland.(Rachel Lea Heide at rl_heide@yahoo.ca)
• Awards: will gather information on existing awards and write short descriptions/criteria for website, as well as the names and years of past winners. Will coordinate with website and corporate committees. (Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail at info@daniellemc.com. We are looking for someone to chair this committee, so please indicate if you are interested!)
• Website Content will work on producing new content for www.cahs.ca and for posting about the CAHS in other parts of cyberspace (for example, Wikipedia). (Rachel Lea Heide at rl_heide@yahoo.ca).
• 50th Anniversary History will brainstorm ways to celebrate the CAHS's 50th anniversary in 2013 and possibly do some of the following: gather stories and photos from long-time CAHS members; create an online archive of personal papers or photos, etc. (Rachel Lea Heide at rl_heide@yahoo.ca)

Spring 2011 Journal Update

Our graphics manager had a complete computer meltdown in July/August, which unfortunately has led to more delays. He assures me the proofs are off to the printers and will soon be headed to the mailing house. Online members will receive the issue in their inboxes as PDF files as soon as the final proofs are set to go. As the saying goes, technology is great...when it works!

Summer 2011 is in the layout stage and will (fingers crossed) not be too far behind...

Chapter News

New Brunswick in the News!

The Turnbull-NB Chapter was recently involved in the Saint John Airport's open house, and had one of the most popular displays. Congrats to Jim Sulis and his group! For the Telegraph-Journal write-up, please click here.

Chapter Meetings Resume After Summer Break

Many of our Chapters are gearing up for their 2011-2012 programmes. Here are some of the events planned for September across the country:

September 8: John Moyles will speak about his aviation career and adventures in Regina at 7:30 p.m. (including being aboard one leg of a transcontinental flight in the 1930s). For more details, click here.

September 15: Marc-Andre Valiquette, author of four books on Avro Canada and the CF-105 Arrow, will speak in Montreal at 11 a.m. For meeting information, please click here.

September 15: building on his popular conference talk, John Chalmers will speak on "Alberta Aviation: 100 Years and Counting" in Calgary at 7 p.m. Want to attend? Click here for info.

For other chapter meetings, please go to www.cahs.ca and contact their representatives directly.

Member News

Larry Gray was recently interviewed by the Journal-Pioneer, a newspaper in Summerside, P.E.I. about his research into CFB Summerside. To read the story, click here. If you have stories, photos, or memorabilia related to this topic, please email Larry at landgg@sympatico.ca.

Gordon Piro in Yellowknife has an update on the impressive displays he created for the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In this summer: "I donated the displays to the Fox Moth Society here and we installed them at the Yellowknife Airport. They will be there for three months, and then we hope to move them to the Fox Moth Gallery at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre."

(Photo credit: G. Piro)

What's in a Name?

The Canadian air force and navy have recently returned to their traditional names, which include the word “Royal” at the beginning. The Navy originally gained its “royal” prefix in 1911, and the Royal Canadian Air Force had it from its creation in 1924. When unification of the Canadian Forces happened in 1968 the prefix was dropped. The army never had a royal title and has been Land Forces Command since 1986 (although individual corps were designated "Royal"). Now it will revert to its old title of the Canadian Army.

Calgary-Area Remembrance Day Speakers Sought

The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta has taken on the task of coordinating event requests for public speakers in the days and weeks leading up to Remembrance Day. If you are in the Calgary area and would like to speak about your personal military experience - past or present, the importance of remembrance, and would be willing to respond to questions from the public, you are encouraged to participate.

Information and participant forms will be available online at www.themilitarymuseums.ca shortly. In the meantime, you can contact: 2Lt Pete Musters (403) 246-3392 or peter@themilitarymuseums.ca

Alberta Aviation Museum has partnered with Buffalo Airways to create a twenty-first century Lockheed Electra Procedural Flight Training Simulator. The simulator will be used by Buffalo as a procedural trainer for its Lockheed Electra Cargo and Water Suppression aircraft. The complex electronic systems will be mounted into a 1959 Simulator cockpit that will be restored in the AAM to its original appearance.

Norman Muffitt passed away August 19 at the age of 69, after a short but brave fight with cancer. After learning to fly in the air cadets, Norm joined the RCMP at the age of 18, eventually transferring to the Air Division as a pilot. In addition to busy flying in the Arctic and western Canada, he flew dignitaries such as Princess Margaret, Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark. He retired in 1986 and joined Transport Canada Aviation Enforcement, retiring as the head of Western Region in 2002.

Douglas "Duke" Warren died August 27 at the age of 89. Vintage Wings of Canada published a lovely tribute to him on their website. A friend of his, Dave Brown, wrote: "For those of you who may not have know him, he was a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War. He also had a twin brother who also flew Spits during the war, and was also known as Duke. (During the war they were referred to as Duke mk 1 and Duke mk 2)."

Dear {tag:email},

A lot has happened over the past month, but perhaps that which is foremost in the aviation heritage community's mind is the future of the Canadian Air & Space Museum in Toronto at Downsview Park. I am sure many of you have been following the drama of the lockout and reprieve with interest and concern. It will likely also be a significant topic of conversation at this week's Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association (CAPA) conference in Windsor, ON.

To learn about the museum's history (and historic site in the de Havilland Canada building), the background of this current situation, and how to lend your support, please visit the museum's website.

It can at times feel that getting recognition and funding for heritage in Canada is an uphill battle, but compiling this newsletter, I cannot help but be optimistic. There are so many terrific initiatives happening through government, not-for-profits such as ours, and individuals. I hope reading it will inspire you to continue in your efforts to preserve and celebrate Canada's aviation history, be it by attending an event, doing research, or writing down your own experiences.

We are all in this together!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

National News

2012 Convention – Call for Papers!

Next year’s CAHS Convention will be held in Saint John, NB in September 2012. The theme will be “First in the Air – New Brunswick’s Place in Canadian Aviation.” The conference will also explore the sub-themes of balloons, fixed and rotary-winged aircraft.

The organizing committee invites you to submit a 100-word abstract and biographical note by November 15, 2011. Please email your submissions or questions to wbteft@nb.sympatico.ca.

CAHS Online

We recently switched from a closed Facebook group to an open fan page. If you are on Facebook, please click here and “like” the page – then feel free to post news, photos, videos, and links.

And please do not forget to follow @CanAvHistSoc if you are on Twitter. Our current followers include Dan Dempsey of Hawk One, CANAV Books, Ice Pilots NWT, and several aviation museums across the world!

New on the website this month:

• Highlights from women’s history month;
• A write-up from a recent talk by Norman Leach to the Manitoba Chapter; and
• An excerpt from article on doing northern aviation in Spring 2011 Journal.

CAHS Journal

After many technical delays, the Spring 2011 edition is at the printers. Online members should be receiving their PDFs by email shortly and traditional members should start watching their mailboxes later this month.

Summer 2012 will hopefully follow quickly, and will include write-ups on this year’s Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame inductees – such as the CAHS’s William Wheeler – by CAHF historian John Chalmers.

Chapter News

The CAHS regional chapters are back in full swing, as the exciting meeting descriptions that follow indicate. For contact information, locations, and other details, please visit their pages on www.cahs.ca.

October 11: Vancouver Chapter President Jerry Vernon will present a slide show on the 2011 CAHS Convention in Edmonton, including visits to the Alberta Aviation Museum, Reynolds Alberta Museum, and Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. There will also be some slides from the 2011 Abbotsford Air Show and the 2011 Chilliwack Air Fair.

October 20: the Montreal Chapter will feature Frank Henley, a WWII pilot, senior executive with Nordair, and Aeronautics Consultant to Hydro Quebec on the James Bay development. His visual and audio presentation will describe flying a 1950 Geodesic survey team along the Labrador coast with Norseman aircraft.

October 20: the Calgary Chapter is hosting Tim Wall, who will speak about the amazing story of scratch-building, restoring and flying an exact 70% scale British Supermarine Spitfire Mark I Second World War fighter replica. Weather permitting, this aircraft will be on display from 6 p.m. until the start of the meeting in the SAIT Aero Centre hangar.

October 22: the Toronto Chapter is hosting aviation historian Keith R. Hyde who will tell the engaging story of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.

October 27: the Ottawa Chapter meeting will feature a talk by Norm Avery about his new book, Mayhem to Mayday. He will share details from his new biography of one of the RCAF's renowned fighter pilots of the Second World War and Korean Conflict -- the late Andy MacKenzie. Copies will be available for purchase that evening.

Member News

Denny May has done a second printing of his new book, More Stories about “Wop” May. Email him to order your copy at WCCAS@shaw.ca.

CAHS Member Edward Soye flies Rick Mercer!

To watch classic Mercer in a vintage Harvard aircraft (and Stearman), click here. The photographs here were taken by Eric Dumigan that day. For more stills, please visit his website.

As Jerry Vernon added, "Bessy," Harvard CF-UFZ, was the air-to-air camera ship for his ride in the Harvard and Stearman. “Bessy” was owned by COPA’s Tony Swain from 1971 until 2005, when he sold it to the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association.

Norm Sheppard, a new director with the NB Chapter, was recently involved in bringing a De Havilland Mosquito model his dad, Clarke, built back to New Brunswick. It is now on display in the Don McClure Aviation HIstorical Gallery at the Greater Moncton International Airport, where three of Clarke's models are already on display. The ceremony took place last month to coincide with a celebration of life at the Moncton Flight College, as Clarke passed away June 27. For more details, please click here.

CAHS members have quite a few connections to the recent unveiling of a monument to William Barker VC (left):

Wayne Ralph spoke at the ceremony and at an evening dinner of the RCMI, and our membership officer, Don MacNeil, announced the following:

"If you saw any of the video coverage you may have seen two WWI biplanes and a solo CF-18 doing the flypast. It was my son's first assignment with his new Squadron in Bagotville: quite an honour for a rookie CF-18 pilot. Not often a fighter pilot gets to beat up a major city in broad daylight and not get called up on the red carpet for it!"

Click here for news footage, videos of those flypasts, and other information about Barker and the ceremony. To read the story featuring Wayne Ralph, please click here.

Gordon Wilson is pleased to announce his new book, NORAD and the Soviet Nuclear Threat: Canada's Secret Electronic Air War, has been published by Amberley in England. It will be published by Dundurn Press for North American distribution in March 2012. For more information, please go to his website: wwww.noradandthesovietnuclearthreat.com.

Readers Write Back

Peter Petrov was able to provide more information about the museum on the site of the Brampton Flying Club/Flight Centre I mentioned last month. Peter is a volunteer at the Great War Flying Museum and says you can find more details on its website. He also says he is building the lower wing for a Fokker D VII at the moment and working on some privately-owned projects.

Jim Bell sent in the folliowing link to a news story about new additions to the Jet Aircraft Museum in Waterloo, ON.

Several of you sent in this link to great footage from this year's OshKosh festivities.

Rob Warden emailed me the following (time to dig out your Journal issue and write in the correction):

"My uncle Cecil (left) just passed away and I was doing searches for pictures of him with the P-40 when I came across this reference in your 1997 Journal. The airplane itself was actually owned by my Dad Robert (Bob) Warden. Cecil was the plane’s pilot.

Currently this P-40 is owned by Rudy Frasca of Frasca Aviation in Urbana, Illinois. It is painted in Flying Tigers camo with a 47 on the tail. Rudy has told me that it is one if the most photographed warbirds."

John Chalmers: "The current issue (October/November 2011) of Our Canada magazine carries a six-page spread with five paintings by famed Spruce Grove, AB aviation artist, Robert Bailey. One of the large images shows Mosquitoes of City of Edmonton 418 Squadron attacking a munitions train and depot in Germany.

You can see a sample of this issue by clicking here.

Much of the issue is dedicated to stories of the Second World War. Although the sample includes many pages, it does not include the Robert Bailey art. You'll have to buy a copy to see it - but it's worth it!"

Announcements

Vintage Wings has introduced a new Vintage Cinéma d'epoque YouTube Channel offering up videos - both amateur and pro - for your listening, viewing, finger-snapping and toe-tapping pleasure. It's All Warbirds, All the Time. Follow this link to learn more. They invite you to submit your video material about Vintage Wings of Canada aircraft, people and events and they will post it.

STI tours is planning a 12-day tour for Sept/Oct 2012 with a focus on air force related sites and museums in the Western UK. They have offered the tour before with great success, and this one promises to be especially good as CAHS Vancouver President and historian, Jerry Vernon, will be co-organizing. They are currently looking for expressions of interest to see if this tour will go ahead. If you are interested, please contact Gery Valtiner at 604-291-1332 or sti@sticanada.com or Jerry Vernon at 604-420-6065 or jevernon@telus.net as soon as possible.

Dieppe Raid 70th Anniversary Tour scheduled August 17-23, 2012 being organized by Galina International Battlefield Tours out of Chester, UK for groups from Canada. Tour includes Dieppe, Normandy, and Vimy Ridge. For more information, please email info@wartours.com.

Royal Roads Ex-Cadet Heritage Projects

For more than 50 years, the Royal Roads mast stood in front of Hartley Castle. Lowered when Royal Roads Military College closed in 1995, the mast has now been refurbished by the Navy at CFB Esquimalt and reinstalled in a new Memorial Plaza at Royal Roads University (RRU). The Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club and RRU are now offering granite paving stones to be inscribed with the names of ex-cadets and former staff of any Royal Roads military college. They may be ordered (by donation) for anyone who served at Royal Roads from 1940 to 1995.

RRU is also collecting biographies connected to the people recognized with these stones, to be placed in a special binder accessible to museum visitors. To learn more about these heritage project and others, please click here or contact Karen Inkster at Foundation@royalroads.ca or 1-866-207-0080.

Aviation News Bites:

• Aviation history and photos from Cariboo-Chilcotin Coast in the works
• Ad Astra program at National Air Force Museum in Trenton, ON
• Organizers of award honouring aviation trailblazer want more women to take flight
• NASA awards historic green aviation prize
• Last flights from old terminal building at Richardson Airport in Winnipeg October 29

Skyward

We are very sad to hear about Mike Ody's sudden death in early October. As Neil Aird wrote on his blog: “Mike was enjoying his retirement and constantly keeping his finger on the pulse of all things de Havilland Canada. A great researcher, and he never passed here without coming with binders and slides that might be of interest to the DHC-2.com archives.”

Air-Britain had just awarded awarded him the AAHS Trophy for the best contribution to American aviation history in 2010 for his article on Found Aircraft in the Summer 2010 issue of Aviation World.

His family invites you to make a donation to either the St. Michael’s Foundation or Covenant House.

Dear {tag:email}, I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to other aviation history enthusiasts, and to send in your comments and questions to info@cahs.ca.

Oct 11, 2011 - Issue 12

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate Members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Alberta Genealogical Society - Edmonton

Aviaeology

Bomber Command Museum

CANAV Books

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Fondation Aérovision Québec

Leavens Aviation

Linguistek Inc.

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear Member,

From the looks of things, our partners and members have been just as busy as CAHS National and Chapters this fall. Many of the announcements and events listed below are time sensitive, especially with Remembrance Day just around the corner, so without further ado, I will let you get on to the good stuff!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

National News

2012 Convention

Last call for papers! Next year’s CAHS Convention will be held in Saint John, NB in September 2012. The theme will be “First in the Air – New Brunswick’s Place in Canadian Aviation.” The conference will also explore the sub-themes of balloons, fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft.

The organizing committee invites you to submit a 100-word abstract and biographical note by November 15, 2011. Please email your submissions or questions to wbteft@nb.sympatico.ca.

Spring 2011 should have hit your mailbox or inbox by now, depending on whether you have opted to receive a hard copy or PDF. The Journal team says that Summer 2011 is in final layout and - fingers crossed - will be at the printer's shortly.

Be a contributor! Editor Bill March is looking for photos and write-ups of your local aviation heritage gems. This could include a volunteer-run museum, heritage society, or a community-maintained monument. Please get in touch with him by email or phone through his contact page by clicking here.

CAHS Online

We have switched to a Facebook fan page from our closed group on the advice of a social media expert, so if you are on Facebook please come "like" us.

The CAHS is also alive and well in the Twitterverse and our list of aviation enthusiast followers grows weekly. If you are on Twitter, please search for @CanAvHistSoc - we almost always follow back! Even if you are not "tweeting" yourself, you can follow our posting profile on the internet by clicking here.

New on the website this month:

• The Canadian Air & Space Museum reached out to us for help publicizing their plight, and so we have featured some recent and historic photos of Downsview and CASM, along with useful links.
• As Remembrance Day is around the corner, we thought it was appropriate to highlight people and programs doing the important work of collecting, preserving, and celebrating veterans' stories.

Chapter News

Please note: all chapters welcome guests and visitors to their monthly meetings, and are always on the lookout for new speakers. Please visit their pages on www.cahs.ca to learn more about these exciting opportunities for learning and laughing!

November 8: Jim Jorgenson will give a digital presentation to the Vancouver Chapter on his recent visit to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton, the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Dayton, Chicago and the Aero Space Museum of Calgary. He also has a few shots that member Tim Cole took of the recent Beech King Air 100 crash onto Russ Baker Way (Tim was in Aviation World when the aircraft crashed just a short distance away!) [Editor's note: In case you have not heard about this crash yet, here is a bit of backgrounder].

November 17: Ed McKeogh, retired RCAF pilot who flew with the Golden Hawks aerobatic team in the 1960's, will speak to the Montreal Chapter. His talk will describe events surrounding the production of 1800 F-86 Sabre aircraft by Canadair, during the Cold War era.

November 17: Norman Leach will speak on the Horten Ho229 Jet-powered Flying Wing Fighter to the Calgary Chapter.

November 19: Author Glad Bryce will speak on “First In Last Out”: The RCAF Women’s Division and Nursing Sisters in World War II, to the Toronto Chapter.

November 24: The Ottawa Chapter will hear as Major K.J. ‘Kozy ’ Kozak details the history and current operations of Ottawa-based 412 (Transport) Squadron as it celebrates 70 years of service, 1941 - 2011.

November 24: Stephen Hayter and Marc George will discuss the RCA Museum, Canada's National Artillery Museum, with the Manitoba Chapter.

Carl Mills: “The 400 Squadron memorial monument is now completed at the Museum at the Trenton Air Park. On the reverse side is the Honour Roll. We had an informal gathering of the troops.

All eight of the 400 Squadron dioramas were rescued from the Downsview air museum. We are in the process of forming the 400 Squadron Historical Society. We have many projects and the Society will manage the projects and fundraise.”

Norman Leach: “The Globe and Mail published a great article on the Education Programs at the Military Museums – and I even get a brief mention!”

Hugh Halliday had a letter to the editor published in the Ottawa Citizen: “Re: New street may commemorate 100 years of flight in Ottawa, Oct. 25.”To read it, please click here.

Dr. Stephane Guevremont will be leading a 17-day tour of European Battlefields July 5-21, 2012. Space is limited, so if you are interested, please contact Excel Travel at 403-255-8383 or exceltravel@shaw.ca by November 25. Cost is set at $3,995 CAD per person, based on double occupancy.

Readers Write Back

Stoney Jackson writes in with this news digest from the west coast:

"There was a Barker Field in Toronto many years ago. Perhaps they could rename Brampton Airport in Barker's honour? I just talked to Ted Coombes on Saltspring Island. He joined the RCAF in 1935. Ted just might be the oldest surviving RCAF member. The members of 44e (MH) Squadron (Pat Bay) Victoria Int. Airport like the change back to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Construction of the new helicopter hangar has started. The present 1940’s hangar will remain but the old administration building will be destroyed."

Doug MacKinnon, Dubai, UAE: "Mrs. Heather McGonigal of Transwest Air is being awarded the ATAC Paul Mulrooney Memorial Award of Excellence on Nov.14, 2011 in Montreal. As a matter of interest Mrs. McGonigal is our daughter. She is a third generation pilot with her grandfather being a WWII Wing Commander with 405 Pathfinder Squadron."

Researcher to Researcher

Dennis Paproski writes in with the following request for help:

"My request relates to two first cousins of my father, both of whom were bush pilots, probably in the 1920s or 1930s, and both of whom were killed in flying accidents. As I remember the oral history, they both flew in northern Quebec and possibly other areas in the North. But I don't know where or when their deaths occurred. In the original Polish, their surname is spelled Jasinski but records (in English) could as easily appear as Jazinski, Yasinski or Yazinski. In the James Bay area of Quebec is a lake by that name, which seems somewhat strange, unless it is connected to one of the two brothers. One of their given names could well have been Michal (Michael). Their parents were Karol and Josefa (Paprocka) Jasinski of Wynyard, Sask."

Any leads would be appreciated: dpaproski@cogeco.ca

Announcements and Events

Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame Announces 2012 Inductees:

• Nils Christensen (Viking Air - Victoria)
• Pierre J. Jeanniot (Montreal)
• AVM Harold "Gus" Edwards (Halifax)
• David Williams (Oakville)
• Belt of Orion Award goes to Leavens Aviation of Toronto

Congratulations to all those chosen for induction next year!

Calgary Mosquito Society Meeting

The Calgary Mosquito Society is holding a meeting Wednesday, November 9 at 7 p.m. at the new location of the Phoenix Foundation, 320 - 19 Street SE. Board member Jack McWilliam will be speaking on his recent trip to Windsor for the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association convention and will give a photo presentation on the progress of their Mosquito rebuild.

Aviation Art Gallery Opening

The Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre (Ste-Anne-De-Bellevue, Que.) is pleased to invite you to the official opening of the Godfrey Pasmore Aviation Art Gallery, on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 1PM.

The CAHC has repatriated Mr. Pasmore’s incredible collection of 26 original paintings by some of Canada’s most renowned aviation artists, depicting the beginnings of aviation in Quebec, and is now on permanent display in the CAHC’s art gallery.

Vintage Wings of Canada is holding its Victory Gala November 12, featuring three aviation legends: Max Ward, Russ Bannock, and George Neal. Upon last check of the website (2:45pm MT Nov 8) there were only FOUR TICKETS LEFT! To book yours, click here.

Une semaine bien chargée à l'ÉNA!

À compter du 7 novembre 2011 jusqu'au 13 novembre 2011, beaucoup d'activités se dérouleront à l'École nationale d'aérotechnique. Tout d'abord, organisée par le groupe étudiant Aéro-ÉNA, une semaine du souvenir aura lieu dans les couloirs de l'école.

Avec le soutien de la Fondation Aérovision, une partie du Panthéon de l'Air et de l'Espace sera exposée afin de commémorer les pilotes canadiens qui ont participé au second conflit mondial. Pour plus de renseignements: http://www.pierregillard.com/blog/index.html

Last Call to Apply for 2012 Women in Aviation International Scholarships

Application Deadline: Monday, November 14, 2011

Just one week remains to apply for one of the many scholarships that will be distributed at WAI's annual Conference. For 2012, 68 individual scholarships valued at $470,431 will be awarded to WAI members.

"WAI's scholarships are open to women and men," says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "The only qualification for all scholarships is that the person be a WAI member. Other specific criteria may apply to individual scholarships, so read the descriptions carefully."

The diversity of WAI scholarships mirrors the diversity of WAI members. Scholarships include funds for specific flight training activities, including many type ratings as well as for academic studies, help in making a mid-life career change and even learning to fly just for fun. Scholarships are available for students, pilots (all levels), engineers and aviation mechanics.

The scholarships will be awarded when Women in Aviation returns to Dallas, Texas, for its 23rd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference scheduled at the Hilton Anatole from March 8-10, 2012. For more information, visit www.wai.org.

Canadian Air & Space Musem - Downsview Updates:

• "Air and Space Museum heads for demoltion amid heritage status confusion"
• "Historic WW2 building in Toronto faces wrecking ball"

News from Nanton

• Wing part from Calgary-born Victoria Cross Recipient's Aircraft to be officially placed on display with the Ian Bazalgette Memorial Lancaster Bomber. For more information, please click here.
• "Huge cache of Bristol Hercules engines with spare parts discovered and recovered from a World War 2 bunker in Terrace, B.C." For more information about this story and Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) please visit www.57rescuecanada.com

A tribute to John Gillespie Magee – ‘The Pilot Poet’

Team members from Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) are currently putting the finishing touches to a weekend of events that are being arranged as a tribute to Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, ‘The Pilot Poet” who wrote the world famous aviation poem ‘High Flight’. Magee was one of many Americans who broke his country’s law on neutrality and crossed the border into Canada and volunteered to join the RCAF.

The events on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December, 2011 will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the mid-air collision over Lincolnshire, in which P/O John Gillespie Magee lost his life. This accident happened on 11 December 1941 while Magee was serving with 412 Squadron RCAF at RAF Digby and whilst he was dispersed to RAF Wellingore. He was just 19 years old and was buried with full military honours at Scopwick Cemetery near Digby aerodrome.

For further details, or to buy tickets, please visit www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com or contact Dave Harrigan MBE at David@aviationheritagelincolnshire.com.

Save the Date: 2012 Canada West Aviation Expo

Building on from the success of the 2011 COPA Langley AGM & Conference and the YPK Pitt Meadows Airport Day held this past June, the following is advanced information for the 2012 Canada West Aviation Expo.

June 15-17 2012: there will be a General Aviation and Light Business/Commercial Trade Show all three days. On the Saturday the 16th there will be a Fly-In, and on Sunday the 17th we will hold the Annual COPA for Kids and Airport Day for the community.

If you require any quick preliminary details, please contact Trevor Sandwell at sandwell@live.ca.

Aviation Bits and Bytes:

• "Aviation pioneer heads to Saskatchewan Hall of Fame"
• Click here to read a lovely tribute to Arctic Sunwest pilot who died in crash earlier this year
• "B.C. Tips Wings to Viking Air"
• "Who Wants to Buy a Rare RAF Fighter?"

Sending Good Wishes to Gord!

Gord McNulty, longtime CAHS member and Toronto Director, is in Hamilton General Hospital. He recently had a mitral valve replacement and will be in the intensive care unit for a few days. The Toronto Chapter is sending him a plant, and his wife, Angie, would be pleased to pass along any good wishes you might choose to send via email: gmcnulty21@gmail.com.

On behalf of the CAHS executive, Gord, I would like to wish you a full and speedy recovery! Your energy, good humour, and work ethic are all missed...

Nov 9, 2011 - Volume 13

Thanks!

Sponsors:

HOPE AERO

North Wright Airways Ltd.

Corporate Members:

Bombardier

Clearwater Fine Foods

VAC Developments

Partners:

AC Family Network

Alberta Genealogical Society - Edmonton

Aviaeology

Bomber Command Museum

CANAV Books

Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Experimental Aircraft Association

Fondation Aérovision Québec

Leavens Aviation

Linguistek Inc.

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear Member,

This has been an eventful year at the CAHS, and we have more changes to announce going into 2012. As of January 1st, VP Gary Williams and I will be swapping positions on the executive while I go on maternity leave. Yes, I am so dedicated to increasing the CAHS's membership, that I am creating a new one from scratch!

I will be continuing to manage the Facebook and Twitter accounts, but you will soon have a new editor for this monthly e-newsletter, Caitlin McWilliams. Caitlin joined the CAHS last year, has a Master's in History, and currently works at the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. She is getting her feet wet this issue by authoring the "Chapter News" section, but will be flying solo in January. Please continue to send in your excellent comments and news items to info@cahs.ca and we will make sure Caitlin gets them.

To learn more about Caitlin's aviation history interests, and to see a photo of her in her uncle's 1941 Boeing Stearman, please visit her member's page on the CAHS website by clicking here.

Thank you for all your kind words over the past 14 issues. I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and all the best in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

www.daniellemc.com

National News

Doug MacRitchie Memorial Scholarship

On 17 November 2011, an awards presentation took place at Centennial College in Toronto. Representatives from CAHS National, CAHS Toronto Chapter, and the MacRitchie family, were on hand to present the $500 scholarship as well as memberships to both National and TorChp to this year’s recipient, Bernard Spiteri.

Doug MacRitchie was an early member of the CAHS in Toronto and avid supporter of Canada’s aviation heritage. The scholarship is awarded to a student attending Centennial College in the field of Aviation Technician – Aircraft Maintenance. The MacRitchie Family honours his memory with this generous scholarship.

L-R: CAHS National Director Richard Goette, MacRitchie Award winner Bernard Spiteri, award sponsor Bruce MacRitchie, and Toronto CAHS Chapter 2^nd Vice President Neil McGavock.

2012 Convention Dates Chosen

2012 CAHS Convention in Saint John, NB will be held 5-8 September. The New Brunswick Chapter hopes to have the preliminary program finalized shortly. A head's up: a block of rooms are reserved at the Delta Hotel in downtown Saint John at $100.00 per night, and the Convention will be held on site.

Journal Update

The Summer 2011 Journal is at the printers. To stay up-to-date on the Journal's progress between newsletters, please check our Facebook page or website.

CAHS Online

Speaking of Facebook, if you are on it, please 'like' our fan page by clicking here. It is a great place to get up-to-the-minute news between newsletters, and share your events and photos.

We are also active on Twitter as @CanAvHistSoc. We are up to 182 followers from around the world. Some of our recent followers include: the Air Force Historical Foundation, Aeromuseums, and Fly Right Films.

New on the website: Mathias Joost's "The Short Life of RCAF Station Shirleys Bay." Check out this fascinating piece of history (with rare photos).

Kudos from Yellow Wings Program

This past summer CAHS National and Chapters across the country chipped in to help with Vintage Wings of Canada's Yellow Wings Program. Rob Fleck, VWofC's President, wrote the following in recognition:

"In this morning’s mail we received a very nice letter from the Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay, thanking us for our Yellow Wings program. The Yellow Wings program would not have been possible without the wonderful support of our partners, volunteers and supporters like the CAHS."

Give the Gift of Aviation History!

Looking for a perfect gift for that aviation history enthusiast in your life? Why not give a membership to the CAHS!

Your gift membership will provide your friend, family member or colleague with the following:

• Opportunities to connect with other researchers and “those who were there”

• Monthly electronic newsletters providing up-to-date information on news and events from the CAHS and around the aviation heritage community
• Monthly electronic newsletters providing up-to-date information on news and events from the CAHS and around the aviation heritage community
• Access to the member only section of the website (currently under construction)
• A listing in the online members’ pages
• Reduced rates for the annual convention
• Opportunities to advertise your publications and events for free

It is $40 per year for a traditional membership (in Canada) or $25 for an online one. For more information, and to see rates for the U.S. and Overseas, please visit our website. To buy a gift membership, please contact us at info@cahs.ca.

We also invite you to consider making a donation to the CAHS as a gift, or to honour the memory of a loved one. As a registered charity, we can issue charitable receipts. Please contact us for more information at info@cahs.ca.

Chapter News

Full meeting details are available on our website at www.cahs.ca. Remember: guests and visitors are always weclcome!

8 December in Regina: Regular meeting.

13 December in Vancouver: Fred Carey of CASARA (Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association) will speak about the organization and their use of cell phone technology in tracking crash sites.

15 December in Calgary: Dr. David J. Bercuson, renowned author, historian, and professor, will speak about "The Bomber Command Exhibit Controversy at the new Canadian War Museum."

15 December in Manitoba: Speakers Jan Reidluff, Ed de Caux, and LCol Steve Bannister will be “Commemorating 70 Years of Air Cadet History” at this month's meeting. Also look forward to a “Flying is Funny” slide/movie show, pot-luck dinner, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Western Canadian Aviation Museum Library/Archives.

 17 December in Toronto: Author Gene Manion will speak during this month’s topic, “Flying on the Edge: Bush Flying in Newfoundland & Labrador.” Note: This is also the annual Toronto Christmas Gift Exchange meeting. If you wish to participate, please bring a wrapped gift – you’ll receive one in exchange!

It was long-time Journal editor, former CAHS president, and recent CAHF inductee Bill Wheeler's 80^th birthday last month. The Toronto Chapter surprised him with a CAHS cake at its last meeting. Photos by Neil McGavock.

News from P.E.I. Carle Burke Chapter:

The Air Force Heritage Park opened 26 August and was attended by over 1,000 people, including many veterans and dignitaries. Many on the organizing committee come from this CAHS Chapter and were instrumental in bringing about its successful completion. The next PEI Chapter meeting will be 3 March at 2 p.m. in Charlottetown. Mark your calendars now and spread the news - it is a bring-a-friend event!

Member News

A few books recently released by members you could give as gifts (or put on your own list for Santa!):

Norman Malayney's USAAF 25th Bomb Group RCN book is available from amazon.com. It details the USAAF de Havilland Mosquito acquisition history and combat operations from Watton, England. Included is the OSS Joan-Eleanor Mosquito project to communicate with secret agents inserted near Berlin and in southern Germany. Cost: US$69.50. It is 130,000 words with 300 photos to illustrate 300 pages.

Volume 4 of Marc-Andre Valiquette's Avro and Arrow series is now available. Price is $30 including GST. It contains 152 pages instead of the usual 100 pages. A slipcase that can hold the four volumes of the series is also available for an additional $15. Volumes 1, 2 and 3 are still available at $25 each. Please go to www.avrocanada-arrow.ca for more information or order your copy by emailing Arrow201@videotron.ca.

LCol (Re’d) is now shipping copies of the second edition of his book, "A Tradition of Excellence - Canada's Airshow Team Heritage," for the Christmas season. It makes an excellent gift for both airshow aficionados and young people interested in an aviation career since it chronicles the complete history of Canada's aerial demonstration teams dating back to the beginning of flight in Canada. At 768 pages and with over 1,800 photographs, it is the largest single volume aviation book ever published in Canada. For more information and to order please go to www.CanadasAirshowHeritage.com, or contact Dan at 250-661-0702 or afteams@gmail.com.

CANAV launches book on the Canadair Argus. For more information, please visit the CANAV blog by clicking here.

“This is 1940s technology as applied to my glider. I am happy to say that it is virtually finished. Only requires plexiglass windows on lower wing stubs, registration letters and three instruments. I would have brought it to Oshawa Airport for the weight & balance report and ramp party but, unfortunately, the trailer still needs work to be roadworthy.

Among the photos is a closeup of the windshield. It was a rather difficult piece to lay out accurately and to securely mount to the frame. The wings and tail sections were finished long ago and are stored in the trailer."

Readers Write Back!

Jacques Chenail sent in the following link to an article on William Barker in the Ottawa Citizen. Click here to read.

Steve Sanderson suggests you check out this photo slideshow with musical accompaniment (caution: the slideshow opens immediately in your browser, so make sure you have your volume turned down or your headset on if you are at work!).

Don MacNeil shared a link to the Halifax 57 Rescue society. For updates and photos, please click here.

John Chalmers wants you to know about the Alberta Aviation Museum's bid to purchase an F-104 Starfighter. For the Edmonton Journal article, please click here. 

Stoney Jackson has written in with the west-coast round-up:

• There is a rumour that Viking Air is to take over a hangar from Victoria Air Maintenance . This should give Viking more space for pre-delivery preparation. Viking is hoping to deliver eight Twin Otters by the end of the year. Apparently five have been delivered to date.
• The Super DC-3 here has been scrapped. Damn and blast.
• British Columbia Aviation Museum now has an ex-RCAF D-6 Sicard Mule (or Tug). This machine will move the A-26 Invader and Viscount easily.
• There is a new association, the “Catalina Preservation Society.” This group absorbed the old “Odyssey DC-3” to form the new group. They have great plans for Canso CF-EAW.

Board Member Colin Webster wrote in about the recent unveiling of a plaque in Prince George, B.C. to commemorate Lester Bower, who passed away in March 2001. The original plaque was lost when the Northern Thunderbird Air hangar burned to the ground in December 2009. The plaque reads as follows:

"Captain Lester Carlyle Bower, a native of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, was hired as a pilot with Northern Mountain Airlines in 1966 and remained with the company through the merger with Thunderbird Airlines in 1971, until his passing on March 14, 2001. In 35 years with the airline, Les held the jobs of Captain, Engineer, Operations Manager and Director of Maintenance. His favourite aircraft was the rugged Beech 18 and he amassed an amazing 13,000 hours on this type, with 7,000 hours on C-FWPO alone. There are very few places in the North that Les has not been with his Beech and even fewer that escaped the scrutiny from his other keen interest - prospecting. Throughout his career with NT Air Les touched the lines of literally generations of people from the villages of Fort Ware and Tsay Keh Dene (formerly Ingenika). He was highly respected and admired by all who knew him and is deeply missed by those friends and family left behind."

Researcher-to-Researcher

Huge news for anyone doing research involving aviation in Britain and its empire: the British Library has digitized 300 years worth of newspaper archives, bringing 65 million articles online. It is searchable, but there will be fees for users to download PDFs. For more on this story, please click here.

Scott Maclagan: "I am looking for information on the second airbase that was supposedly built somewhere in northern Manitoba for the Arrow as an advanced recovery field. As a former RCAF CF-100 Navigator (433 & 414 Squadrons at North Bay) I was familiar with the one at RCAF Stn. Casey and visited it in 1960 when I was stationed at RCAF Stn. Parent, Quebec. RCAF Casey was only utilized for two weeks in the summer of 1960 when 6 CF-100's from North Bay operated from the field. The runway can still be seen via Google Earth. Try as I might I cannot find the one that was built in Manitoba. Like everything to do with the Arrow following its cancellation the existence of these bases and the costs involved in building them were kept quiet. Please email me at esmaclagan@rogers.com if you can shed some light on this."

Christian Larsen is researching the history of Pennfield Ridge Air Station (No.2 ANS, No.34 OTU & RCAF Station, Pennfield Ridge), Pennfield Ridge. He would like to hear from anyone who served there and is especially looking for pictures and artifacts. He can be reached at pennfieldparish@yahoo.com

The Western Canada Aviation Museum has extra aircraft manuals on planes from early props to jets, bush, military and civil. It also has extra blueprints (eg. Cessna, DC 4, 6, 7, 8, 9) Fokker Friendship). If you are interested, please contact the Museum at info@wcam.mb.ca Prices $5 - $50 plus shipping.

Aviation Bits and Bytes

• New Brunswick author Cary Baker pays tribute to his father and military aviation history in book about the Cold War
• Historic aircraft being restored by local donors in Ottawa
• Boeing plant tour and flight museum conjure airplane glamour near Everett, WA
• Golden Triangle aviation history told in new book
• On board the USS Intrepid museum in New York
• Las Vegas area vets remember Pearl Harbor, 70 years later
• Civil Air Patrol in South Dakota celebrates 70 years
• Solar plane promises new era of flight

2012 CAHF Induction Updates

The 2012 annual dinner and ceremony will be held at Le Windsor, 1170 Peel St, Montreal. Dates and ticket sales information TBA. Here are brief bios of next year's inductees:

Mr. Nils Christensen of Salt Spring Island, BC, made his contribution to Canadian aviation with the founding of Viking Air and the acquisition of the rights from de Havilland Canada to manufacture spares for some of its post-war products. The venture has given rise to an internationally reputed aircraft and parts manufacturing concern. Born in Norway in 1921, Nils served in the Merchant Navy and the Royal Norwegian Air Force during the Second World War and, emigrated to Canada in 1951.

Air Marshal Harold Gus Edwards

(1892-1952) was born in England and raised in Nova Scotia. He served as a pilot with the Royal Naval Air Service in the First World War and was later intimately involved with the founding of the RCAF. Gus was in charge of the monumental personnel management aspects of the BCATP when it began and then fought successfully for the “Canadianization” of the RCAF’s contributions to Allied efforts in the RAF as Air Office Commanding-in-Chief of RCAF Overseas.

 Mr. Pierre Jeanniot, O.C. C.Q., who was born in France in 1933 and emigrated to Canada in 1947, is a former president and CEO of Air Canada, known as an innovator in the field of airline operations and management. An internationally recognized leader in the airline industry, he contributed to the development of civil aviation in Canada and around the world. His work in Air Canada and with the International Air Transport Association as Director General and CEO has been recognized with honours from Canada, France and international organizations.

Skyward

Alan Bartlett passed away 11 November in Winnipeg at the age of 86. He was a long-time member of the CAHS Manitoba Chapter and, as Chapter President and National Secretary Jim Bell says, "He was well known to many of us as an instructor at the Winnipeg Flying Club. Al gave me my private pilot flight test."

From his obituary:

"Al left us with many wonderful memories of his adventurous life and his unique sense of humour. He lived his life to the full, on his own terms right to the end. He was lifelong resident of Winnipeg, mostly in St. James. From an early age, Al showed an aptitude for mechanics, recycling old bicycle parts to make new ones, and he was passionate about flight and all things to do with aviation. These boyhood fascinations were the foundation for his career as an aircraft maintenance engineer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served his country from the mid 1940s until 1969, stationed in Germany, Bagotville, Quebec, and Gimli, Shilo and Winnipeg, Manitoba. He recorded over 18,000 hours in his flight logs, as a bush pilot flying float planes into the north, doing test flights with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and as a flying instructor with the Winnipeg Flying Club.

A regular attendee on the North American air show circuit, his annual pilgrimage to the EAA AirVenture Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin was one of the highlights of his year. He seemed to know everyone who had ever flown an airplane in Canada and he almost certainly knew someone at every airport in North America. He put that knowledge to work as a volunteer at the Western Canada Aviation Museum archives, identifying aviation people in old photographs.

A very private and fiercely independent person, he maintained an aura of mystery to his family and we would love to know more about this intriguing man. To those of you who have walked with Al over these past eight decades, we would be honoured if you could share with us your recollections from his life. Feel free to visit the Memories of Al Bartlett Facebook group and post your recollections, stories and photos there, or email them to lgray21@mts.net."

 His full obituary can be read by clicking here.

Paul Laserich, general manager of Adlair Aviation in Yellowknife, NT, died suddenly 19 November at the age of 52. He grew up in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and took over operations of the small company from his father, Willy Laserich, 28 years ago.

Paul was known for his kindness and generosity, which included sponsoring a $5,000 scholarship to the Aviation Career Development Program. He loved aviation and the north, and could often be seen zipping around in his Cessna.

Paul's mother, Margaret, who was known as a matriarch of the northern aviation industry, also recently passed away.

On a personal note, I had the pleasure of meeting Paul and Margaret this past summer at their home during the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In. They were gracious hosts, and I can only imagine the hole this has left in the Yellowknife community. Our thoughts are with the town and family.

 Paul on far right at the induction ceremony for Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2010, when his father, Willy, was made a member.

Dear Alan, thank you for reading this newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it! Please feel free to forward it to friends and family members, and encourage them to sign up on www.cahs.ca for FREE to receive future copies directly. If you have any news or events to share, please contact us at info@cahs.ca.

Dec 07, 2011- Issue 14

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca