Calgary’s Hurricane Flies Again!​

By John Chalmers
CAHS Membership Seceretary
Canadian-built Hurricane 5389, a veteran of the Second World War, now at its new home in The Hangar Flight Museum at Calgary, is flying again! Although the restored warbird will remain on static display at the museum, it has taken to the air in an oil painting by aviation artist, Allan Botting of Victoria BC.
Oil on board 18 x 24" (46 x 61 cm) © 2011 Allan Botting
Picture
Shown airborne over Patricia Bay Airfield on Vancouver Island in 1943, Hurricane 5389 in Allan’s painting is the image for the month of May in the 2021 CAHS calendar. Like many members of the Canadian Aerospace Artists Association (CAAA) who have provided paintings for the calendar for many years, Allan has donated the use of his art as one of the fine works that appear in the new calendar. In 2020, the CAAA became the newest chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, and several CAAA members have contributed to the 2021 calendar, which you can order when you click here.

Richard de Boer, president of the Calgary Mosquito Society and the CAHS Calgary chapter, says, "We are very pleased to see Allan Botting’s fine painting of Hurricane 5389 featured in the 2021 calendar. It is more than fitting that the original work is with Gordon Hill, the very man who flew this airplane when both were with 133 Squadron of the RCAF in 1943. Having the image in the calendar serves to fulfill the mandate of the Calgary Mosquito Aircraft Society, which  is to Retain, Restore, Honour and Educate.” Gordon Hill, right, speaking of the Hurricane upon its debut at the museum in Calgary on November 6, 2019, said, “It did for Britain what it was meant to do. The Battle of Britain was won by the Hurricane.”
Under the auspices of the Calgary Mosquito Aircraft Society (CMAS), Calgary’s Hurricane was restored by donations and funding from individuals and by a grant from the City of Calgary, which owns the aircraft.
“We are delighted that an aircraft from our museum is the subject for one of the months in the CAHS calendar,” says Brian Desjardins, executive director of The Hangar Flight Museum. “As well, we used the Hurricane as an amazing backdrop to the Remembrance Day service on November 11, which was broadcast by CTV.”
Although the Remembrance Day service at the museum in Calgary had limited invitational attendance with socially-distanced seating due to the COVID-19 pandemic, broadcast by CTV of the entire service provided a much larger audience. Speaking at the podium with the Hurricane in the background, is Hon Col Emeritus John Melbourne, a director of the museum, who spoke about the contributions made by veterans of Canada’s armed forces.
​
​Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, the final speaker of the Remembrance Day program, seen in the CTV coverage, spoke of the sacrifices made by those lost in combat. “Let us set aside divisiveness,” he said, “and re-dedicate ourselves to kindness and compassion, and remember that we as human beings are called to look after one another and to honour the sacrifices of those who have gone before us.”
The Calgary Mosquito Aircraft Society is now in the process of restoring another warbird owned by the City of Calgary, a de Havilland Mosquito in the works at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada at Nanton, Alberta. Volunteers there are bringing that famous “wooden wonder” fighter/bomber back to life with crews at work on the project every weekend. Hard at work, left to right are Gary Toffelmire of High River AB, and David Duh and Dick Snider from Calgary. 
Meanwhile, the CMAS has produced a limited edition commissioned print of Hurricane 5389, featuring a profile drawing, the crest of the Mosquito Society and a photo of now 98-year old Gordon Hill of Calgary, who signed the print. He flew the Hurricane on Pacific coast maritime patrol during the Second World War before he was posted overseas as a Spitfire pilot with 416 RCAF Squadron. As well, the print includes a 3 cm x 3 cm patch of the original wing skin of the 80-year old aircraft. The print is $99 (delivered anywhere in the world!) and can be ordered from the CMS web site along with other merchandise when you click here.
Shown above is Hurricane 5389 at its rollout on October 19, 2019, following meticulous restoration of both the aircraft itself and its Merlin engine. Plans call for engine run-ups in the future from the aircraft’s home at The Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary. The aircraft was built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1942. (Chalmers photo)
“Our thanks go to Historic Aviation Services Inc. of Wetaskiwin for their work on the airframe itself and to the members of the CMAS for overhauling the engine, locating 12 original .303 Browning machine guns and coordinating with vendors to overhaul the propeller, instruments, radiators, etc., and for locating the numerous missing, but essential parts to complete the airplane," says Richard de Boer.
This article was originally published in the Dec 2020 Edition of the CAHS National Newsletter, Click Here to view or download it in PDF Format.
Click here to return to the Articles Archive.