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The Canadian Aviation Historical Society September 2021 e–Newsletter From the Desk of the Executive The Importance of Inspiring our Youth to Take to the Clouds The CAHS has sadly lost a number of long-time and dedicated members over the past few months. Knowing their ages, their passing does not come as a surprise, but unfortunately, chronology is catching up to precious CAHS friends and contributors. As one generation folds its wings, we hope to add a new generation of aviation enthusiasts to our ranks by inspiring and securing more youth to become CAHS members - from high school and college students, to air cadets, to nieces, nephews, sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters. I have also been doing research into workforce shortages in the civilian and military aviation industry. Canada is not alone in facing a shortage of pilots, technicians, air traffic controllers, and manufacturing workers in both the military and the civilian workforces. These shortages can only be addressed by convincing more youth that careers in aviation are exciting, fulfilling, well-paying, available, and nationally important. I remember being introduced as a pre-teen to aviation history by my father; he loved aviation history, and he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (eventually for 25 years). He would take me to air shows and show me war movies. Consequently, I have fallen in love with reading, researching, and writing aviation history. I also love to fly as a passenger in aircraft; I'm not sure why I never pursued a pilot's license. I also remember a college student telling the CAHS group to whom she was giving a guided tour that she was inspired to pursue an aviation technician career when she was six years old after finding books about helicopters on the bottom shelves of her father's library. If you as an individual can think of a way to inspire a youth to fall in love with aviation, do it. If your organization (such as a museum) can find opportunities to incorporate ways of introducing students to aviation jobs opportunities, we encourage you to create such programs (and let us share these events in our newsletter). What a privilege it would be to know that we were to help bring the awe-inspiring clouds just a little closer to our young friends and relatives' reach! With this in mind, we ask that you think about whom you can inspire to fall in love with aviation - by taking a friend or relative to an air show or museum, by encouraging your children and grandchildren to check out aviation industry jobs at career fairs, by sharing an aviation history book, magazine or movie, or by giving a gift of a CAHS membership (https://www.cahs.com/store/c57/gift-membership). Cordially, Dr. Rachel Lea Heide, National Treasurer, Canadian Aviation Historical Society Join the CAHS – Information for New Members… Renew or Extend Your Membership Here… Browse our Shop… Looking for a specific Journal or Article? Click the button above, then click on the little magnifying glass to begin your search. Donate any Amount… Click the button above or, if you have a smartphone, simply point its camera app at the on-screen QR code to donate via mobile. From the Desk of the Journal Editor In the works Journals 57-3 and 57-4 are well advanced in layout. Follow this link to check the website's Journal area to preview the lists of upcoming articles and for ongoing updates in between Newsletters. The digital editions will be posted to the website individually on completion of the editorial process, while the print editions will follow as soon as possible (taking into consideration mailing house queues and potential Canada Post delays). Terry Higgins, Creative Director, Website Administrator, CAHS Journal Managing Editor and Graphics Director, Canadian Aviation Historical Society From the Desk of the Treasurer This month, the CAHS continues to feature Flying to Extremes by Dominique Prinet as well as Tight Floats and Tailwinds by Tim Cole. In addition to being able to let you know about aviation books available at a discounted rate, the CAHS benefits from these fundraisers too. We hope that you find these very interesting - for yourself and for anyone you might decide to give a book to as a gift. Cordially, Dr. Rachel Lea Heide, National Treasurer, Canadian Aviation Historical Society Recalling some of the most memorable escapades ever conducted in the Canadian Arctic with bush planes, Flying to Extremes takes place in the late 1960s and early 1970s from a base at Yellowknife, in the heart of the Northwest Territories. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs. Click the "Buy Now" link below to learn more. Get yours for just $21.00 (GST included) plus $6.00 shipping per copy in Canada.Please place your order by 15 October. The publisher's retail price is $24.95 plus shipping and GST. Buy Now… Click here to see a recent CAHS Ottawa Chapter monthly meeting where Dominique spoke about flying experiences described in the book, Flying to Extremes: Memories of a Northern Bush Pilot. The story of a young Canadian and his life's journey as a bush pilot, and then as a bureaucrat, and how he found his way back to his aviation roots. This special offer – $31.99 (GST included) plus $6.00 shipping per copy in Canada, has been extended to 15 October. The publisher's retail price is $34.99 plus shipping and GST. Buy Now… Our Society is very thankful for the support of our Corporate Members, Museum Members, Individual Donors, and from the proceeds generated by the time-limited Special Offer items in our e-shop. Aviation News and Events A New Aviation Museum Book CAHS Membership Secretary John Chalmers provides an overview of the Alberta Aviation Museum and introduces a new book just published in celebration of the museum's 30th anniversary. Ordering information is provided in the article. By John Chalmers Read more… Mustang at Mount Hope CAHS National Vice President Gord McNulty covers the striking restoration of a Mustang in RCAF markings. Exclusive photos accompany the text. By Gord McNulty Check it out… Canadian Pathfinder book Dennis J Calvert reviews Ken Cothliff's latest book on "the life of a Canadian bomber ace" Reg Lane. Details on how to purchase the book are provided in the article. via Katherine Simunkovic Read more… Sarnia Airport Open House 2021 Aviation Enthusiasts flocked to Sarnia's Chris Hadfield Airport on 14 August to enjoy an exceptional fly-in/drive-in and open house. Our National Vice President is on the scene once again with camera and pencil in hand… By Gord McNulty Check it out… A Forgotten Tragedy Will Chabun of CAHS Regina reports on a new book and the story behind its eventual creation and publication. Details on how to purchase the book are provided in the article. By Will Chabun Read more… Ontario Air Shows 2021! Successful air shows at London, Toronto, and Gatineau overcame the limitations of the pandemic to provide impressive demonstrations of aviation as the summer drew to a close… By Gord McNulty Check it out… Pushing the Limits: Dr. Wilbur Franks and the G-Suit A presentation done at the CAHS Manitoba Chapter by Gilles Messier, along with Dr. James Popplow, tells the story of Dr. Wilbur Franks and the G-suit. To watch the presentation from July 29, 2021, please click here. CAHS Manitoba via Kyle Huth Solitaired: Heroes of Space and Flight Deck In Solitaired, you can play unlimited games of solitaire online for free. You can choose from over 500 versions without having to download or register. It loads quickly and is mobile-friendly and can be navigated with point-and-click ease. These classic games will help you improve your memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. They don't require too much concentration and help you relax and enter a meditative state. There are also many variations, such as spider solitaire and free cell. Furthermore, each deck is beautifully designed! Happy to announce this year, Solitaired has added a new twist to the classic Solitaire game, with the creation of the Heroes of Space and Flight Deck. This deck features space exploration and flight pioneers from around the world. Some of the people who are featured include: Eugene "Gene" Cernan - Commander of the Apollo 17 mission and the last man on the moon Christina Koch - a record for the longest continuous time in space for a woman Willy Schirra - the only astronaut to fly on Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space missions. Gennady Padalka - Russian astronaut with a cumulative record of 879 days in space. Sojourner Mars Rover - the robotic explorer that sent back images from Mars for three months. While relaxing, you can review space history with this game. Try it out with your family and friends by clicking here! Phil Hargrove via Katherine Simunkovic In Memoriam Paddy Gardiner The CAHS National executive and staff were saddened to learn of the death of Paddy Gardiner earlier this month. Paddy's name and persona will be familiar to many readers of the CAHS Jorunal, owners of our annual aviation art calendars, and attendees at CAHS events at both the national and chapter levels over the years. We are working to assemble a more properly in-depth national website In Memoriam for Paddy in the coming months. Thanks to Hugh Halliday for this 2019 photo of the irrepressable Mr. Gardiner. via Terry Higgins William "Bill" Thomas Larkins The founder of the American Aviation Historical Society and the Editor of their Journal for a number of years, William Thomas Larkins, has folded his wings. He made a terrific effort in recording aviation history in the USA by taking many photos of the rare types of aircraft he found in California many years ago and has authored several books on aviation history. To read about his remarkable life, please click here. via Sheldon Benner Canadian Aviation Moments Question One: Why did 600 Texans join Canada’s Air Force during the Second World War before the United States entered the war? How did the RCAF show their appreciation? Source: Dancing in The Sky, pg. 207 (Hunt) Question Two: How did the Felixstowe F.3 flying boat come to Canada? Source: Jericho Beach and the West Coast Flying Boat Stations, pg. 225 (Weicht) Question Three: What was arguably the greatest of all the Canadian built Lancaster Xs in the Second World War? Source: No Prouder Place, pg. 187 (Bashow) The Answers Will Appear in the October Newsletter Here are the answers to August's Canadian Aviation Moments: QUESTION 1: What was somewhat unusual about the bomb dropping and aerial target range that was part of the Beamsville camp built for the RAF – Canada’s training plan in Canada? ANSWER: “Down at the lake a second big piece of land has been secured and rifle ranges and targets are being built here. A large breakwater will be built out into the lake of about three-quarters of a mile and will extend east and west for a distance of about 3,000 yards. This will be used for bomb dropping and aerial target work from the “planes.” It is rumoured that a real submarine will be playing around in the lake for the cadets to shoot at. [The rumour was true].” From Dancing In The Sky QUESTION 2: How did the Curtiss HS-2L flying boat come to Canada? ANSWER: “The HS-2L was an improved version of the earlier HS-1L developed by Curtiss as a patrol bomber after the United States entered into the First World War in April 1917. The main difference between the two types was an additional 12 feet of wing span on the HS-2L to allow for the transport of two 230 pound depth charges. Curtiss couldn’t keep up with the demand for the HS-2L and subcontracted their construction to six other American aircraft factories. At the end of the war in 1918, 1,121 examples of both variants had been produced. The HS-2L first appeared in Canada when the United States Navy established two Air Stations in Nova Scotia: one at Dartmouth, with six HS-2Ls; and one at Sydney, also with six HS-2Ls on strength. The newly formed Royal Canadian Naval Air Service anticipated that they would assume the duty from the United States Navy but the war ended before this took place. When the United States Naval contingent went home, they left the twelve HS-2Ls behind, and in late 1919 the aircraft were donated to the Canadian government. The slow, often unwieldy, and, by later standards, uneconomical flying Boat was the pioneer bush aircraft in Canada. The HS-2L became the principal Flying Boat in use during the first half of the 1920s.” From Jericho Beach and the West Coast Flying Stations QUESTION 3: How did the mid-upper gunners of the RAF Bomber Command air crew during the Second World War save more lives by not firing their guns than firing them? ANSWER: “The aerial battlefield over northwest Europe was replete with dangers. American tactics in daylight dictated tight formations for optimum use of massed defensive firepower and offensive bombing accuracy. However, many hours of close formation and vigilant visual scanning of the aerial battle, exacerbated by vibration, noise, extreme cold, and the forces of gravity, were physically debilitating in the extreme. At night, bomber Command did not face as great a fatigue factor from flying extremely close formation in the bomber stream, but “the gloomy conditions of cloud cover and darkness increased the chances for mid-air collisions or navigation errors.” In fact, mid-upper gunners undoubtedly saved more lives by warning their pilots of impending collisions than they did by firing their guns, especially on the climb-out to the altitude prescribed for joining the bomber stream on any given night” From No Prouder Place Chapter News Select a chapter to discover what they have been up to since the last newsletter. Many of our Chapters remain very active on Zoom with presentations every bit as good as they would be if we did not have pandemic restrictions to deal with! Special Thanks To Our Supporters In addition to its members, contributors, and newsletter subscribers, the CAHS is thankful for the ongoing support of its Corporate Members, Museum Members, and Partner Organizations, as well as the many individuals and organizations whose financial donations are so generously given. If you would like to become a Corporate Member or Museum Member - or if you know an organization that might like to join - we are always happy to receive new applications. Please use the hyperlinks above. Corporate Members: Corporate Partners: Aviaeology Publishing / SkyGrid Studio CANAV Books Northern Lights Awards / Elsie MacGill Foundation The RCAF Association Vintage Wings of Canada Museum Members: Alberta Aviation Museum Billy Bishop Home and Museum Bomber Command Museum of Canada Botwood Flying Boat Museum British Columbia Aviation Museum Calgary Mosquito Society Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre Canadian Historical Aircraft Association The Canadian Museum of Flight Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Comox Air Force Museum First In Last Out Great War Flying Museum The Hangar Flight Museum Harvard Historical Aviation Society Montreal Aviation Museum National Air Force Museum Quebec Aerospace Museum Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Shearwater Aviation Museum Western Development Museum Follow us on Facebook and Twitter e-Newsletter Archive If you have changed your mailing or e-mail address, please get in touch to keep us up to date. Contact the Membership Administrator here. To enquire about membership payment records, contact the Treasurer here. Click here to renew immediately online, or to join as a new member. If you would like to register or renew by mail, printable forms are also available in the bottom area of this page on our site. If you have any aviation history-related news or events to share, please contact our newsletter editor here. Please feel free to forward to friends and family members, or encourage them to sign up on our website to receive the newsletter directly for FREE. We hope that you enjoy receiving this monthly newsletter and find the contents informative and enjoyable. If you no longer wish to receive it for any reason, please use the unsubscribe option below to have your email address removed immediately from the mailing list. The Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) P.O. Box 2700 • Station D • Ottawa • Ontario • K1P 5W7 visit us at www.cahs.com The CAHS is incorporated as a Canadian Registered Charity under a Federal Charter with the business registration number 118829589 RR001

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