Canadian Aviation History Online – a series of articles by our members
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Canadian Aviation History Online – a series of articles by our members
A 3/4 Scale Replica of the Hawker Fury Biplane Fighter Nears Completion at Guelph, Ontario
By Gord McNulty
CAHS Vice President posted November 2020 A ¾-scale replica of a Hawker Fury is shaping up as one of the most significant additions to the Tiger Boys collection of vintage aircraft at Guelph Air Park.
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A replica three-quarter scale Hawker Fury restored by the Guelph Tiger Boys, displayed 19 September 2020.
Gord McNulty photo |
Miss Pick Up on Loch Ness
By David Legg
The Catalina Society posted November 2020 Don’t be deceived by her striking USAAF 8th Air Force Air-Sea-Rescue colour scheme and Second World War Miss Pick Up nose-art. The Duxford, UK-based ‘Catalina’ G-PBYA has a long Canadian heritage which confirms that she was originally a Royal Canadian Air Force Canso A built in Quebec. But read on and you’ll see that she has very recently had to be the subject of her own rescue mission!
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Miss Pick Up on the water of the lake at Biscarrosse in south-west France where we do much of our water training.
John Dibbs photo |
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team Send Best Wishes to the CAHS
By Gord McNulty
CAHS Vice President posted November 2020 The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have expressed their appreciation to the CAHS for the story on Captain Remoshay Nelson, the team's Public Affairs Officer, along with other coverage of the Thunderbirds, in our September National e-newsletter.
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CAHS Vice President Gord McNulty displaying the large litho print sent to the CAHS by the Thunderbirds Public Affairs office.
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An Aviation Museum That PublishesBy John Chalmers
CAHS Membership Secretary posted November 2020 The Bomber Command Museum of Canada, located in the town of Nanton, Alberta, an hour’s drive south of Calgary, has become more than just an aircraft museum. It is a publishing house as well!
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The Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta.
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A 60-second Flight Plan by Crystal Sissons
posted October 2020 How do you tell the story Elsie Gregory MacGill (1905-1980) in 60 seconds? What do you focus on? How do you make it happen? How do you ensure that it represents a solid piece of historical research that is both accurate and engaging?
These are some of the many questions that ran through my mind when I was approached by Historica Canada to be one of the consultants for the new Heritage Minute which would feature her story. It was an exciting prospect to say the least, given the notoriety of the Heritage Minutes, but could it do her justice? Read More... |
Elsie Gregory MacGill heritage minute (CBC Screenshot)
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My Snowbirds Flight - Aide-MemoireBy Bill Upton
posted May 2020 My hobby is modern military aviation photography.
My passion is modern military aviation history. My trade is working in the aviation industry. My hope was to fly with the Snowbirds. My wish finally came true. My day is done. On Friday, May 18, 2001, after much prodding and cajoling by my colleagues, Lucio, Cliff and Paul, in Bombardier’s Photographic Department, I realized one of my many dreams. I flew with the Snowbirds. Read More... |
Bill Upton May 2001
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Liberation Holland 75by Bill Zuk
posted May 2020 In April 1945, the Canadian Army was given a daunting order: liberate Holland. After advancing through the northern salient, the Canadians faced 120,000 well-armed enemy soldiers cut off in the western part of the country.
Allied forces would not conquer the remaining Nazi-held area without terrible losses, yet the problem remained of how to help the 3.5 million starving Dutch citizens suffering in the "Hunger Winter". Read more… |
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COVID-19 Travels and Travails:
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Disembarking passengers receiving a traditional welcome to Portugal sometime in the heyday of international air travel.
Old postcard courtesy of the Ian M. Macdonald collection
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Buffalo Soldier
The War Patrols of Flying Officer Allan Bundy & 404 Squadron, RCAF
by Terry Higgins posted February 2020 This article first appeared on the Vintage Wings of Canada (VWC) History and Heroes e-zine, February 2012 edition, in recognition of Black History Month. It was one of two related pieces published by VWC that month.
Readers interested in the broader story of Canada's black Second World War airmen, or F/O Allan Selwyn Bundy's personal history beyond his operational tour on 404 (Buffalo) Squadron, are invited to have a look at that other VWC piece, for which a link is provided at the end of this revised and updated Buffalo Solder story. Read more… |
This is the cover design that accompanied the original article, reproduced here courtesy of its creator, VWC editor and graphics director, Dave O’Malley.
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A Hurricane Comes HomeBy John Chalmers
posted December 2019 originally published in the December 2019 CAHS National Newsletter A Canadian-built Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft, a type that excelled in the Battle of Britain, but never had to face combat as all its service was in Canada, has been restored to like-new condition and placed in its new home, the Hangar Flight Museum of Calgary, adjacent to the Calgary International Airport. The aircraft was rescued and restored through the efforts of the Calgary Mosquito Society under the leadership of president Richard de Boer.
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Parachute Jumps In Canada
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D-ring – the ripcord – from a 1940s GQ parachute. This artifact is from Ian M Macdonald's Dad's parachute, which he used to exit a Wellington, hopelessly lost above the clouds and low on fuel coming back from Brest. The crew had all agreed that jumping was safer then letting down into who knows what. (Ian M Macdonald photo)
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2019 CAHS Annual Convention in Montreal a rewarding experienceBy Gord McNulty
posted June 2019 CAHS members enjoyed returning to Montreal for our highly successful 56th National Convention and AGM, 22-25 May. All of the presentations, including some of Canada’s best-known aviation authors and researchers, were exceptional.
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Beech Expeditor (Pierre Gillard Photo)
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