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​
  • Home
  • Get Involved
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  • Organization & Chapters
    • CAHS National >
      • Society History
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    • Chapters >
      • CAHS Calgary
      • CAHS Georgian Bay
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      • CAHS New Brunswick
      • CAHS Ottawa
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      • CAHS Vancouver
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  • History Resources
    • CAHS Journal
    • CAHS e-Newsletter >
      • e-Newsletter Archive
    • Aviation History Online >
      • Articles – Historical
      • Aviation History Books
      • Articles Archive
      • Photo Galleries
      • Video Viewport
    • In Memoriam
  • Shop
  • RCAF 100
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Canadian Aviation History Online – a series of articles by our members

Please get in touch with the webmaster if you would like to publish something in this section.

Family, Fun and Flight event
at the
Medicine Hat Municipal Airport


Story and Photos by Wes Kraus,
CAHS Medicine Hat Chapter President

posted August 2024

The Medicine Hat Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society participated in the "Family, Fun and Flight" event on July 22, 2024, at the Medicine Hat Municipal Airport, showcasing aviation history and community engagement alongside various local organizations.

Read more...
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Freedom of the City


By Harold E. Wright,
CAHS Turnbull (New Brunswick) Chapter

posted June 2022​

The CAHS Turnbull (New Brunswick) Chapter have successfully secured the Freedom of the City, for No. 403 Squadron, an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of its community. Follow the link below to read about the hard work that went into this endeavour.

Read more...
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The Freedom of the City of Saint John Certificate issued to 403 Squadron.

Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
2022 Inductees and Induction Ceremony


by Katherine Simunkovic,
CAHF Staff and CAHS Digital Editor
posted 25 May 2022

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Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame is excited to host an Induction Ceremony for the first time in two years! Scheduled for June 23, 2022 at the Marriott Calgary Airport In-Terminal, please visit the CAHF website (www.cahf.ca) for more information on ticket purchases and sponsorship opportunities.

Click here to read more about this year's inductees…

Celebration of Life
for Bjarni Tryggvason


Story and photos
by Gord McNulty,
CAHS National Vice President

posted May 2022​

Remembering Bjarni Tryggvason and his lifetime of accomplishments, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum held a celebration of life on April 26.

Read  more...

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The poster produced by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) for the event.

Canada's Newest Aviation Museum!


By John Chalmers, CAHS Membership Secretary
posted May 2022


When was the last time a Canadian aviation museum was opened in a brand-new building? The Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa in 1960? The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year? The Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw? The Bomber Command Museum in Nanton?
The answer is the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg!

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​Read more...
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The first aircraft to be seen at the new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is a McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, one of many aircraft at the museum that was flown by the RCAF.

Art by Peter P Robichaud


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted June 2021​

Click below to see a display of CAHS member and brilliant (in the webmaster's humble opinion) aviation artist, Peter Robichaud.
​

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West Coast Labarador 
(Peter Robichaud)

BCATP 75th Anniversary Fly-In
a memorable event in 2014 


Report and photos by Gord McNulty, CAHS Vice President
posted June 2021

As COVID-19 continues to hamper aviation this spring, it’s good to recall better times. A colourful reunion of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) aircraft at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) on May 31, 2014 is worth recalling.
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​Read More...
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Stearman Model 75, C-FOXU, nicely restored by Dennis Simo. (Gord McNulty)

Stocky Edwards Turns 100!


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted June 2021​

 A top-scoring fighter pilot in the Second World War with the RCAF, James Francis ‘Stocky’ Edwards, was born on June 5, 1921, on a farm in Saskatchewan, and this month turned 100.​

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 Candian Harvard Aerobatic Team –
Disbands


By Gord McNulty,
CAHS Vice President
Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted May 2021

An impressive 20-year run of air show demonstrations ended in April with an announcement that the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team (CHAT) has retired from the air show circuit. 

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 Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame  – Updates


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted May 2021​

Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame reflects on the successes and accomplishments of their 2020 Inductees! With the continued restrictions around COVID-19, CAHF has unfortunately had to cancel their Induction Ceremony for 2021. As we look to the future with the hope of hosting a celebration in 2022, we share with you our Inductee stories.

Read more...
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 A Whole New Look–
 Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada 


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted May 2021

A new brand, a new building and a new website! The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada has been working hard over the past year to introduce new branding to go along with its new location, that is opening in early 2022.

​Read More...
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 Bomber Command Museum  – Updates


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted May 2021​

Continuing with their work on restoring a Halifax bomber, the team at Bomber Command Museum of Canada at Nanton has worked hard to collect many parts over the last three years.

Read more...
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Bittersweet saga:
C-54 Skymaster Spirit of Freedom
​ previously flown by Millardair


Report and photos by Gord McNulty, CAHS Vice President
posted March 2021

It’s a story of sadness about the loss of a flagship aircraft turning to hope and optimism with a good match as a replacement.
​
After considering every conceivable option, the New Jersey-based Berlin Airlift Historical Association decided it could not restore its tornado-ravaged Douglas C-54E Skymaster Spirit of Freedom. The aircraft sustained an estimated $300,000-plus US in damage after it was tossed against a hangar when a tornado swept through a regional airport in Walterboro, South Carolina on 13 April 2020.  

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​Read More...
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Ready to roll.  The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54 at EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI, in 2007.

Alberta Aviation Museum Updates


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted March 2021​

The Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, Alberta has revamped their membership program and is offering educational resources online for schools. By purchasing a membership, you will be supporting the museum when it is able to reopen again. In addition to receiving unlimited access to the museum, there are many new perks including private aircraft seating opportunities, discounts and more!

Read more...
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The Hangar Flight Museum Fundraiser​


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted February 2021

 The Hangar Flight Museum is looking for help in raising funds to fix their tent hangar’s roof. After receiving a heavy snowfall in December, the museum suffered damage when the fabric that covers the metal structure ripped and dumped snow onto the historic aircraft inside. Fortunately, there was no damage to the artifacts inside the museum.

​Read More...
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Photo: The Hangar Flight Museum

 A New Museum for 2022


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted February 2021​

 The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is looking toward the future with their new building set to open in 2022. Located close to the tarmac at James A. Richardson International Airport in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the museum is hoping to attract travellers and families as they pass through the airport. 

Read more...
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A New Restoration Project


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted February 2021

The Montreal Aviation Museum (MAM) located in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a CF-104 Starfighter (s/n 104704) to its ever-growing collection of historically significant aircraft.

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 KF Aerospace Centre of Excellence


Posted by CAHS online staff.
posted February 2021​

KF Aerospace has begun building their new Centre of Excellence, slated to open in the spring of 2022. Located adjacent to the company’s headquarters at Kelowna International Airport, the Centre of Excellence will be an aviation museum and conference facility. 
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Read More...
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Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre 
Addendum to October coverage


By Gord McNulty
CAHS Vice President
posted December 2020

Additional notes and images of the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre (www,bushplane.com) at Sault Ste. Marie are in order to supplement coverage that we didn’t have space for in the October e-newsletter.

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Calgary’s Hurricane Flies Again!


By John Chalmers
CAHS Membership Secretary
posted December 2020

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.
​

Read More...
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Oil on board 18 x 24" (46 x 61 cm) © 2011 Allan Botting

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.

Read More...
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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!

Read More...
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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.

An Aviation Museum That Publishes


By 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!

Read More...
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The Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta.

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...
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Elsie Gregory MacGill heritage minute (CBC Screenshot)

My Snowbirds Flight - Aide-Memoire​


By 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...
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Bill Upton May 2001

Liberation Holland 75


by 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:
Leaving Portugal as the Pandemic Arrives


By John Henderson
published 16 April 2020
CAHS Ottawa member and retired head of RCMP Air Services Branch, John Henderson offers a firsthand account of international air travel in the midst of global changes in commercial airline operations due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Read More...
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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

​ 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…
D-ring from Ian M Macdonald's Dad's parachute
This is the cover design that accompanied the original article, reproduced here courtesy of its creator, VWC editor and graphics director, Dave O’Malley.

A Hurricane Comes Home


By 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
 & Newfoundland 1927-1945


By Ian M. Macdonald
posted May 2019 (revised 6 June 2019)


This is an attempt to index emergency parachute jumps made in Canada and Newfoundland between 1927 and 1945 and comprises a chronological table of jumps followed by an alphabetical list of the jumpers. More than 440 jumps have been identified to date of which it has been possible to identify 420 personnel with an at least partial name. Read more…
D-ring from Ian M Macdonald's Dad's parachute
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)

2019 CAHS Annual Convention in Montreal a rewarding experience​


By 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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