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.

​ 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.

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.
Read More...

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 – 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.
Read More...
​Beech Expeditor (Pierre Gillard Photo)