BIGGEST, BADDEST 2012…sees Chuckie Fly over HAMILTON…

…and although their won't be any NHL teams in Hamilton, anytime soon, at least the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum keeps the city entertained!

FLYING! Sooner than you…

…think.

AND WHEN it does, it will be the only flying Bristol Bolingbroke in the world!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

COAST PROTECTORS and TRAINERS… that's what these twin-engine bombers were used for in Canada.

RCAF CANADIAN BOLINGBROKES were manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueil, PQ. Canada. The Quebec factory built a total of 687 Bolingbrokes between 1939 and 1943.

The Pic shows us the FUTURE, the PRESENT, and the PAST.

SEE Assembly Video:
www.thespec.com/news/local/article/307111--monumental-ass...

:.:..: RCAF CANSO…somethins' a foot .::.:.:.

STOP. THE. PRESSES.…just in…

THAT'S an ORIGINAL CANSO. The one in tatters…

The white one just behind this bare-metal beastie is how most Cansos and Catalinas look today! But not during WW II, folks! They had a gun turret in front! And here's the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE SECRET…CWH's flying Hornell Canso will have that turret mounted onto her airframe and be flying anew by summer!

Is there anything these CWH guys can't do?!

Methinks that this is quite an amphibious, no, sorry…quite AMBITIOUS winter project.

PLUS…Transport Canada has demanded an additional mod…a new door on the side of the Canso…see the green tape outline!

If I was Prime Minister of Canada, I would put CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM in charge of getting things done, especially the improbable. Just when you think they've done all they could…they come up with this!

Can't wait!!!!!

VICTORY AIRCRAFT of CANADA Ltd

IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY at the women in this photo you'll see them saluting using Churchill's V for Victory sign. So the sign has double meaning for staff atop the Lanc!

OUR FREEDOM today in Canada was purchased with Canadian blood spilled all over the world in the two great wars, the War of 1812, UN peacekeeping, the Korean War, and Canadian NATO or participation all over the globe, during the Cold War years right up to the present.

Lest we forget.

But freedom is a joint effort between the airman, the seaman, the soldier…and the factory worker.

The ABOVE pictures an Avro Lancaster Mark X being rolled out of the Victory factory in Malton, Ontario, Canada that was ONCE located at the northeast tip of the YYZ property. Pictured here is a Lancaster being rolled out sometime in late1944.

By war's end a Lancaster a day was being turned out of the Victory Aircraft factory.

Today, the former Victory Aircraft of Canada Limited manufacturing facility spread across land that is partly in Toronto, AND partly in Mississauga. The Mississauga land portion is now barren.

Victory Aircraft, a federal government venture was closed down after the war.

The factory soon thereafter was purchased by A.V. Roe and became Avro Aircraft of Canada Limited.

But, back to the war.

World War II was a different sort of war for the nations involved. It was the first time superior technological power (Germany, Italy, Japan) would lose to superior industrial (the Allies) might! For instance, German tanks were way better than the lowly Sherman and Stuart tanks the Allies had in number, but we overwhelmed the Axis powers by producing so many of them.

Same with the jet fighters and V-1 rockets the Nazis produced.

They had better.

We had more.

As I was in a motorbike accident almost a month ago, getting around has not been easy with my leg in a leg brace.

Especially, on my motorbike!

Still, I went to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Remembrance Day as any true Canadian would. As I was walking through the museum's displays, after the ceremonies, I came across this famous VICTORY AIRCRAFT of CANADA Limited photo that I had only ever seen in very low-rez.

I always hoped I'd see the large version one day, and today was that day.

The historic photo was stuck in a display case, encased at an angle…and it was large…about 3 feet long. There, dream come true. WOW!

So, as I was flopping about the floor, screaming in agony from knee pain, while contorting my body ridiculously trying to beat the reflected light that was blowing out parts of the photo…an alarmed woman approached me, and said first in French, then, in English,

"Before you hurt yourself further, why don't you ask someone if they'll just remove it from the display for you, so you can take a better pic?"

Oui.

Somehow, that felt like I was being scolded by my mom…even at my age…but soon enough I was being assisted by Caillin Kowalczyk, the Interim Curator of the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM, who allowed me to photograph their original photo, with the museum's kind permission, of course! Out of the display case. Did I mention Caillin's dutifully going through several key rings, to find the "one" that held the missing key?

Great guy.

While this retouched photo will suffice for now, I intend to redo the photo to get an even better, and more detailed result.

Thanks, Caillin!

AND REMEMBER, the original photo, and much other historical warplane related stuff can be found at the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM in Hamilton. CWH is home of North America's only flying Lancaster and Lysander!

:::. The HERO… that TORONTO Forgot ~

THIS IS Flight Lieutenant D.E. Hornell, VC's Canso of RCAF No. 162 "Osprey" Squadron.

Well, THIS WAS the paint scheme of Hornell's Canso (PBY Catalina, to the Americans) and brought back to life through the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, in Hamilton, Ontario. Here CWH's Canso is being put back into the hangar after an unscheduled flight on Thanksgiving Day.

Hornell's Canso attacked, and sunk, U-boat U-1225 on June 24, 1944 using depth charges at co-ordinates 63.00N, 00.50W which is north-west of Bergen, Norway.

AND ALTHOUGH, David Hornell born in Toronto, was awarded the Victoria Cross for both his conduct in the attack of U-boat U-1225, which they sank, and whilst awaiting rescue in their dinghy (they were also shot down during their attack), he isn't worthy to title a Toronto airport.

Namely, Toronto Island Airport.

Nope, that honour must go to Billy Bishop who apparently is the only Canadian war hero Toronto City Council has ever heard do of.

And… he ain't from TO.

The mayor of Toronto, David Miller, recently stepped down as mayor.

Good riddance.

I SHALL never… fly again ~

The MIGHTY, MIGHTY, LANC' flys again… but this grand, old Harvard, will never fly again.

MUSEUMS only have much money, folks. And a flying museum is expensive to run. So choices HAVE to be made. Hard ones. Spend here for this, and let that go. And so as bitter as it is… this HARVARD will not get the new $50,000 engine it needs to take to the air once more. Nope.

A 100 GRAND recently had to be spent on the MIghty, Mighty, Lanc, earlier this year… as you know, and so, this Harvard had to make the sacrifice.

And this Harvard was proud to do it, damn it!

To step up to the plate. To take the "hit" for the Lanc. It's all in the line of duty.

In the RCAF. Airman, or airplane.

Then. Now.

Old soldier, old workhorse, that she is.

So, this Harvard is done—

THIS GLORIOUS airplane that once rose to the occasion and trained hundreds of future fighter, and bomber pilots to fly, in perilous times past… and later pleased tens of thousands of both the young and old in peaceful times, at air shows annually… has reached her end of days.

'Course, if you have a Harvard engine lying around, one that you're not using, or don't want… and you have a feverishly generous soul… I'm sure the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will thankfully take it off your hands.

Until that day… SHOULD IT EVER arrive… old valiant shall never fly again.

This will be her final, undignified state.

And here we are, in the sadness, and the quiet… just you, and me, and an ole' RCAF Harvard—

Victory Aircraft LYSANDER Flies… in Hamilton!

Finally.

What's been the hold up?

Certification.

There is only one guy in the world (apparently) that can certify these babies. He resides in England. And he has to come over here, be lodged, wined and dined etc. Eventually, he gives the wave to the Lysander. And then declares her worthy.

The cost? $100, 000 CDN!

Yup, that's what I thought. Cheap—

So the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will split the cost with Vintage Wings of Canada.

Say what?

Why is another museum, one based in Quebec, gonna help out with the Ontario museum's cert?

There's a SECRET here. Shhh……

TWO LYSANDERS are going to be certified at the same time! The service costs of the "guy" will be shared.

Where there was none… there'll be two—

TWO FLYING Lysanders now in Canada.

Both made in Toronto, in 1942.

Only in Canada, you say…… pity ~

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lysander flew this past Tuesday! June 9, 2009.

At 4:15 pm, Rob Erdos (Vintage Wings of Canada) flew the Canadian Warplane Heritage's Westland Lysander C-GCWL on its first flight since restoration. The flight last 44 minutes.

The first public flights are scheduled at the CWH Museum's Flyfest event on June 20 & 21, 2009.

… and, one more thing… there seems to be no mention of the Vintage Wings of Canada Lysander. And why did a pilot from "Vintage" fly the CWH Lysander?

My guess. A surprise is coming, folks!

Look for TWO FLYING Lysanders at Flyfest 2009 in Hamilton, on June 20 and 21.

Wouldn't that be the illustrious!

Be there… or be [ ].

TRIVIA

"Most of the world's few surviving Lysanders are ex-RCAF.

Lysanders were affectionately know as "Lizzies" and their distinctive appearance caused some people to divide aircraft into two classes - airplanes and Lysanders! " (© 2009 Canadian Museum of Flight.)

The above photo is an old file photo.

In response to my article above, which was written AFTER I had spoken to an former Argus pilot who relayed all of the above MINUS the conclusion of two Lysanders flying simultaneously, I have been corrected by a secret CWH member. The correction follows below.

AND I didn't just make this up, folks. I trusted a former Argus pilot, since my dad once had Argus pilots in his command, in the illustrious 404 Squadron of the RCAF .

NOW, here is the CORRECTION:

Anonymous said...

After reading your blog (not that we often do at CWH, but someone told us about it), we felt we had to reply.

Let's start at the top - finally, after 34 years I guess it is about time, but when it is mostly volunteers who do the work under the guidance of a small engineering staff, these things take time. Certification has been slow from former engineering staff over the years due to work load. Mike Charters took over as a part-time (temporary) Chief Engineer in April 2008 for a short term and said this thing has to fly and had full support from the CEO Dave Rohrer.

A volunteer staff again undertook the long task of going over the work of 3 different restoration crews and the final inspection was carried out by the new full-time Chief Engineer Jim Vandyk as well as Rick Rickards and Mike Charters. It was then a long process to prepare the paperwork for Transport Canada.

Wayne Juniper of Transport Canada recently issued the flight authorization. No conspiracy theories here, no British influence (Oh sorry, Rick was born in England) and no $100,000 split! Rob Erdos from Vintage Wings of Canada was invited by Mike Charters and Dave Rohrer to do the test flight as he is a professional test pilot for the National Research Council. Vintage Wing's Lysander has no fabric on it currently but it may fly in 2009. Definitely not in time for our event as nice as it might be! That's the facts folks! But come out and see it fly at CWH on Father's Day weekend where it will fly as part of CWH's Heritage Flight (formation of Lancaster, B-25 Mitchell, Firefly & Lysander)! It will be a sight to behold!

June 14, 2009 2:19 PM

DISCARDED! Bristol Bolingbroke!!

NO DOUBT about it.

Here, right before my eyes, is a discarded Bolingbroke. Blenheim to the UK crowd.

And so, while the CWH (Canadian Warplane Heritage) scours the earth for even a single legitimate part, here I have, right before me, HALF A BOLINGBROKE!!

HALF!

Welcome to the upside-down world–

As I hear gunplay ringing above my head, and past me, I realize it's time to go.

But hey…the sadness remains.

626 of these were built in Montreal, under license, by Fairchild Aircraft of Canada Ltd.

FOUR :::::For Tomorrow!

THE RCAF LIVES ON…and the past carries forward into the future.

We shan't forget!

Why would we? These were the start of glory years for Canada! Think British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

By 1939, Canada was a nation at war with Nazi Germany and beehive of military activity!

Of readying for war, and fighting in the war.

Until 1941, America was still a neutral nation…so on the open seas, U-boats bypassed American vessels and routinely engaged Canadian and British ones.

TENS OF THOUSANDS of Canadians and British subjects were being trained in Canada on all fronts, for the war.

Until 1941, everyone knew where the action was on the North American continent!

CANADA!!

MANY AMERICANS couldn't take it…

Being on the sidelines that is.

And so they came north to Canada. In droves.

HUNDREDS Of AMERICAN FLYERS a month were joining the RCAF for various duties. And they donned the RCAF blue uniforms. 9,000 eventually. 800 eventually died in RCAF service.

There was one notable difference between American and Canadian joiners.

Americans in the RCAF remained under jurisdiction of the RCAF. They swore allegiance ONLY TO THE RCAF and not to the Crown. Swearing allegiance to the Crown, the British monarchy, resulted in forfeiture of citizenship for an American.

And when America joined the war, two years and three months later…these very Americans were free to go back home and join the USAAF. 1, 759 left right after Pearl Harbour. 2,000 more later on, and the rest? Well they stayed.

But those that left took with them one major advantage.

Wartime experience.

Many had already seen combat and/or had hundreds of hours of flying experience in various military aircraft.

And that's all I have to say on this little trip down memory lane…

HAPPY FLIER

…but not a frequent one. Lest not on these WW II “beasties”.

AIR MILES while fabulous…don’t try them here.

At the Canadian Warplane Heritage.

Ixnay–

“But I should be able to use them to fly on these planes!” slurs some malcontent behind me.

“Did you just say planes?”

“Uh huh.”

“Listen you mealy-mouthed…(fairy). These aircraft are the royalty of the aviation world. Former RCAF, not commoner aircraft like Air Canard flies. Now, get lost before I forget I’m Canadian, and am supposed to be a nice guy!“

And you, walkaway babe in blue…dressed more for the Promenade, than a flight aboard a warbird…you have yourself a grand flight! And I’ll catch you on the flyover.

:::SOLIDARITY..::..

…there was always that…in the RCAF.

During WW II. And during the Cold War.

Right up to the very end.

The end?

Unification.

Of the services.

Trudeaupean years, of course ~

Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Great, grand visions of Canada. Horrendous execution…

••• RCAF Remembered …

"THREE THOUSAND MILES across a hunted ocean they came, wearing on the shoulder of their tunics the treasured name, "CANADA," telling the world their origin.

Young men and women they were, some still in their teens, fashioned by their Maker to love, not to kill, but proud and earnest in their mission to stand, and if it had to be, to die, for their country and for freedom.

One day, when the history of the twentieth century is finally written, it will be recorded that when human society stood at the crossroads and civilization itself was under siege, the Royal Canadian Air Force was there to fill the breach and help give humanity the victory.

And all those who had a part in it will have left to posterity a legacy of honour, of courage, and of valour that time can never despoil."


Father J.P. Lardie, Chaplain of 419/428 Squadron
(Engraved on the last panel are these words from his speech at the dedication of the RCAF Memorial at Middleton St. George, Great Britain 15/6/85.)

FIREFLY…But Not In The Garden~

♦ Fireflies in the Garden ♦

Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,
And here on earth come emulating flies,

That though they never equal stars in size,
(And they were never really stars at heart)

Achieve at times a very star-like start.
Only, of course, they can't sustain the part.

–Robert Frost


The FAIREY FIREFLY was most definitely a real star of WW II and the Korean War, filling enemy skies, where she served as a carrier-borne reconnaissance fighter.

The ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY acquired 65 of them for anti-submarine purposes. Detection and destruction of subs, that is.

The RCN used them from 1946 - 1954…and as it was the FIRST AIRCRAFT acquired by the Canadian Warplane Heritage…this aircraft is also featured in their logo!

'nuff said –

==== INVASION STRIPES ===

D-DAY. Invasion of Europe. June 06, 1944

ALLIED AIRCRAFT (Canadian, American, British, Australian, and Polish etc.) were painted with the white and black “invasion stripes” like the Canadian B-25 above.

The purpose of the five alternating bands of white and black stripes on the wings and fuselage of ALLIED AIRCRAFT were to help trigger-happy Allied soldiers identify “friendly” planes and therefore not open fire on them.

(This B-25 has a few "riders"…and is headed for downtown Toronto where it will pass through, go out Niagara way, and then return to Hamilton)

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

ADDITIONALLY…British pilots thought it was a bad idea for American P-51s to enter the fray with metal finish, or unpainted aircraft.

“Ah mate, the Jerries will see you coming for miles!”

The American response was unexpected.

“Good…we want them to see us!”

The American P-51 pilots were quite proud of their high performance Mustangs–

‘nuff said ~

The Way We Were ::: 1957 ::: CANADA

The ROLL-OUT of the CF-105 Avro Arrow…here again at the Toronto Aerospace Museum in 2006~

AVRO CANADA was "wrapped up" very quickly after PM Diefenbaker cancelled the Arrow interceptor and Iroquois engine programmes. Former Avro employees were sought out immediately, by eager American and British aerospace employers. THESE VERY ex-Avro Canada engineers went on to produce Lougheed, McDonnell-Douglas and Boeing aircraft, the Concorde and then THEY PUT America in space!

Yup…Diefenbaker's irrational posturing (with Crawford Gordon, President of AVRO CANADA in 1959) and final decisive stupidity, set ALL THAT, Canada's first BRAIN DRAIN, in motion.

NEWLY-ELECT Prime Minister Diefenbaker, who preached "a brave new world" as his campaign promise…in the end, completely lacked ANY VISION or bravery whatsoever.

FOREVER TO BE REMEMBERED, as that "small town prairie lawyer" who rose to the occasion, at that defining moment, so drunk with "newfound" power and who so enraged, deliriously and maliciously, demanded an end to our (AVRO CANADA's) momentous cutting-edge, and preeminent aerospace achievements…and We…WE, the slumbering citizens of Canada, just as lost for letting him shamefully end it!

EVERY TIME I think of this needless and HORRENDOUS aviation tragedy, the death of the Arrow interceptor and the Iroquois engine projects, how close we came, I get so mad…DAMN IT…I don't know what to do!!!!!!

You'd think the years would lessen the blow!

Nope.

IF THIS reflective RAGE doesn't still consume you…even now…well then, you just can't be all that Canadian~

:::LOUD and LOW::::::

…the RCAF during WW II!