2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:07 pm

Thanks for all of your comments so far. Please let us know any mistakes, etc.

2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...

Also in 1973, John Weir located a de Havilland Tiger Moth that was owned by de Havilland Canada test pilot George Neal. The largest piece could be picked up and carried by one person. Nevertheless, it was deemed restorable, John purchased it and donated the Tiger Moth to Canadian Warplane Heritage. Initially, it was stored at Buttonville, then eventually moved to Hamilton for restoration.

This image shows the CWH Tiger Moth several years later under restoration at Hamilton. During restoration, it was initially numbered incorrectly as 724 but before completion, this was corrected to its original RCAF No. 8922 that C-GCWT still wears today. Anyone have any earlier pictures of our Tiger Moth?

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:12 pm

Does anyone have additional info on the following B&W images of PR503 (when, where, etc.)?

....................................................................................................................................................

The images were taken at the Shearwater Naval Air Station in 1958.

Of course PR503 was an Oshkosh award winning restoration last year.

PeterA

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:14 am

‎2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...

Over the winter of 1973, the Corsair was restored and test flown on February 16, 1974 in the Fleet Air Arm colours of Lt. R.H. Gray, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. Gray flew Corsairs from H.M.S. Formidable during WWII and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for sinking a Japanese destroyer during the closing days of the war. The first photo shows Dennis Bradley in the cockpit of 147, Gray's aircraft. Shortly after painting the aircraft, Gray's crew chief on the Formidable informed CWH that the markings were inaccurate. 147 was Gray's usual aircraft but the day he lost his life, 147 was blocked in on the carrier so he flew 115 instead. The crew chief even had records to prove so the markings were updated to 115.

Steve T · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:45 pm

CF-BDH over the Toronto lakefront...boy is that a bittersweet image...

Toddb · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:20 am

I still remember the 1977 CNE Airshow where we lost Alan Ness and the original Firefly

That's the CN Tower being constructed in the background, once completed at the time the tallest free standing structure.

Toddb · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:32 am

More CWH Corsair pictures please!!!!!
and CWH Avenger (ABG) pictures and info would be awesome!!

I rememeber a CNE airshow that took place sometime in the early to mid 80's, it ended up being washed out due to rain, while all the disapointed spectators were exiting, they launched the CWH Mitchell, Avenger, Corsair and Gary McCann's Black/White Mustang (CF-FUZ) the 4 planes just tore up the airshow circuit with high speed low passes in the rain!
I remember all the disgruntled people leaving because the skies opened up and cancelled the show, but I just stood there in the rain watching the 4 planes put on the most amazing show...something that will stick in my mind forever.
One after another the 4 warbirds just screamed by like they were racing trying to catch each other.

PeterA · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:42 pm

Toddb wrote:

More CWH Corsair pictures please!!!!!

Windsor, 1974.

PeterA

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:23 pm

As requested, a few more CWH Corsair pictures (Photographer Rick Radell):

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:38 am

‎2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...

In 1975, Jack Austin, the founder of Austin Airways donated an aircraft that was already based at Hamilton Airport. That aircraft is Avro Anson Mk. V CF-HQZ (ex-RCAF 12477). Restoration began under the leadership of member George Clow. However, due to lack of funding, the restoration never reached fruition at Hamilton. In 1980, CWH received a donation of a second Anson Mk. V but this one is in flying condition (CF-HOT, we'll get to that history later). In September of 1981, Anson CF-HQZ is taken apart and loaded onto two flatbed trailers. After a three day trip, the Anson arrived at the Western Wing of CWH in Vancouver, B.C. Harry Hope sponsored the rebuild of CF-HQZ and completed the restoration to flying condition. At one point in time, Canadian Warplane Heritage operated not one, but the only two flying Ansons in the world. In 1992, Anson CF-HQZ is deemed surplus and is put up for sale and ends up at the Reynolds Aviation Museum.

(Photo: Rick Radell)

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:19 pm

Thank You for posting the goings on with CWH, it's always interesting and fun to see what other museums are doing, especially when they operate types not usually seen in the U.S., love the cultural diversity.

Steve T · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:01 pm

Neat to see CF-HQZ in Hgr#4 circa '77...that's how I remember her, but I have no pix of her.

Here's CF-HOT/12417 in two so-so pix taken with a pocket 110 camera in 1980, soon after being flown in and donated by INCO...

S.

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:45 pm

‎2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...

Lysander #2363 was manufactured in early 1942 at the National Steel Car Factory in Malton Ontario. It was taken on strength with the RCAF on June 5, 1942 and spent its entire service life at Bombing and Gunnery School #8, BCATP, Lethbridge Alberta. On October 10, 1946 it was struck off strength from the RCAF with a total of 414 hours logged.

Lysander #2363 was purchased by Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness in May of 1973 from Greg Mockford of Edmonton who had purchased it at a farm south east of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. It was moved from Edmonton to Trenton via Air Transport Command. It was then donated to CWH in 1975 by Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness along with an additional air frame, engines, and parts.

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:06 am

‎2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...

Our history wouldn't be complete without including Gary McCann and his black P-51D Mustang CF-FUZ. Gary was an early supporter of CWH and often flew his Mustang on behalf of CWH at many Airshows. His Mustang also spent a fair amount of time at Hamilton, especially in the winter as the hangar was much better to work in than his double car garage in Stratford.

Steve T · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:46 pm

Ahhhh, good old FUZ...

How well I remember walking round Hgr#4 back in the 80s on winter evenings, closing the place down for the night. FUZ would often winter at Mt.Hope, and it was one of those simple pleasures walking past the slick black '51 and watching all those reflected hangar lights slithering up and down the airframe like it was the world's biggest classic car...

(There's much comment on WIX right now about "Red Tails". I'd been thinking about what a good film that story would make in the late 80s, before word came of either Lucas' or HBO's actual films; in "my" version the opening scenes took place at a California airshow in 1979, and the star attraction, and what starts the war story flowing, was a Mustang, which would have been played by FUZ with its stunning civilian paintjob...)

S.

CWH Museum · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:49 pm

‎2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...

In the summer of 1975, Museum member Bill Gregg donated a North American Yale (#3350) to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. It had originally served at No. 1 SFTS at Camp Borden, Ontario from 1940 to 1943 and then at Wireless Schools in Ontario until 1945. After World War II, it had been acquired by the eccentric Ernie Simmons of Tillsonburg. Considering the Yale had sat outside for almost 25 years, it was reasonable condition. Nevertheless, a meticulous ground up restoration took place under the leadership of CWH member Joe Gabany. A second airframe was also acquired (#3396) that was used for parts. After a long restoration, Yale #3350 took to the air again on June 10, 1992 with Bob Hill at the controls. The Yale was flown for several years but due to lack of current sponsorship, it is not currently flown.

Yale 3350 at Camp Borden (Photo: Lou Wise)

As donated in 1975 (Photo: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum)

(Photo: Steve Tournay)

Yale 3396 used for parts. (Photo: Steve Tournay)

(Photo: Rick Radell)

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2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

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