Warbird Information Exchange

Hi all,

These two aircraft have been discussed earlier, but I was wondering if there are serious plans to recover both aircraft. Both are significant aircraft with few survivors.

Rob, I know you are interested.....

Cheers

Cees

Cees.
The york will be recovered by a enthusiastic group once funds become available..
The lincoln on the other hand will be a logistics nightmare as there are no roads at that side of the lake and all parts will have to be barged out to the other side of the lake. I am waiting on more info on the Lincoln etc.. Sadly each passing year sees more and more damage from vandals and weather...

Yes, If I had the chance I would jump on a Lancastrian and fly out to Canada.

Cheers

Cees

Gentlemen,

While visiting Canada, the RAF Avro Lincoln crashed during take off into a Watson Lake in the Yukon. One of Larry Milberry's aviation books on Canada has photos showing the remains of the Lincoln. Apparently it was dragged out of the lake on to the shore and stripped of parts, etc. by the military. The photos show several fuselage sections with people inspecting the remains.

My understandng is there is very litttle if anything left of the aircraft, though I may be incorrect. If I recall correctly, someone mentioned the remains had been totally scrapped. A friend in BC visited the remains and knows what is left. I will ask him to submit a report to this forum of visits made to the wreckage back in 1978 and the years following. Every aviation enthusiast in Canada, at one time or another, must have visited these remains.

Mention is made of the Avro York. I have researched the history of this aircraft in Canada and have photos of either the accident scene at the time each occurred, or the gutted remains of these hulks scattered across northern Canada and Quebec. When I say gutted, I mean gutted--worth nothing more than scrap.

For instance, the York sitting at Cook Inlet in 1977 was immaculate still with engines attached. But over the years, bush pilots stripped the a/c of instruments and Merlin engines, and local eskimos used the airframe as a spare parts department for aluminum and stripped the airframe. What is left is nothing but a skeleton, and would not be worth recovering.

About 15 years ago, I sent copies of my York files to an aviation researcher in the UK. Using my information, he published an in-depth article on Canada's civil Avro York operations, in a British civil aviation magazine.

I am preparing for publication in the non-profit Canadian Aviation Historical Society journal a much greater in-depth article on Canada's civil Yorks.

Yours very truly,
Norman Malayney

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Tony Jarvis has all the info's on the York up north.

I would post the recent pics he sent me , but I would rather have is OK before.

I can say it is more than worty of recovery.

Gentlemen,

In my previous reply, please change Cook Inlet to read Hull Beach. I double checked my files and the once good York at Hull Beach has been totally brutalized by vandalism.
Norman Malayney

Rob did I send you all the pics of her??

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Cheers,
Peter

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Hello Rob
There is no nose section to be seen. In the woods there is the canopy section laying on the ground. Maybe the cockpit is still in the lake..?

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Cheers,
Peter

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Hey rob are you going torecover it then?? If needed I can ask our curator if we can give it a home?!

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Cheers,
Peter

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Back at the computer again and have posted a reply concerning Ventura's. Now it is time to take care of the Canadian York questions! (Why do I gravitate towards unhearaled aircraft types anyway? )
In response to Michel's posting, please feel free to post the pictures I sent of York CF-HMX. It's proper location name is actually Hall Lake, about 30 miles directly west of Hall Beach, Nunavut. Close to Fox Main NWS site (read Dew line) which has the buried remains of it's own York crash diectly off the end of the runway.
Talk about thrill of the chase, you would need ground penetrating radar to see that one!
Have a look at Dan Jone's pictures of HMX located on the Members Gallery section of WRG.
I have made it a hobby of mine to track these wrecks down whenever I am in the area and photograph whatever remains. CF-HMX is certainly accesable and we do have permission from the new government of Nunavut to proceed with recovery but the main hangup is still time, money and warm-body availability. Tantalizing as it might appear, recovery of any of these artifacts is a very difficult endeavour although not impossible.
Keep in mind that you cannot storm into these areas anymore and make off with what-you-please (read Labrador B-17) without consulting the proper authorities, regardless of your good intentions.
As for the Watson Lake Lincoln, I haven't been there but have seen the photos that were mentioned earlier on in this discussion.
I am open to any questions and information on the Yorks here in Canada so feel free to write me!

Best regards: Tony Jarvis
Ventura Memorial Flight Association
www.rcafventura.ca

Hello Tony.
Where will the York eventually go when she is removed?

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Cheers,
Peter

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Hi Pete!

Ideally I would like to see a static example displayed here in Edmonton, what one could consider to be the 'York' center of Canada, in Associated Airways markings.
It is conceivable to do this but it would probably be a composite aircraft from several wrecks around the country.
Ahhh.....to have the $$$$$

Tony

Tony.
It is a pity that we do not have something like they do in England with Heritage Lottery finding eh? I Would think the York project would easily receive funding.. One can only dream....

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Cheers,
Peter

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