2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:21 pm
2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and to mark this occasion, on WIX, we will be doing regular posts of the entire history of aircraft, people and events. We are also hoping you will add your own photos and memories and help to fill in some of the missing or forgotten history. We are going to start right at the beginning.
Back in the early seventies, Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness, both experienced private pilots, considered jointly owning and flying a high performance aircraft like a Spitfire. They followed up a lead for one in Australia but the aircraft turned out to be a Fairey Firefly, an aircraft neither of them really knew anything about. Dennis attended the 1971 EAA Airshow in Oshkosh to learn more about this type of aircraft. It was there that Bill Ross (then a Spitfire owner) informed Dennis that there was already a Firefly in North America based at Wadley, Georgia. The Firefly was owned by Jack Sliker who had intended to turn it into a transcontinental racer by locking the folding wings and converting them into a wet configuration for greater range. However, lack of interest in that type of racing did not allow him to proceed.
Dennis and Alan contacted Sliker about buying the Firefly. The two of them also approached John Weir and Peter Matthews to join them as partners in the venture. Dennis and Alan then flew to Georgia along with their mechanic, Ed Bell. They found the Firefly sitting forlornly in a corn field. However, they determined it to be restorable and purchased it for $10,000. Several weeks later, George Roberts, a friend of Sliker, fired up the Griffon engine and headed towards Toronto in the Firefly. He got as far as Fredericksburg, Virginia, where a hydraulic failure forced him to land with the tailwheel retracted. George decided that Fredericksburg was as far as he wanted to go.
On October 3, 1971, Dennis and Alan rented a Twin Commanche from Carl Millard and flew to Virginia with one of Millardair's pilots, U.J. Vijneux. They were met there by Jack Sliker who flew up in his Cessna 310. The Firefly was rendered ferryable and Sliker headed north in it, being followed in formation with Dennis and Alan in the 310 and Vijneux in the Twin Commanche. The Firefly was equipped with only the barest of instruments and didn't have a compass or radio. When the formation ran into poor weather and became separated near the north shore of Lake Ontario, things became a little tense. Dennis and Alan landed at Toronto Island Airport for customs only to discover the Firefly had just arrived ahead of them without the luxury of being able to communicate with the tower.
Having cleared customs at Toronto Island Airport, all three aircraft prepared to take off to Toronto International Airport where the restoration was to take place. The Coffman starter on the Griffon engine promptly became unserviceable but they managed to get it running using ropes, tires and a truck borrowed from the airport manager. With remarkable consistency, the Firefly once again became separated from the group and patient controllers at Toronto Centre provided the Twin Commanche and 310 with radar vectors to the Nordo aircraft which by this time was flying in the Toronto International Control Zone. They eventually formed up and were cleared to land. At least one frustrated airline pilot who was forced to hold his take off throughout the affair was heard to comment "We'll accept our clearance anytime the airshow is finished."
The Firefly was based at the Skyport hangar and restoration work commenced almost immediately. The four partners spent a great deal of their time working on the aircraft along with Ed Bell. Dennis and Alan averaged at least two nights a week plus Saturday and Sunday throughout most of that winter. Finally, on June 4, 1972 the Fairey Firefly was test flown at Toronto International by Ormond Haydon-Baillie, a Canadian Forces pilot who had recently restored a Hawker Sea Fury.
On June 5, 1972 Ormond Haydon-Baillie ferried Firefly CF-BDH from Toronto International Airport to Buttonville Airport where a fresh Royal Canadian Navy paint job was applied at Deryck Hickox's Aircraft Finishing. The paint specifications, plans and colour chips were provided by aviation historian John Griffon.
Back in the early seventies, Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness, both experienced private pilots, considered jointly owning and flying a high performance aircraft like a Spitfire. They followed up a lead for one in Australia but the aircraft turned out to be a Fairey Firefly, an aircraft neither of them really knew anything about. Dennis attended the 1971 EAA Airshow in Oshkosh to learn more about this type of aircraft. It was there that Bill Ross (then a Spitfire owner) informed Dennis that there was already a Firefly in North America based at Wadley, Georgia. The Firefly was owned by Jack Sliker who had intended to turn it into a transcontinental racer by locking the folding wings and converting them into a wet configuration for greater range. However, lack of interest in that type of racing did not allow him to proceed.
Dennis and Alan contacted Sliker about buying the Firefly. The two of them also approached John Weir and Peter Matthews to join them as partners in the venture. Dennis and Alan then flew to Georgia along with their mechanic, Ed Bell. They found the Firefly sitting forlornly in a corn field. However, they determined it to be restorable and purchased it for $10,000. Several weeks later, George Roberts, a friend of Sliker, fired up the Griffon engine and headed towards Toronto in the Firefly. He got as far as Fredericksburg, Virginia, where a hydraulic failure forced him to land with the tailwheel retracted. George decided that Fredericksburg was as far as he wanted to go.
On October 3, 1971, Dennis and Alan rented a Twin Commanche from Carl Millard and flew to Virginia with one of Millardair's pilots, U.J. Vijneux. They were met there by Jack Sliker who flew up in his Cessna 310. The Firefly was rendered ferryable and Sliker headed north in it, being followed in formation with Dennis and Alan in the 310 and Vijneux in the Twin Commanche. The Firefly was equipped with only the barest of instruments and didn't have a compass or radio. When the formation ran into poor weather and became separated near the north shore of Lake Ontario, things became a little tense. Dennis and Alan landed at Toronto Island Airport for customs only to discover the Firefly had just arrived ahead of them without the luxury of being able to communicate with the tower.
Having cleared customs at Toronto Island Airport, all three aircraft prepared to take off to Toronto International Airport where the restoration was to take place. The Coffman starter on the Griffon engine promptly became unserviceable but they managed to get it running using ropes, tires and a truck borrowed from the airport manager. With remarkable consistency, the Firefly once again became separated from the group and patient controllers at Toronto Centre provided the Twin Commanche and 310 with radar vectors to the Nordo aircraft which by this time was flying in the Toronto International Control Zone. They eventually formed up and were cleared to land. At least one frustrated airline pilot who was forced to hold his take off throughout the affair was heard to comment "We'll accept our clearance anytime the airshow is finished."
The Firefly was based at the Skyport hangar and restoration work commenced almost immediately. The four partners spent a great deal of their time working on the aircraft along with Ed Bell. Dennis and Alan averaged at least two nights a week plus Saturday and Sunday throughout most of that winter. Finally, on June 4, 1972 the Fairey Firefly was test flown at Toronto International by Ormond Haydon-Baillie, a Canadian Forces pilot who had recently restored a Hawker Sea Fury.
On June 5, 1972 Ormond Haydon-Baillie ferried Firefly CF-BDH from Toronto International Airport to Buttonville Airport where a fresh Royal Canadian Navy paint job was applied at Deryck Hickox's Aircraft Finishing. The paint specifications, plans and colour chips were provided by aviation historian John Griffon.
Last edited by CWH Museum on Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:54 pm
I have been following these updates on the CWH facebook page and loving them!
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:16 am
Tks for sharing....need to go visit back soon...
Michel
Michel
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:29 pm
As a former employee of CWH, I too will follow this thread with great interest.
In my collection, I have many pictures taken back in the late 70's - early 80's of happenings around the Museum
Even have an old 8mm home movie from one of the 1970's airshows.
Unfortunately , I don't have a scanner or I would post some here
CWH is Canada's premier Flying Museum and the show they put on in 2011 was an excellent rehearsal for the 40th Anniversary Show.
I for one hope to be invited back to fly in it again in 2012.
Over the past 10 yrs , the Museum has really come into it's own again and have increased their presence in the Airshow circuit.
It has inspired me to become a member again and to support the Museum where ever possible.
In my collection, I have many pictures taken back in the late 70's - early 80's of happenings around the Museum
Even have an old 8mm home movie from one of the 1970's airshows.
Unfortunately , I don't have a scanner or I would post some here
CWH is Canada's premier Flying Museum and the show they put on in 2011 was an excellent rehearsal for the 40th Anniversary Show.
I for one hope to be invited back to fly in it again in 2012.Over the past 10 yrs , the Museum has really come into it's own again and have increased their presence in the Airshow circuit.
It has inspired me to become a member again and to support the Museum where ever possible.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:54 pm
If the opening post is any indication of what's to come I will be anxiously awaiting each update to this thread for sure.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:49 pm
There should be some great photos out there from people who may have attended airshows and been involved with the museum over the last 40 years.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:44 am
I sure had fun there this year.
Looking forward to being a part of 2012!
Dave
Looking forward to being a part of 2012!
Dave
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:47 am
2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...
All four partners came to the realization that flying a vintage warbird exposed them to some frightening liabilities and they decided to protect their families by operating the Firefly through a non-profit corporation and they named it "Canadian Warplane Heritage." Once protected, they began flying their unique warbird in several airshows throughout the summer of 1972, culminating in its first appearance at Oshkosh that summer. The Firefly went on to win the "Outstanding Warbird" award at Oshkosh - a fitting tribute to the painstaking restoration work that had been carried out.
In September of 1972, the Firefly was moved to Condor Aviation at Hamilton Civic Airport and the group began looking seriously for more aircraft. John Weir located and purchased a de Havilland Chipmunk. Initially, it was based at Buttonville. The Chipmunk (#18035) had been built at Downsview in 1956 and had remained on strength with the RCAF until 1972. John Weir obtained the civil registration CF-POW for the Chipmunk as he had been a prisoner of war (POW) in Stalag Luft III, the POW camp made famous by the escape of 76 Allied aircrew in 1944, and by the movie, "The Great Escape."
All four partners came to the realization that flying a vintage warbird exposed them to some frightening liabilities and they decided to protect their families by operating the Firefly through a non-profit corporation and they named it "Canadian Warplane Heritage." Once protected, they began flying their unique warbird in several airshows throughout the summer of 1972, culminating in its first appearance at Oshkosh that summer. The Firefly went on to win the "Outstanding Warbird" award at Oshkosh - a fitting tribute to the painstaking restoration work that had been carried out.
In September of 1972, the Firefly was moved to Condor Aviation at Hamilton Civic Airport and the group began looking seriously for more aircraft. John Weir located and purchased a de Havilland Chipmunk. Initially, it was based at Buttonville. The Chipmunk (#18035) had been built at Downsview in 1956 and had remained on strength with the RCAF until 1972. John Weir obtained the civil registration CF-POW for the Chipmunk as he had been a prisoner of war (POW) in Stalag Luft III, the POW camp made famous by the escape of 76 Allied aircrew in 1944, and by the movie, "The Great Escape."
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:09 pm
As stated in my earlier reply , I have many old CWH pics from years ago .
If you would like to scan them for this thread give me a p.m. and we can get together
The Museum should have copies of these for their archives anyway.
If you would like to scan them for this thread give me a p.m. and we can get together
The Museum should have copies of these for their archives anyway.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:37 am
2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...
Also in the spring of 1973, a North American Harvard Mk. IV was located at Lindsay Airport. Owned by Sam Mazzara of Toronto, CF-UUU was inspected by CWH mechanic Merril McBride and declared to be restorable. "Triple Uniform" was purchased and donated to the new foundation by the new four. Shortly after that, Merril and Jim McDonald rendered the Harvard flyable and flew it to Hamilton for restoration. CF-UUU had been built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1950. While serving with the RCAF as serial number 20213, it saw service at Moose Jaw and Saskatoon training schools. 20213 was struck off strength in 1965 and sold as surplus to the civilian market.
The B&W image (via Doug MacPhail) shows 20213 while serving with the RCAF Primary Flying Training School. We are still looking for a picture of CF-UUU in civilian colours. Can anyone provide one?
CWH Harvard CF-UUU was quickly restored in the Goldilocks markings and in the summer of 1973 the CWH Harvard Demonstration Team was formed. The original team consisted of CF-UUU, usually flown by George Stewart, Norm Shrive, Merril McBride or Alan Ness plus privately owned Harvards of Chuck McWilliams and Jim Vernon. They quickly became a popular airshow act.
Also in the spring of 1973, a North American Harvard Mk. IV was located at Lindsay Airport. Owned by Sam Mazzara of Toronto, CF-UUU was inspected by CWH mechanic Merril McBride and declared to be restorable. "Triple Uniform" was purchased and donated to the new foundation by the new four. Shortly after that, Merril and Jim McDonald rendered the Harvard flyable and flew it to Hamilton for restoration. CF-UUU had been built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1950. While serving with the RCAF as serial number 20213, it saw service at Moose Jaw and Saskatoon training schools. 20213 was struck off strength in 1965 and sold as surplus to the civilian market.
The B&W image (via Doug MacPhail) shows 20213 while serving with the RCAF Primary Flying Training School. We are still looking for a picture of CF-UUU in civilian colours. Can anyone provide one?
CWH Harvard CF-UUU was quickly restored in the Goldilocks markings and in the summer of 1973 the CWH Harvard Demonstration Team was formed. The original team consisted of CF-UUU, usually flown by George Stewart, Norm Shrive, Merril McBride or Alan Ness plus privately owned Harvards of Chuck McWilliams and Jim Vernon. They quickly became a popular airshow act.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:29 pm
It is fantastic to be able to review the history and historical milestones of "Canada's Flying Museum" the CWH is the largest flying museum operation in Canada. Well done and keep up the excellent articles. RDAS
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Thu Nov 24, 2011 6:35 pm
2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...
The Corsair acquisition started in the summer of 1973 when Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness saw an ad in Trade-A-Plane for an FG-1D for sale in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CWH didn't have the needed $26,000 to buy the Corsair so Dennis agreed to take a personal loan from his business and flew to Tulsa with Merril McBride to evaluate the fighter. They found the Corsair to be better than advertised so it was promptly purchased. One week later Dennis returned to Tulsa by airline and turned a few heads by having a parachute as his carry on luggage. Don Plumb (Windsor based Spitfire owner) met up with Bradley in a P-40 he was ferrying back from California. The two of them flew back in formation to Windsor. From Windsor to Hamilton, Dennis was accompanied in formation by Ormond Haydon-Baillie in his Sea Fury along with "Triple Uniform" and two other Harvards flown by Jim Vernon and Charlie McWilliams. The Corsair arrived in Hamilton on October 15, 1973 and restoration began immediately.
Photo courtesy of the Doug Fisher Collection.
The Corsair acquisition started in the summer of 1973 when Dennis Bradley and Alan Ness saw an ad in Trade-A-Plane for an FG-1D for sale in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CWH didn't have the needed $26,000 to buy the Corsair so Dennis agreed to take a personal loan from his business and flew to Tulsa with Merril McBride to evaluate the fighter. They found the Corsair to be better than advertised so it was promptly purchased. One week later Dennis returned to Tulsa by airline and turned a few heads by having a parachute as his carry on luggage. Don Plumb (Windsor based Spitfire owner) met up with Bradley in a P-40 he was ferrying back from California. The two of them flew back in formation to Windsor. From Windsor to Hamilton, Dennis was accompanied in formation by Ormond Haydon-Baillie in his Sea Fury along with "Triple Uniform" and two other Harvards flown by Jim Vernon and Charlie McWilliams. The Corsair arrived in Hamilton on October 15, 1973 and restoration began immediately.
Photo courtesy of the Doug Fisher Collection.
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:08 pm
2012 - 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Our history continues...
Also in the summer of 1973, John Weir purchased and donated a rare Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV. The Seafire was destined to become a practice fire hulk when a group from the EAA in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia intervened and saved it. Although it had already been cut in various places by fire axes, the Seafire was deemed restorable. The Seafire was in pitiful condition - two men could carry the largest piece with ease - but restoration commenced anyways. The Museum's Seafire, PR503, was built in England in 1945. It served with No. 803 Squadron from HMCS Warrior prior to land duty at Shearwater, Nova Scotia. It was struck off strength in 1950.
Does anyone have additional info on the following B&W images of PR503 (when, where, etc.)?
Also in the summer of 1973, John Weir purchased and donated a rare Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV. The Seafire was destined to become a practice fire hulk when a group from the EAA in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia intervened and saved it. Although it had already been cut in various places by fire axes, the Seafire was deemed restorable. The Seafire was in pitiful condition - two men could carry the largest piece with ease - but restoration commenced anyways. The Museum's Seafire, PR503, was built in England in 1945. It served with No. 803 Squadron from HMCS Warrior prior to land duty at Shearwater, Nova Scotia. It was struck off strength in 1950.
Does anyone have additional info on the following B&W images of PR503 (when, where, etc.)?
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:23 pm
Nice stories. I am one of the pilots for the Cornell and Chipmunk but not that up to date on the history. I will be downloading this information for my collection. So I hope you can give good detail on all aircraft.
I recently purchased a nice little book at the in-museum store that has a nice brief about each aircraft. For anybody else interested....
try this link
http://www.warplane.com/Gift-Shop/
I recently purchased a nice little book at the in-museum store that has a nice brief about each aircraft. For anybody else interested....
try this link
http://www.warplane.com/Gift-Shop/
Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary
Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:28 pm
What a wonderful way to commemorate CWH's anniversary! I am following this thread with interest as I do enjoy reading the history behind an aircraft's post-war career, especially how they came to arrive at their current home and details of the restoration.
Eagerly anticipating the next installment!
Eagerly anticipating the next installment!