2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

[rcaf_100]

Nice! Always love Yale stuff.

...A second airframe was also acquired (#3396) that was used for parts......

You might also want to add that Bill Gregg had a second Yale (#3390) that he sourced a lot of parts from too. (namely the electrical system and most of the backseat parts)
I'm currently restoring it to airworthy condition.

[Tom H]

The poor old much maligned Yale

Great old bird CWH, loved getting a look at it in December but it wouldn't fit in my briefcase!

Keep up the good work in Hamilton!

Good luck on your resto RCAF_100.

Tom

[AirJimL2]

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

Love the Vamp parts hiding in the background. Maybe we can get some pics of N6863D all assembled as the story continues?

Jim

[CWH Museum]

Jim,

You bet Jim. I know I took some of it assembled, just haven't found yet.

[peter]

Will the Anson MKV ever return to flight again or is she destined to remain ground bound?

[CWH Museum]

Peter,

In addition to maintaining all of our flying aircraft, we are currently restoring the Bolingbroke & Avenger and recently have started restoring the Tracker to flying condition which combined, pretty much puts us at our limit of what we can do due to funding. Once the current restorations are completed, we plan to once again (in no particular order) fly the Finch, Auster, Yale, Crane and Anson as well as restore the Bird Dog. We are actively seeking sponsorship of these projects and if that happens, these projects would start sooner.

[Tom H]

Oh come on

Finch, Auster, Yale, Crane and Anson as well as restore the Bird Dog

I know a nice place out west that would happily give them a good home and get them out of your hair. LOL

Just funnin ya...cept maybe on the Yale and Bird Dog, well maybe the finch too, Crane would fit it then of course 165Squn did have Austers here.

Never mind

[N3Njeff]

‎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.

Thanks for posting. Gary used to winter in Tampa Fla in the early 80's. This is where my dad got to know Gary and how at the age of 10, I got to go around the bay in FUZ.

[CWH Museum]

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

Early in 1975, Alan Ness and Dennis Bradley began to look for a B-25. B-25's had been in the news as several were being sold by the producers of the movie "Catch 22". A friend of theirs in Pennsylvania knew of a B-25J located in Wilmington, Deleware that was available for $12,000. An April trip to Wilmington found the aircraft in reasonable shape with run-out engines. The deal was struck, that included spares, a ground unit and a WWII jeep, and a crew was sent down to prepare the B-25 for the ferry flight to Mount Hope.

Originally, the aircraft had been delivered into civilian hands late in 1945. It had apparently been constructed from spares at North American Aviation, since the aircraft had equipment representative of several marks of B-25. It was used as a corporate transport for a number of years and was last used in this role by the Bendix Corp. When acquired by CWH, it had been a ramp queen for several years.

In May of 1975, after several mechanical delays, the CWH's B-25 Mitchell C-GCWM finally arrived at Hamilton Airport flown by Harry Kelly. Apparently, on the arrival pass, the bomb bay doors were opened and a load of watermelons were dropped. Airport officials weren't too impressed.



During the summer and fall of 1975, the B-25 was parked in the hangar for restoration. During restoration, many parts and systems were either replaced or repaired plus the executive interior of ten passenger seats was removed. Member Bill Gregg donated the funds for two zero time engines in cans. For a very short period of time, the B-25 was flown in its natural aluminum finish with RCAF roundels added and "77".



The CWH B-25 was officially test flown on May 8, 1976 and soon after was painted in the colour scheme of a B-25 of 98 Squadron RAF as flown by RCAF F/O John W.D. Pudney of Vancouver, BC. Pudney was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his actions on December 3, 1944 as outlined in the following excerpt from the London Gazette on April 10, 1945:

"F/O Pudney has throughout his operational tour, shown outstanding skill and keenness. During a sortie to the Venlo Bridge in December 1944, one engine of his aircraft was put out of action. Despite this, he pressed home a telling attack, afterwards returning to base, where he accomplished a successful landing. Many of this officer's missions have been to heavily defended targets. He has always set a magnificent example of courage, ability, and outstanding determination."

[Steve T]

I well remember holding astern of the recently-painted Mitchell on the apron at Mt.Hope with my cousin Don in a rented Cherokee, circa 1976...one of my first close views of a Warbird under power.

CWH--did I give you a shot of Vampire 17020 "C-GCWV" in its assembled state? I know I've got two or three pix of her taken in Hgr#3 when the museum was mulling over a rebuild, probably around 1987...

S.

Last edited by Steve T on Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Look at the lineup of flying warbirds planned for the 40th Anniversary Hamilton Air Show June 16-17:

http://www.hamiltonairshow.com/performi ... craft.aspx

With a lineup like that I may have to plan my first trip to a Canadian air show!

[CWH Museum]

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

Sometime in 1974, Canadian Warplane Heritage decided to hold their own airshow the following year. The 1975 Hamilton International Air Show was born. If you were there, please let us know your memories. What aircraft and pilots participated? Post some pictures from the '75 show if you have any.

[k5083]

I was not there and don't have pictures, but I do have an original program from the event. Here it is in its entirety. Quite an excellent lineup!

August

[Steve T]

Here are a couple of the pix (from circa 1987) of Vampire F.3 17020/N6863D "C-GCWV". This is the south bay of Hgr#3, the section which did not burn. The Vamp left the collection three or four years later, ending up in Manitoba. An ex-Swiss FB.6 variant came from France in 1995 by way of replacement.





S.

[CWH Museum]

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

Although the Museum's Lysander has never flown at the CNE Airshow, it did participate at the CNE in 1975. Members trucked the skeleton there and pieced it together for display. Photos courtesy of Eric Dumigan: