Warbird Information Exchange

So i was looking at your line up and saw Chuckie and a few other birds that she shares a home with, does this mean we can expect to see another supppperrr low pass at high speed by a Lancaster this year again at Warbirds Over The Beach 2012?

Travis.

P.S. I really want to make it up to see yall's museum in person. I'm an avid follower on F.B., sense the Lancaster made it here last year.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/74595482@N04/

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

Moving into 1976, CWH was now at 125 members. Cessna Crane CF-FGF was acquired from Doug Wardle of Orleans, Ontario. Shortly after its difficult ferry flight to Hamilton, it was repainted in a camouflage scheme representative of a few Cranes that served as squadron hacks in active squadrons of the Home War Establishment on the west coast of Canada during WWII. The newly painted Crane flew in the 1976 Hamilton International Air Show, but soon after was grounded for a complete rebuild after the discovery of wood rot. Photos: Jim Hoover.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

I don't remember it in camo but I have to say I like it better than the yellow paint she has carried for many years.

Cheers,

Jeff

I noticed in the Show Program at the end of the day...MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER.

Anyone have any information on this?
Very courious as to just what or who's Marauder attended.

I don't think it was a Marauder. This wouldn't be the first airshow or museum roster I've seen that said that when it meant a Douglas A-26/B-26 Invader.

August

Pretty sure there wasn't a A-26 or B-26 at the '75 Hamilton International Air Show.

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

CWH's first Cornell (now C-GCWC, painted as RCAF 10835) was originally registered as CF-ESD, Serial # FC195. It was manufactured in 1943 and was the 741st Cornell manufactured by Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario. It was taken on strength May 17, 1943 and served at No. 3 Flying Instructor School at Arnprior, Ontario, and No. 11 EFTS at Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. It was taken off strength February 12, 1946.

After the war it had a number of owners and during the 1950’s it operated out of the Hamilton Airport. Its last flight was in June of 1960. In 1961 it was grounded due to delamination in the centre section spar. In 1976 it was located on a farm near Carp Ontario and was acquired by CWH.

In 1979 a group of retired Fleet Aircraft employees guided by Bruce Mac Ritchie undertook a restoration project where they brought it back to flying condition as a project for the 50th anniversary of the company. In 1981 the aircraft was returned to the CWH as serial number 10835, the 1,000th Cornell built by Fleet Aircraft and aptly titled “Spirit of Fleet II.’




The CWH B-25 attended the Confederate Air Force Air Show in Harlingen, Texas in October of 1976. The most memorable part of the trip was meeting H.R.H. Prince Philip who was making a refueling stop in Brownsville, Texas. After posing for this group shot, he consented enthusiastically to allow CWH to escort his aircraft as far as Harlingen, which was something of a coup when you consider the very stringent regulations concerning operations of aircraft in the vicinity of Royal aircraft.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

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

Late in 1976, a TBM-3E Avenger (N7239C) was purchased from the Planes of Fame Museum in California. It arrived in Hamilton on December 10, 1976 after being flown back by Steve Hinton and Jim Maloney. The turkey was met coming into Hamilton by Dennis Bradley in the Corsair. All we have is this picture from the TBM while on route to Hamilton. Does anyone have a picture of it BEFORE it was painted in Royal Canadian Navy colours?

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

Here's a link to a b&w pic of it from August, 1976. Appears to have the red surround to the nationla insignia in this shot which is not apparent on the wing of the aircraft in your shot. Repainted between August and December?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34076827@N ... hotostream

Thanks for the link. Just found this one...early 1977, stripped and ready for RCN paint scheme.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

Marauderman--

The CAF's was the only Marauder that could have attended HIAS, other than the Weeks one during the brief period that was flying; and in fact one year it was hoped to bring the CAF B-26 to the next HIAS...but that was the year the Marauder was lost in a crash. The B-26 remains one of the major warbird types I have never seen in the air.

CWH--

That's exactly how I remember first seeing the TBM, in bare metal on the bright yellow floor of Hgr#4, among the Harvards...

S.

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

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's most ambitious undertaking has been the acquisition and restoration of an Avro Lancaster. The Lancaster acquisition resulted from CWH members Bill Gregg and Murray Smith toying with the idea of trying to acquire a Lancaster for the collection. The Board of Director's attitude was "nothing ventured...nothing gained" so the two of them began looking. Bill made contact with the Goderich branch of the Canadian Legion and tried to convince them to donate the Lancaster they had mounted on a pedestal at the Goderich Airport. Having had no success convincing the Legion, Dennis Bradley then contacted a friend by the name of Bruce Sulley. Bruce owned a company called Dominion Road Equipment in Goderich, and his father had been an Air Vice Marshall in the RCAF. Bruce's family had a foundation that donated a large scholarship trust fund for the sons and daughters of members of Goderich's Branch 109 of the Royal Canadian Legion. In return for the Sulley's family's generous donation, the Legion gave the family foundation their Lancaster. The foundation in turn donated the Lancaster to CWH. The bomber was officially handed over to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at the Goderich Airshow on July 1, 1977.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

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

Tragedy struck CWH on September 2, 1977 at the Canadian National International Air Show in Toronto. Hardworking Alan Ness, co-founder of CWH and champion of its cause, lost his life when Fairey Firefly CF-BDH that he was piloting crashed into Lake Ontario. Eric Dumigan's photo captures Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum aircraft moments before the tragedy. Dennis Bradley had just landed the Corsair with a mechanical issue as the B-25, P-51 Mustang (CF-FUZ) followed by the Firefly leave Toronto Island Airport for their appearance in the show. The cause of the tragic accident is recorded as pilot disorientation due to loss of horizon.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

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

On March 12, 1978, TBM-3E Avenger C-GCWG was successfully test flown. George Stewart was the test pilot for the 30 minute flight and reported that the aircraft flew very well. Soon after, it was painted in the markings of No. 880 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Navy circa 1948. Avengers had been operated by the RCN until 1960 on carriers like HMCS Magnificent.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

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

From 1977 through November of 1979, a tremendous amount of work was carried out removing the Lancaster from its concrete pedestal and preparing it for transport to Hamilton. It was originally hoped that it might be possible to ferry the aircraft to Hamilton, but this later proved to be impossible as the Lancaster required far more extensive restoration than anticipated. The engines and wings were removed and transported by road to Hamilton.



Immediately after the crash of Firefly CF-BDH, the search began for a replacement of the flagship aircraft. In 1978, a replacement Firefly was located in Australia and purchased for $38,000 Canadian from the Camden Museum of Aviation. Firefly WH632 had only 120 hours on it and had been inhibited by the Royal Australian Navy. The Firefly, along with five crates of spare parts and one container holding a zero time Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, arrived in Halifax on July 24, 1978 aboard the container ship Columbus Virginia. After a lengthy layover at CAF Shearwater, the Firefly travelled by water to Thorold and to Hamilton by road arriving on August 22, 1979.



In 1978, the Supermarine Seafire project was moved to Ray Middleton's shop in Fort Collins, Colorado. Due to the derelict condition it was acquired in as well as the complexity of the aircraft, much of the work needed to be performed by a professional restorer.



On November 5, 1979, a CAF Chinook from 450 Squadron in Ottawa piloted by Major Ed Booth and Captain Lemieu delivered the Lancaster fuselage to Hamilton. After an initial unsuccessful attempt in June, longer slings were used this time and in the process, the flight set a world record for helicopter lift and distance.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

That is one facinating picture...!!!! Tks fo rsharing..