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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:24 am

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

In June of 1980, the latest addition to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum arrived in Hamilton - INCO donated a slick looking all red, white and blue Avro Anson Mk. V (CF-HOT) in flying condition.

Anson CF-HOT (RCAF 12417) was built in 1944 under license at the Federal Aircraft plant in Montreal. Upon completion, it joined No. 7 Squadron in Ottawa and spent several years doing photographic survey work. After a period of storage, it was purchased in 1956 by the International Nickel Company of Sudbury.

(Photos: Steve Tournay)

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:29 am

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

Another addition to the collection in 1980 was a North American T-6G Texan (C-GBPL). Dennis Bradley purchased it from Don Currie. The T-6 had spent many years in a backyard in Hondo, Texas after being bought surplus from the military. Don completed the restoration at Hamilton Airport over several years. Although not a CWH owned aircraft, the T-6 operated on behalf of the foundation and was flown regularly by Dennis Bradley, James Bradley and Al Rowcliffe. Several years later, Dennis sold off the aircraft.

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:42 am

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

In late 1980, CWH member Kirby Rowe, acting as a trustee for the estate of his father Ken Rowe, donated a complete Auster Mk. VI. Auster CF-LXT (RCAF 16666) had been in storage at the Owen Sound Airport. Restoration to flying condition was almost completed but unfortunately, it was destroyed in the 1993 hangar fire.

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:39 am

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

In 1981, Dennis Bradley bought himself a DC-3 Dakota with the intention of turning it into a flying camper to take his family around the world. Dennis, Al Rowcliffe and Jerry Janes went to Chino, CA and ferried the aircraft back to Hamilton. During restoration, it was discovered that it was full of corrosion. This was not good news, but the real bad news that Dennis discovered about his "world family tour" was the lack of fuel to be found around the world and the logistics of getting fuel delivered to certain locations. That put an end to this plan and instead, the DC-3 was rebuilt and Dennis Bradley donated the DC-3 to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:50 am

I remember well the arrival of the DC 3
She still had an airline interior ( light blue /green seat) and a military exterior paint scheme
The corrosion was mostly in the lower fuselage section under the toilet area ( as would be expected)
The late Gary Taylor ( CWH 1st Cief Engineer) headed up the restoration and organized a volunteer team to c/out the work.
The interior was fully stripped out of all airline seats and head liner. The fuselage was then cleaned and re zinc chromated . A decision was made to install a new biege head liner and myself an a couple of others installed it over a couple of w/ends,
I recall also removing all the floor boards and coming across pamphlets from some airline in the Carribean , so she must have been there a bit.
Once the restoration was complete, it was decided to put the airline seats back in as we planned to take her to the CAF 1982 Show at Harlingen Tx .
That year we filled the airplane with wives and members and away we went. Weather kept us at Paduka Kty over night( that is an adventure and story all by itself LOL)
After a few days and a great show we headed back to Hamilton but had trouble over Memphis Ten.
We had oil flowing back over the wing from the port engine,, An emergency was declared and we landed at Memphis Intl.
Upon investigation, it was found that the oil take was clogged and the heated oil expanded and came out an over flow port (?). This was corrected tank flushed and we were once again on our way.
A side note : I remember while at Memphis we came across the original Memphis Belle that was parked at a Tech school. We were able to climb all thru it (:
We got home without further issues and I remember the pilots Stu Brickendon and Harold Schultz letting me sit in the right seat at night over Detroit 8) ....what an awesome view :D

The DC3 today looks a lot different that it did at that time. Subsequent volunteer crews once again removed all the civilain interior , put most of the original military interior and equipment back in her and then painted her in a more accurate paint scheme. She looks really great and it one of the higher time DC3's flying.

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:33 pm

As a 14 year old kid this was my first hands on with a rivet gun and a bucking bar. Further to Cam's update I recall some of the upper formers and tailcone ( lord knows I know about the later as I was stuffed down in there) had corrosion as well. She currently has over 81,000 flight hours and going strong. She was out for engine runs yesterday.

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:13 am

Subsequent volunteer crews once again removed all the civilain interior, put most of the original military interior and equipment back in


Was the CWH DC-3 originally a military aircraft? I thought she was one of the few surviving Gooney Birds that was built as an actual DC-3 airliner from the start, rather than a civilianized C-47/R4D/Dakota.

Oh, and you're right...she looks fantastic! I'm hoping to see her again at the big Hamilton show in June.

SN

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:14 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:Was the CWH DC-3 originally a military aircraft? I thought she was one of the few surviving Gooney Birds that was built as an actual DC-3 airliner from the start, rather than a civilianized C-47/R4D/Dakota.

Yep, built for Eastern Airlines in 1939 as DC-3-201B NC21729, and never saw military service. Not that I'm complaining though... :wink:

:partyman:

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:44 pm

Bit depressing to see those shots of the Auster before the fire...she was so close to being finished (and over in Hgr#4)...

The DC-3 was designated a C-49J at one point, but that seems to have been a paper move because Eastern was transporting military personnel. She's distinct from most DC-3 variants as a Wright Cyclone-powered version...note the similarity of the cowls to those on a B-17...

S.

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Mon May 07, 2012 6:13 pm

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

Also in 1981, Dennis Bradley acquired a Beech 18 Expeditor and donated it to Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. It was built in 1946 as a D model and was subsequently converted to a D-18S configuration. It saw active military service in Canada before being sold into private hands. It is known to have operated in western Canada and various countries in Middle America.

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Tue May 08, 2012 5:03 pm

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

In 1981, Dennis Bradley purchased himself a North American P-51D Mustang from Charlie Ventors. He picked it up in Oklahoma in time for the CAF Airsho' 81 in Harlingen, Texas and then flew it home to Canada. CF-BAU was an ex-RCAF machine (#9567) and had been seen previously at the Hamilton International Air Show as "Tangerine". Although not a CWH aircraft, the P-51 operated on behalf of the foundation.

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Thu May 10, 2012 10:51 am

Just bought my tickets and ramp passes for the airshow for my brother and I, cant wait for the big weekend!

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Thu May 10, 2012 3:26 pm

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

On June 6, 1982, the P-51 Mustang (CF-BAU #1) now painted in her new 424 City of Hamilton 'Tiger' Squadron colours was dedicated in a ceremony reminiscent of a wings parade. The whole purpose of the event was to honour former members of 424, who served at Mt. Hope and what better way than dedicate one of that squadron's aircraft types, restored in that squadron's markings to them. About thirty ex-424 Squadon members and guests attended the ceremony including CWH's own George Stewart and Norm Shrive.

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Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Thu May 10, 2012 5:33 pm

That tiger spinner is wild!

Re: 2012 - Canadian Warplane Heritage's 40th Anniversary

Tue May 15, 2012 4:12 pm

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

In the summer of 1982, the DC-3 headed into the paint shop for the transformation from "Argonia" to "Canucks Unlimited".

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