USEUM FLIGHT The Canadian Museum of Flight Glidepath News Issue 63 #200-5333 216th Street Langley, B.C., V2Y 2N3 Fall 1999
From left to right: Werner Griesbeck, Raymond Collishaw Smith Jr., Raymond Collishaw Smith Sr.. John Paul Collishaw Smith, Dan Holliday. Story on page 3.
Editorial Gogi Goguillot
You’re right, we are late, the last newsletter was in June, almost six months ago. However, during the past months we printed and mailed the “Special Newsletter” celebrating the completion and test flying of C-GMFT our beautiful Tiger Moth.
Along with the Moth we have been making headway with other long-term projects. Increases in donations from a number of sources have boosted activity with the WACO, Hampden and Lodestar. Memberships are up and so is enthusiasm, but among all the good bits we have some serious areas of concern. Help with shop, library, and photo archive projects is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, reliable and dependable-planned activity is properly staffed and carried out. Not so in other critical areas.
Mall displays are mainly staffed by members stolen from other activities – in other words, we rely on people who would nor mally be involved in other necessary duties.
More critical is the need for gift shop and office staff. Our gift shop (and major source of funding) is open six hours a day. seven days a week and is the portion of our activities most visible to customers and visitors. If we are short of help, we cannot just put a sign on the door saying, “Closed…due to lack of staff. Much of what goes on in the gift shop is in the areas of sales, housekeeping, inventory, various clerical chores and of course public relations and customer service. Many of the duties are not time critical (i.e.: come and go as you wish) but we must have dependable staff for the full time hours of operation.
Honest, gift shop duties are really great! In company with other CMF volunteers and dealing with a public who are enthusiastic and supportive. Working in warmth and comfort- what could be better? Try it…you will like it!
The CMF Newsletter is published quarterly by the Canadian Museum of Flight. Contributions in the form of articles, news items, letters and photos are welcome, as are comments and criticism. No payment can be made for any manuscripts that are submitted for publication in the CMF Newsletter. The Editor reserves the right to make changes in the manuscripts without altering the meaning. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact either Gogi or Sandy at the Museum by calling (604) 532-0035. Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m- 4:00 p.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our cup runneth over! So much good stuff and so little space. CMF Newsletter will have to grow. in size or frequency. This fall issue is so short of space, that you will have to wait to read articles by: Jack Meadows, Dennis Cardy, Al Peden through Dr. Gordon Potter, Tony Swain, George E. Williams. D.F.M., LAA. Woods and Herb Hill-Tout. All fascinating, exciting or humorous….. DON’T MISS OUR NEXT ISSUE!
November 11th Cenotaph Fly past
As in past years our Harvard CF-GME will perform the November 11th fly past over Parksville at the request of the Royal Canadian Legion. Mt. Arrowsmith (Pacific) Branch 49. The Harvard flown by Dr. Gordon Potter is becoming a regular part of the Legion ceremony, and an event in which CMF is honoured to participate in.
Quarterly Dinner Meeting
Our next dinner meeting will be held on January 22nd. If our last event is any indication on attendance, mark this date on your calendar now, and book your tickets early. Look for more information in our next newsletter.
Celebrate the New Year at the Canadian Museum of Flight
We have had many requests from our members to host a New Year’s Eve Party at the Museum….It took us awhile to convince Gogi (who didn’t see us dance at the Tiger Moth party) that yes, we could turn the hangar into a fun festive place and dance the night away. All the details are not confirmed, but if you are interested, please call Sandy at the office (532-0035) and she can answer any questions you may have. You may want to get your name on the list early…we’re already booking.
C-GMFT SALUTES RAYMOND COLLISHAW
After many years of trying, the Vancouver Island Military Museum folks convinced the Naniamo City fathers to spend some money and rename the Cassidy Airport Terminal to honour WWI Flying Ace Raymond Collishaw.
The Naniamo Museum was looking after the dedication ceremonies and asked CMF to supply a Tiger Moth. We agreed — subject to weather of course!
Well, on October 2nd, the sun came up with not a cloud in the sky and a light breeze. In other words, a perfect day for flying. Just to play it safe, our course took us over the U.S. San Juan Islands through Victoria airspace and up Island to Naniamo. When we arrived, the air cadet gliders and tow plane graciously moved off the grass runway so we could land on the “soft” grass.
When we finally found the organizers and asked what the schedule would be they informed us that we should park down by the flying club and come back to the Terminal for the dedication. With the airplanes on display. we went back to the Terminal for lunch and talked to the organizers some more. They told us that the Air Force had cancelled so there would be no fly past. We said, “we are here… and we have a Tiger Moth. We will do the flyby.” There is no control tower at Naniamo but there is a flight service station; so we informed them of our intentions and they agreed to help in any way they could. Werner and I missed the actual ceremonies but Linda and Wendy said it was very nice. Everyone gathered around the large painting of Collishaw’s Tri-Plane hanging in the Terminal Building over a glass display case of his memento’s.
There were lots of Vets there with their medals, and the Air Cadet band from the Collishaw Squadron. By this time, we are circling overhead watching for the official party to come out of the Terminal. The timing was perfect. As the first people came outside we did a long down wind leg and by the time we made our approach; everyone was outside and the band had started to play. As we flew by in our beautiful yellow Tiger Moth against a bright blue Autumn sky, the ranking Air Force Officer gave the salute (remember Abbotsford). It looked so good and felt so good, we did another fly past.
By the time we landed and parked the airplane by the flying club, the people started to arrive for refreshments. After spending some time talking to the Vets who were admiring the airplanes, we were talking about getting fuel when two nicely dressed young gentlemen (early teens) walked up and started asking about the Tiger Moth. In the course of the conversation, we found out that they were from Calgary and their names were John Paul and Raymond Collishaw Smith. They were the great grandsons of Raymond Collishaw. Due to the lateness of the hour and our insurance coverage, we weren’t able to take them flying. However, the airplanes needed fuel which was at the far end of the airport. So John Paul got a ride to the pumps and Raymond got a ride back. Their father Raymond met us and thanked us for taking the kids for at least a ground ride.
After a beautiful flight home we put the Tiger Moth back in the hangar and had our debriefing. It had been a great day all around. We had an opportunity to help out the Vancouver Island Military Museum with their dedication to, some would say: “the greatest airman of them all – Air Vice Marshall Raymond Collishaw; and to meet his grandson and two great grandsons not to mention taking an Air Force salute in our Tiger Moth!
So all that’s left to say is “another successful sortie completed”!
Submitted by Dan Holliday
BREAKING NEWS
For the past year, we have been very fortunate to have Morice Kapustianyk as our Volunteer Coordinator. Due to other requirements, Morice will no longer be able to carry out this function, and so we would like to welcome Ken Knutson on board. You all will be getting to know Ken over the next few months, as he will be calling you to ask if you would be interested in helping out in various areas around the Museum. To Morice, a sincere thank you for all you have done…and to Ken… welcome aboard!
Welcome to our newest members
Dave Barrett Agassiz, BC Bob Jadis Bifolchi/Messier Family Surrey, BC Jennifer Brideau Elizabeth Juralowics Ole Larsen Bryan & Marge Carr Langley, BC Aldergrove, BC Surrey, BC Surrey, BC Thomas Crozier Steve Deroo Langley, BC Langley, BC Surrey, BC Thomas Farrelly Don Fowles Bellingham, WA Aldergrove, BC Burnaby, BC Linda Lindor Harry Pride Lance Richardson Margo & Gary Schroeder Surrey, BC Howard Havries Adam Hay Surrey, BC Chilliwack, BC Darlene Shimla Owen Smith Richmond, BC Gary Hendricks William Hendricks Delta, BC Chilliwack, BC Greg Stasiuk Langley, BC Richmond, BC Cliff Steele Martin Thom Surrey, BC Surrey, BC Prince Rupert, BC
White Rock, BC
Volunteer of the Quarter
Well, we all knew it would happen sooner or later, Doug would finally get his name in lights. This editions winner of a Dinner for Two is Doug Moan.
Doug can be found regularly at the Museum Tuesday through to Thursday doing a variety of things from working on hangar doors. aircraft tugs, kubota loaders, Jacobs, Gipsy Majors, Continental Engines, welding etc etc etc.. We found out this summer though that he has a hidden talent… Parade Marshall
From everyone at the Museum, thank you Doug for all you do.
A special thank you to Ralph and his staff at Cruisers for donating a complimentary Dinner for Two to our Volunteer of the Quarter
Visit Cruisers Pit Stop Diner at 21671 Fraser Hwy to enjoy a relaxing meal, surrounded by nostalgic automotive memorabilia
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
On Sunday Sept 26th, we had the extreme pleasure of visiting your Museum. Since having children we have visited many Museums. Both my husband and I were very impressed with the service and helpful information we received that day, from your staff there. Thank you for being so enthusiastic with all patrons – a rare treat in today’s world.
Good Luck, The Titerle’s
On September 3, I had the pleasure of visiting the Langley Museum, My sister-in-law who lives in Chilliwack became aware of your facility when she saw a display in the Mall there. She was particularly interested in the CF-100 as she knew I had flown the aircraft for many years and thought we should visit the Museum when I was in British Columbia on vacation.
When we dropped by my wife and I expected a short stay and then we would carry on with our holiday. Our short visit became three hours and we even stayed for lunch. By the way you have more CF100 memorabilia than the National Museum in Ottawa. My Visa bill will verify this statement!
As promised, I checked my logbook to see if I had flown aircraft 138. Much to my delight I discovered that it was the first CF100 I flew on August 10, 1959 out of RCAF Station Cold Lake Alberta. From that time until January 14, 1982, I managed to accumulate 3275 hours in 133 different “Clunks” which stands as the record. CF100 504 was the last one I flew and it rests at the Museum at Castle Air Force Base in California. I piloted it on the last operational mission for the CF100 during the winter of 1981. I delivered aircraft 757 to the Canadian Aviation Museum at Rockcliffe Ontario in October of 1979.
Anyway, enough of history. Along with the thrill of finding out about 138, I felt like a kid again sitting in your Link Trainer. It sure brought back memories, not all of them good I can assure you, as I can still vividly recollect some of the seemingly endless instrument “flights”. It was fun being able to fool around without an instructor following your every move.
The visit to Langley was a highlight of our vacation. Everyone there was helpful, enthusiastic and very friendly. Keep up the good work and I promise to come back soon.
Peter Growen
Dear Gogi,
On behalf of the Western Canada Aviation Museum I would like to extend to you and all of those people at the Canadian Museum of Flight sincere congratulations in the restoration of the Tiger Moth C-GMFT to flight-worthy condition. I know that this is no small undertaking that you people have achieved and you should be very proud of your work restoring to the Canadian Skies, a WWII Tiger Moth. There certainly are not a lot of these wonderful aircraft in existence today and the fact that you have put one back in the air will, not doubt, help to preserve this type for this and future generations. Congratulations again on this fine achievement.
Best Regards
George W. Elliott, Executive Director
Western Canada Aviation Museum
Dear Mr. Goguillot:
In early July. I visited the Canadian Museum of Flight. It was a visit I truly enjoyed, and I wrote an account of that visit for the Canadian Flight, a monthly paper published by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association. They published the review in their October 1999 issue, and I enclose a copy for your use.
I am very much aware that museums such as the Canadian Museum of Flight depend heavily on volunteers. I ask that you thank all your many volunteers for providing such an enjoyable museum. Although the Hampden was singled out in the review, I appreciated the craftsmanship that went into the other aircraft, and the other exhibits. The Canadian Museum of Flight does a nice job of reminding Canadians of their rich aviation heritage, and I hope the review will persuade many COPA members to visit and see for themselves what a fine Museum you have.
thank you for an enjoyable day, and best wishes for your continuing success.
In September we were pleased to have Mike Wilkey visit the Museum. Mike is a writer for Aviation Quarterly and is also the author and illustrator of “They Never Gave Up” a young people’s history of aviation in western Canada and the Pacific North West. In between his book projects he has published over 200 articles in national and internationally respected aviation magazines.
A former lecturer at the University of Victoria, Okanagan University College, and Camoson College, and a teacher for some years in Revelstoke, BC. Some of you might have had the opportunity to meet Mike at the Tiger Moth party, which he attended. Look for Mike’s write up on CMF in an upcoming edition of Aviation Quarterly.
JUST NODDED OFF?
No, honest, Doug and Dan were checking the fit of the Tiger Moth Canopy Frame before one of its flights.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Now that winter is almost upon us, we are coming into a time where almost every tourist attraction feels the pinch. Although we still get visitors to the Museum and Tours, it’s no secret that attendance drops by 3/4 from the summer period. We have come up with a way to not only help with revenue in the Museum, but also to make one lucky person the owner of a Hand Carved, Hand Painted Mahogany signed by the 1999 Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The Snowbirds graciously signed this model for us to raffle, and to help us in our
We have 300 books of tickets (15 tickets per book) to sell before December 20th. The tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. The draw is to take place on December 20th at 11:00 am so that someone will have the ultimate Christmas present. Can you take a book, or purchase tickets? We can do this….all it takes is a phone call, or a stop by the Museum. And what do you get if you help? The feeling of satisfaction when we tell you in the next newsletter….
WE DID IT!
C-GMFT CHRISTENING
The big day is finally here, we have been flying the Tiger Moth for several months but never had an official coming out party. Our Tiger Moth flew for the first time on September 29, 1941, so we picked September 25 as the day for an official christening ceremony.
It is Saturday morning Sept 25 and all that needs to be done is to finish decorating the hangar and move a couple of airplanes outside to make room for tables. Well, everybody arrived bright and early to help, only to find no power and the winds howling. The electrical geniuses soon had the lights working by generators but we didn’t have enough power to operate the hangar door. At about noon the power came back on so that we could open the doors and push the planes outside, with the help of about 10 guys just to hold the planes because it is still howling about 40 knots. Just at that time. Al Hegerman drove in and soon we had a space inside his hangar to move airplanes. After a lot of shuffling by everyone. ve finally had space in the hangar and a good spot to show off the Tiger Moth, and we are ready.
About 2:00 p.m. the fellows from the Air Crew Association started to arrive. We had 4 or 5 of our volunteers dressed in eriod aviation uniforms wandering around and talking to the vets. Gil Fanslau had set up chairs and was asking the vets to late some of their more interesting Tiger Moth stories for the video camera. The hangar was just oozing with nostalgia as the Air Crew fellows related there stories to each other and to any of us who were interested. Just as things were starting wined down, there was a roar of a round engine and who arrives in his Harvard but Tony Swain. Tony had just been to aniamo to pick up COPA President Kevin Psutka. Tony says you can’t get a bunch of WWII vets together without having Harvard, and besides, Kevin wanted to see our Tiger Moth.
By 6:00 p.m.,most of the guests had arrived and we were all set to do the official deed. Members of the official party ere Dan Holliday- Master of Ceremonies, Werner Griesbeck – Chief Restorer, Terry Wadhams-President and Mayor shn Scholtens from the Township of Langley. Mayor Scholtens praised the volunteers who had worked so hard to get the rplane flying, he also said that the Museum was to be commended in its efforts, and what a positive thing we were to both he airport and the community of Langley. Then came the champagne, understanding that the Tiger Moth is very special. nstead of breaking the bottle, he popped the cork, and as a group, the bubbly was poured on her spinner!
Now we settled down to a great dinner and a chance to relax and socialize. When everyone was sitting we introduced some special guests, some of whom had traveled a long way to attend.
After dinner, we had draws for door prizes, and Werner read a list of the people who had helped in the restoration and what they had done. The list is too long to print so-you know who you are and what you did. Now you know you can’t have a christening without a cake, so we had a cake big enough to land a Tiger Moth on! We had President Terry and his lovely wife Michie do the honours of cutting the cake, but not until Sandy presented Michie with a large bouquet of flowers and thanked her for allowing Terry to spend so much time at the Museum. When everyone had their cake. I asked if anyone would like to say a few words, and Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork from England stood up and asked to speak. He spoke for about 15 minutes about his association with an aviation Museum in England, and he knew first hand the value of volunteers. He praised our Museum on its efforts and the fabulous job restoring the Tiger Moth. He wished us good luck in our future restorations, and would like to get an invitation for the next christening! The Air Commodore was such an elequant speaker, and said everything there was to say about our wonderful volunteers that the M.C. said “we cannot imporve on what he said, therefore, the mike is closed and it’s time to visit, party, and dance,” which we did!
TOASTING THE VOLUNTEERS
from left to right; Terry Wadhams, Werner Griesbeck, Mayor John Scholtens Township of Langley. Dan Holliday.
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