CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 54 SUMMER 1997
Dr.Potter in front of the Harvard he recently donated to the Museum,
Photo by Peggy Schmidt
LAST YEAR, the museum received one of its most impressive artifacts, a North American Harvard Mk. II donated by Dr. Gordon Potter. CF-GME has been on Langley field for about 8 years, and Dr. Potter purchased it from previous owner Brian Beard. In the mid-1980’s the Harvard had belonged to Dr. Rolf who used the call letters YRI. It went to the U.S. for a while before being brought back up to Canada. The letters YRI are still located on the side of the plane
The first Harvard Mk. II used by the RCAF was delivered to Camp Borden in the summer of 1940. It was an anglicized version of the AT-6A (American Harvard), the differences being the lengthened exhaust stack, a fixed rear canopy section, an altered instrument panel and British style control column. The Mk. II was also fitted with the capability to hold a 303 calibre air operated machine gun on the starboard wing and a cine camera in the port wing, with a gun-sight for the front cockpit. The plane was equipped with hard-training which was done on Seafires. At this time, points under the wings in order to carry 8 practice bombs. The North American Harvard Mk. II was one of the most important single engine training aircraft of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
After WWII the Mk. II Harvard was relegated to armament training and reserve squadron use, as the more modern Mk. IV came along. At the end of WWII, Harvard Mk. II’s were used for Naval training in Nova Scotia. The approval for a Canadian Fleet Air Arm was not given by the government of the day until 1946. So, in January of 1947 Harvard Mk. II’s began arriving in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for their stint as training aircraft for the newly formed Canadian Naval Air Arm. Much of the training was on gunnery exercises to prepare pilots for the deflection shots necessary with the gyro gun-sight of the Seafire; Trained pilots were needed for two Carrier Air Groups so a formal training course was set up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Harvard Mk. II’s were the planes chosen again for the training task. The course was similar to that of the RCAF pilots, with the exception of gunnery and formation the station at Dartmouth was still in the hands of the RCAF who had little interest in the facility, therefore maintenance was minimal. It was not until the end of 1948 that the station was formally given to the RCN and renamed HMCS Shearwater. As the years passed, the Harvards were used more for refresher training of the Reserve Naval Divisions pilots.
An interesting aside regarding women in the RCN: in 1957 there were ten Wrens stationed at Shearwater as part of a training session which included five squadrons. A group of the Wrens wanted to show their expertise with aircraft so they restored to flying condition a derelict Harvard using scrounged parts and female-only labour. Their point was definitely made!
By 1960 the Navy and the RCAF were retiring their Harvards in favour of the newer jets. In 1961 the rest of the Harvard fleet was put up for sale.
Most of the information in this article not provided by Dr. Potter himself was obtained from reading Harvard! The North American Trainers in Canada by David C. Fletcher and Doug MacPhail, copyright 1990.
Dr. Gordon Porter
Dr. Gordon Potter joined the RCAF in 1951 while at UBC and was initially destined to an administrative career. However, a few weeks at London, Ontario in 1952 made it obvious that some kind of aircrew wings on the chest was a great career-booster: he re-mustered to aircrew and went to Claresholm, Alberta for basic training. This was followed by the wings course at Portage, Manitoba and weapons training at MacDonald, Manitoba, all on Harvards.
Dr. Potter has owned 4 Harvards since 1961 when they began to be disposed of by Crown Assets Corp. The 4 are CF-MTA, still flying at Qualicum, CF-UAT in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, CF-PST in Edmonton and currently C-FGMB in Langley. He purchased CF-MTA for $2000, zero time, and paid $150,000 for C-FGME. His only regret is not buying 10 more in 1961!
The Harvard is now officially owned by CMFT with Dr. Potter as designated pilot for the purpose of attending air-shows and the like as a representative of CMFT. Dr. Potter flew the Harvard in the missing man formation for the memorial to Art Seller. He flew the missing man position.
INSIDE
- Dr. Potter and Harvard C-FGME
- Odds and Ends..
- Around the Museum..
- Donations…..
- Volunteer Form 7
- Aviation Flashbacks…. 8
HOURS
10 A.M.-4 PM. Daily
ADMISSION FEES
- General (Age 16 thru 39).. $4.00
- Senior (Age 60 up)… $3.00
- Youth (Age 6 through 15). $3.00
- Family (2 Adult+4 youth).. $10.00
- Children under 6. ..FREE
- Museum Members. FREE
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES
- General $35.00
- Family $45.00
- Seniors. $20.00
- Students w/I.D.. $20.00
Please check the members expiry date on your newsletter mailing label. Rennu by mail, telephone or visiting the museum. We accept cash, cheque, Visa or
The C.M.FT. is a non profit society dedicated to the preservation of aviation and transportation heritage (Society #32,035). Membership can be obtained by paying the required dues. Charitable starus allows for the issuance of tax deductible receipts for donations of artifacts, goods and money. The C.M.ET. is governed by a board of Directors which is elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting in April.
The CMF Newsletter is published quarterly by the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation.
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 CMFT Newsletter, The editor reserves the right to make changes in manuscripts without altering the meaning.
Editor… …George Gregory
Contributing Editors……. …Julia Retallack
Margaret Giacomello
Photographer. ……Larry Niven
All mail and correspondence can be sent to:
Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation
c/o The Newsletter Editor
Unit 200 5333-216th Street
Langley, B.C.
V2Y 2N3
Tel: (604) 532-0035
Fax: (604) 532-0056
E-Mail: cmft@direct.ca
Canadian Museum of Flight
- Directors
- Butterley, Don 576-1175
- Chmilar, Shiela 540-6236
- Devisser, John.. 277-4377
- Elgood, Terry.. 279-2062
- Griesbeck, Werner. 856-5222
- Harris, Ted 534-7568
- Hudak, Tony. 590-1855
- Kingston, Barry 826-2712
- Krywiak, Ron.. 433-6240
- Lake, Milt 534-0132
- McWilliams, Rona 590-0226
- Proulx, George. 538-3836)
- Read, Michael. 536-7402
- Rempel, Brian. 946-8383
- Robinson, Jane. 536-3287
- Founding Directors
- Jackson, Barry 932-2367
- Stunden, Ron. 277-3827
- Thompson, Capt. Bill.. 883-2445
- Office/Library: Margaret Giacomello
- General Manager – “Gogi” Goguillot
- Office phone……… 532-0035
- Fax 532-0056
- E-Mail Address:… cmft@direct.ca
- Executive Committee
- President George Proulx
- Vice President Brian Rempel
- Secretary-Treasurer Shiela Chmilar
- Treasurer. John Ried
- Standing Committees
- Magazine Collection.
- George Proulx 538-3836
- Muit Adair 530-9758
- Volunteer Coordinator, …
- Merillee Elgood 279-2062 …
- Gogi Goguillor 823-6428
- Corporate Liason John Ried
- Public Relations.
- Jerry Vernon
- 420-6065,
- fax 420-1684
- Jerry Vernon
- Special Events.
- George Proulx 538-3836 …
- Jane Robinson 536-3287
- Newsletter. George Gregory 882-8016
- Restoration Werner Griesbeck 856-5222
- Research.
- Jerry Vernon
- 420-6065,
- fax 420-1684
- Jerry Vernon
- Computer Services. Micheal Read 536-7402
- Exhibits and Displays.
- Ron McWilliams 590-0226
- Sheila Chmilar 540-6236
- Grounds and Janitorial. open
- Library… Margaret Giacomello 583-5908
- Collections
- Jerry Vernon
- 420-6065,
- fax 420-1684
- Jerry Vernon
- Transportation Tony Hudak 590-1855
- Meetings Prep/Entertainment. open
- Hampton (Ad Hoc).. Fred Gardham 681-6886
- Disposals (Ad Hoc).
- Ron Krywiack 433-6240
- Gogi Goguillor 823-6428
- Terry Elgood 279-2062
- Tony Hudak 590-1855
- Casino Jane Robinson 536-3287
- Lodestar.. John DeVisser 277-4377
- Aircraft/Flying Committee. Gogi Goguillor (current pilot) 823-6428
- Keeper or Aircraft. Ron Krywiack 433-6240
- Magazine Collection.
Odds and Ends
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 11 CMF Barbeque (see text)
July 20 Pitt meadows Airfait
July 25,26,27 Boundary Bay Air Races
August 6 Kamloops Airshow (Not yet confirmed)
August 8,9,10 Abbotsford Airshow
August 29,30,31 Molson Indy
No Date yet Chilliwack
No Date yet RCFCBC at Fry’s Corners
On July 11 there will be a barbeque held in the hangar for those of you who love these summer events. The cost will be $4.00 per person and the menu is hamburgers, salad and chili. Refreshments at 6, dinner at 7. RSVP. So, come and enjoy this informal event with your family!
For Those of you who are interested in attending this year’s National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, you can purchase your tickets in advance by picking up a ticket order form at the gift shop and mailing or faxing a copy of the form to the air race organizers in Reno
Do you like to surf the ‘net? If you do, here are the addresses of some of the more popular Aviation Museum Home Pages (see, all this tech nology is good for samething…
- Alaskan Aviation Heritage Museum http://www.alaska.net/crphoto/
- California Antique Aircraft http://www.caam.org/museum.htm
- Calgary Aerospace Museum http://www.lexicom.ab.ca/@aerospace.html
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum http://www.warplane.com/cwh.html
- Classic Warbirds of the UK http://warbird.cotavia.com/
- Confederate Airforce http://www.avdigest.com/caf/caf.html
- Friends of the Fighter Collection http://www.avnet.co.uk/cfc
- Imperial War Museum Duxford http://www.duxford.org.uk/
- Nanton Lancaster Society http://www.lexicom.ab.ca/@nanton/nanton.html
- National Museum Ottawa http://www.aviation.nmstc.ca/
- New Zealand Fighter Pilot Collection http://www.nzfpm.dec.govt.nz/nz/pm/nzfpen.htm
- Planes of Fame http://www.avdigest.com/pof/pof.html
- RCAF Photo Archives http:www.acbq.dnd.ca/archive
- USAF Museum http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum
Werner Grinbeck in his beautiful Fairchild 24
This massive Sea king belicopter was seen at the airfield recently Beautiful, isn’t it?
Our Harvard CF-GME tax past the Mast Photo by Peggy Schmidt,
Attention Collectors!
CMF has material of various nature for sale; they include:
- several gliders in various conditions
- a Bowers Flybaby-less engine
- -a partially built Taylor Monoplane
- two Lovings “Love”, partially built
- a partly completed Thorp T-181
- other assets, also for sale
Phone 532-0035 and ask Gogi for details!
More Volunteers Required For Gift Shop!
The Gift Shop is one of the Museum’s main revenue producers. More volunteers means more funds for the Museum’s use.
Contact Margaret at 532-0035 for more details!
Around The Museum
Thanks to Dong Moan, on June 12 the Waca INF engines were board around the airport as they turned over for the first time in 12 years. Ab, it was a beautiful sound Thanks, Deag! The Ware is getting ready to fly!
Tis the season for the completion of a few projects and the beginning of new ones. Here’s a snapshot of what is happening in the Hangar:
Doug Moan and John Tetrault have finished the aircraft trailer to contain the Sopwith Camel for use in public displays around the Lower Mainland. The trailer will fold out as a giftshop, with the Camel being the focus of interest. Thankyou, gentlemen, for completing this project to help enlighten those not familiar with the richness of aircraft history, and what the CMF is all about.
In the front area outside the giftshop, the CF 100 through Don Butterley’s hard work is nearly refurbished. It will be brought to BC place, with the help of some of the CMF members and a very large trailer, for the Molson Indy Vancouver, occurring this Labour Day weekend, August 29-31. Be sure to check it out during Vancouver’s “fastest weekend”!
The Fleet Finch is in the final stages of completion, thanks to Milt Lake, Doug Moan and Inky Klett. Milt is refinishing the ailerons, which will be ready around the time this newsletter goes to press; Doug has looked after the restoration of the aircraft’s interior and exterior Congratulations, Milt, Doug and Inky on a job well done!
Another major project in its final fixup stages is the Vampire, thanks to the perseverance and skill of Milt lake, Wayne Manning, Sheila Chmilar, and Ron McWilliams. The aircraft is ready to be painted, and will have a permanent spot outside the hangar. The Vampire’s restoration and eventual move outside will make room for the Waco AQC-6, formerly used by Dr. Pickup in the 1950’s as an early flying ambulance, the Waco serviced the small fishing communities along Vancouver Island, and was based out of Alert Bay
We need your help! The museum is in need of more volunteers to help with the ongoing work of preserving Canada’s aviation heritage. The museum could not exist without the dedicated help of those who love and are proud of our aviating past. If you haven’t done so before and would like to be involved, please fill out the form on page 7 and return or fax it to the gift shop.
Some upcoming stuff.
- July 20 Pitt Meadows (Camel and Trailer for sales and promotion)
- July 25,26,27 Boundary Bay (Camel and Trailer as well as the Stuchen helicopter for static display)
- August 6 Kamloops (as yet not confirmed)
- August 8,9,10 Abbotsford (Camel and Stuchen for static display)
- Aug 29,30,31 Molson Indy (Camel and Stuchen for static display)
- Chilliwack (No date confirmed as yet. Will require the Camel and Trailer
- Fry’s Corner (No date confirmed as yet. Will require Camel and Trailer for sales).
As many of you may have noted, the museum will be at the Abbotsford Airshow this summer. What you may not know is that we are involved in restoring the full scale Avro Arrow replica that was used for the CBC television production earlier this year. The Avro Arrow replica was designed and realized by Allan Jackson at Wecaskewin, Alberta, it took 6 years to build. The CBC brought it to Winnipeg for the filming of the movie, but once the movie was completed, the plane was cut up before being returned to Wetaskewin. Our job is to repair any damage and restore it to display condition.
A special group of volunteers has been assembled to work on the restoration. Cpls. Mike Coles-Webb and Mike Long from CFB Comox are going. to be heading the project under Gogi’s direction. Along with 20-25 other volunteers, they are putting in as many hours as needed to make sure the project is completed on time. the work is being done at the Abbotsford Airport in a specially built hangar for the purpose. Once complete, the Arrow will be on display for the airshow this year and next year before it goes back to Alberta.
We will have exclusive rights to sell Avro Arrow memorabilia because of our involvement in this project.
We’re Looking for a Book Appraiser
The Museum has a need of someone knowledgeable in the appraising of books to do some occasional work for our glorious cause on a volunteer basis. Contact Margaret at 532-0035 for more details! CMFT Newsletter
Meider Stan Vivian with Airport Manger George Miller in front of his Navi Ph Pety Schmidt
Saying goodbye to BSC at it is loaded for its trip to Alberta
Visit the C.M.F. Giftshop
Besides our selection of books and other aviation paraphernalia, there is a wide selection of mugs with various witty anecdotes and catchphrases. As well, hand-made mahogany aircraft models of seven different aircraft are currently available, but special orders on most aircraft are being taken. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.
Donations
- Cash
- Don Dines
- Jerry Vernon
- Rod and Wendy MacInnes
- Inky Klett
- Sheila Street
- George Proulx
- Large Artifacts
- Harry Richmond
- John Tetrault
- Small Artifacts, Photos Etc
- Goosen, Ken
- Art Seller
- Rick Pollock
- Julie Paciejewski
- Don Burterly
- Aircraft Parts
- Bill Kirilenko
- H.C. Van Doren
- Art Bower
- Ron Stunden
- Pat O’Donnell
- Tools, Equipment, Etc..
- Darryl McIntosh
- Inky Klett
- David Fraser
- Don Butterly
- Sonny Zlotnik
- Books
- Mrs. D.E. McLeod
- Ron McWilliams ,
- Dick Kendall
- Richard Frankish
- Jacob DeRaadt
- Jerry Vernon
- Roy Willis
- Wish List: Items we still need:
- VHS video camera and cassettes for cataloguing the collection and the recording of Museum events
- -486 or newer CPU type computers with monitor/keyboard/mouse
- -Novell 4.1 or lantastic networking software and cabling
- -500 MB-1 GB computer harddrives
- -External CD-ROMs
- -framing and glass for the CMFT photograph collection, for public display
- -materials and chemicals for the work on fabric covered aircraft
- -interest and expertise in fund raising activities
- -expertise to complete the restoration of various aircraft engines
- portable NAVCOMs
- -aircraft maintenance material for metal aircraft: cleaners, rags,protective agents, etc…
Support Your Museum
FlashBacks
- 25 Years Ago (1972)
- 25 May British Overseas Airways placed an order for five Concorde supersonic transports.
- 50 Years Ago (1947)
- 15 April The first Canadian built transport aircraft entered airline service when a Trans-Canada Airlines North Star flew from Goose Bay to Preswick, Scotland in 8 hours, 39 minutes.
- 17 June Pan-Am opened the first around the world air service, using Lockheed Constellations.
- 15 July The prototype Boeing 377 Stratocruiser airliner was test flown at Seattle
- 60 Years Ago (1937)
- 19 February Howard Hughes landed in Newark, NJ, after setting a new transcontinental speed record from Los Angeles of 7 hours, 28 minutes after circling for 20 minutes awaiting landing clearance. The average speed was 332 mph
- 13 april The first successful tests of Frank Whittle’s jet engine were secretly carried out in the UK.
- 75 Years Ago (1922)
- 7 April Six persons were killed near Paris, in the first mid-air collision of two airliners A British and a French airliner collided head-on, while flying the Paris-London route.
- 5 June The first amphibious aircraft in Canada, a Napier Lion-powered Vickers Viking, was registered to Laurentide Air Service ltd.
- Flashbacks have been provided by Jerry Vernon. Thanks, Jerry!
- Eagles For A Day:
- Top: Dan Holliday with his Citabria and an obviously appreciative passenger
- Centre Leo Roitner with Nicole Caley in his RV.6A
- Bottom: Werner Griesbeck explains the basics of flight to some Young Eagles