MINI NEWSLETTER
Volume 35.1 February 4, 1989
THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT AND TRANSPORTATION
13527 Crescent Road Surrey, B.C. V4A 2W1 Phone (604) 531-3744, FAX (604) 531-4293
“Mini’s” are produced to keep members informed on the workings of the museum. Contained in this issue are Items of special concern to members, news clips, and other assorted bits of information, including:
Homesite Saga .Page 1 .Page 2 Annual General Meeting .Page 4 .Page 4 Lodestar Restoration… Hampden Restoration….. Portable Gift Shop Children’s Play Area Page 4 .Page 4 .Page 4 .Page 6 Help Wanted (some For Pay) Open House Meeting .Page 6 Page 7 .Page 7 Thanks To The Hauling Department Beware Of Epoxy Paints Letters To The Editor
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Please check that your membership is up to date. Notices are not mailed out, but your membership number is always listed on your address sticker. A rubber stamp “MEMBERSHIP LAPSED, PLEASE RENEW”, or “RENEW SOON”, whichever is appropriate is stamped on the envelope, so don’t throw it away.
HOMESITE SAGA:
Another step has been completed towards a permanent homesite for CMFT. Museum members, supporters, representatives of the local business community, and of other museums packed the public hearing held at Surrey Municipal Hall Monday, Jan. 16th to once again confirm public support. In addition, a petition of 17,781 names was turned over. Surrey council then voted unanimously in favour of asking the provincial government to allow the museum as a permitted use on the 20-hectare property that Surrey has had on option for two years. The property is located at 17910 Colebrook Road in Cloverdale.
Buildings and services will all be built on a 4.4 hectare (8- 10 acre) wooded knoll portion which is not being farmed, while a grass take off and landing area will parallel the Southern boundary of the entire property.
But “it ain’t over ’til it’s over”. Still to come is the actual approval for the use of the property by the CMFT from the from the Environmental Land Use Committee (ELUC); then a lease has to be negotiated between the district of Surrey and the CMFT, with a clear understanding of what services will be provided in the lease. Only then, when we know what our parameters are, can we commence with the all-important fund raising to enable us to provide needed site improvements and buildings.
The CMFT has had a study done to determine the best use of area. Plans are to build in stages, with the first priority being shelter for the collection. Initially, these buildings will not have walls. It is likely that administration, library and gift shop functions will be housed in portable buildings until permanent structures can be bullt.
All this will take time. With co-operation from concerned government and corporate bodies, and depending on the success of our own fund raising efforts, at least some storage and shelter buildings should be on site by the end of 1989, with the rest of the move taking place over the following year. A housewarming should be a reality sometime In 1991, unless fundraising produces enough money to acOcelerate the move,
We are still looking for an effective and capable fund raiser, so pass the word.
FUNDRAISING IDEAS
Members are asked to pass on any and all ideas for fundraising, for amounts small or large. It can be a new way to ask for pledges, a surefire item to sell via mail order (this can be an existing product or a brand new item not yet in circulation and not necessarily an aviation item), a new special event idea, a catchy jingle to tie in with public service announcements or any idea that can be turned into dollars.
We asked other organizations (those who, like ourselves, are not funded by traditional government sources) for ideas. Some of the suggestions included a request for 5- year pledges of a set amount per year from members, one time donations of any amount from members, cash drawings, soliciting other service organizations who might be supportive of the concept, and approaching major granting agencies.
If enough ideas come in, some will be practical, affordable and do-able and will be tried. Please keep them coming.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APRIL 20
It’s time to think about who you want to represent you on Lifetime yes the CMFT board of directors. There are 15 members to be elected as directors at the April Annual General Meeting.
By-Laws limit the number of times a person can be re- elected to three consecutive years, after which he/she must stand down for at least a year. This year a total of 6 board members become ineligible to run for another year, although those who so wish are encouraged to continue to participate as Committee heads.
Committee heads are expected to attend Board meetings. They do not have a vote, but enter into all decision making discussions. It is an excellent way to learn how the board operates and to keep current on the issues, so if you would like to be a board member but would like a sort of “trial period” this is the way to accomplish It. Since Board meetings are essentially business meetings, It saves a great deal of time if the members know what is going on.
There are also 5 lifetime members, who will gradually retire to become Life Governors when the mechanism to do so is in place.
The present board is:
Name Eligible to run in ’89
lan Anderson, Fireman, Richmond
no .no Doug Fraser, RCMP, Delta … no Earl Gerow, Retired, Vancouver Doug Girling, Lab Engineer, Coquitlam Colin Hamilton, Retired, White Rock yes
Bill Emerslund, Vancouver City Police, Van. Fred Gardham, Retired, Vancouver yes … no …. yes Tony Hudak, Body Shop Owner, Surrey Phil Humphrey, Retired, Coquitlam yes … no Barry Jackson, Developer, North Vancouver Lifetime Jane Robinson, Librarian, White Rock David Smith, Job Placement Officer, Surrey.. yes no Joe Smith, Retired, Surrey …yes Ron Stunden, Simulator Technician, Richmond Lifetime Lifetime. Bill Thompson, Master Mariner, Garden Bay Jerry Vernon, Executive, Burnaby … yes Rose Zalesky, Office Manager, Surrey … Lifetime
Ed Zalesky, Businessman, Surrey April Zalesky, Bank Employee, White Rock
Present Committee Members
(Committee Heads shown in Capital letters):
Executive:
President…… .ED ZALESKY Vice President… …………………… Jerry Vernon Secretary Treasurer Rose Zalesky Finance ..ALAN RYDER Volunteer Co-Ordinator…… ROSE ZALESKY Vancouver Island ………….. PETER KNOWLES TOM PALMER Newsletter/P.R ………………. APRIL ZALESKY Doug/Lisa Girling Research. JERRY VERNON Ingy Wikene Ken Danyluk Norm Leask Restoration MARK ZALESKY Mike Buckingham Ken Danyluk Bill Emerslund Special Events. …APRIL ZALESKY Ken Danyluk ……Bill Emerslund Flying. ………………………. FRANK STEVENS .Bill Emerslund DOUG/LISA GIRLING Library.. Computer Services BEV CHAMPNISS Susan Rowntree Alan Ryder Mike Buckingham Displays/Maintenance JOE SMITH Ken Danyluk Tour Guides COLIN HAMILTON Underwater Recovery.. …..JERRY OLSEN Ken Danyluk Meetings Entertainment….. JANE ROBINSON Recovery and Hauling.. SEAN KEATING Gift Shop Committee… ROSE ZALESKY
Committees are not listed in any order, and all are important. If you are wondering why the same names appear again and again, it’s because others did not offer. Serving on a committee does entail that you become involved with the operation of the museum, and it does take some time.
What you have to say does make a difference, and what you do enables the CMFT to exist. We need a dynamic and hard working board and working committees, and urge you to get involved. Really involved.
If you’d like to know more, or if you would like to stand for board membership, round up two nominators and make yourself known to the NOMINATING COMMITTEE BEV CHAMPNISS at 531-2465 Wed Sat. (Bev is a full time volunteer and knows everything that is going on), or at 325- 5489 evenings on her days off. Bev is also collecting names of people who would like to serve on committees. Check to see if your membership is valid.
PROXIES FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
If you can’t be at the AGM, please mail in your proxy. It is vital that you do to ensure that a quorum exists, so please do it right away.
NEW NAME
We still haven’t decided on a new name for the newsletter, so please keep the suggestions coming in. Some really good names have been suggested, but they are already in use by other organizations, and we are striving for uniqueness. Prize is a CMFT tee shirt.
BOOKS FOR SALE
“WHERE EAGLES FLEW”, Price $5, available in the Gift Shop. The Chilliwack Flying Club was one of the oldest established flying clubs in B.C., and enjoyed strong support from the community. Follow its history from inception to the present time with easy to read text and through pictures which are bound to bring a flood of memories to old timers and a refreshing insight into the fraternity that the old fashioned flying club spawned to all. It is also on sale at the Chilliwack Museum, who are the beneficiaries of proceeds.
“THE ACCIDENTAL AIRLINE, (QCA)” by Howard White and Jim Spilsbury $24.95 The first edition sold out but more will be available in a few weeks. Order your copy from the CMFT. Add $1.50 for postage or call in.
USED BOOKS FOR SALE
Newsletter 35 carried an item advising that a list of the books which are duplicated in our reference library will be offered for sale. In spite of high hopes, there is still a lot of information to be entered into the computer, and the computer program itself, whereby such lists can be produced, is not really ready, so the list is not ready – yet. Cost is estimated at $8., and as requested before, please drop us a note asking to be put on the list. Please don’t phone, you may get missed that way.
On the same subject, is there anyone out there who would be willing to help with the computer input of the library books? The information is already printed on forms, and has to be transferred to computer. it’s time consuming, and you have to be able to think, but the work isn’t difficult.. Volunteer Donna Baxter comes in four days a week, but there is enough work for at least one or two more volunteers. Please offer your help. You don’t have to know anything about computers, but you do have to be able to do accurate work.
Still on the same subject, and again in spite of high hopes, the magazine work is still not complete, as it turned out to be a really big job. The Senior’s Lounge is heated and has been lined with bookshelves thanks to the volunteer who started the job, and Hank Koehler and Ken Danyluk who devote one day a week each to the museum and have now nearly completed the job, but would prefer to do other, more pressing tasks.
The actual job of sorting the magazines was started by Colin Hamilton, and touched on by several others, but as the magazines keep coming in the job never ends. We’ve given up on having them ready for sale over the winter and have lowered our expectations to just getting them ready as soon as possible. We still need someone to take over the endless sorting and shelving of the magazines on a regular basis. We also need someone to sell them. Magazine sales can’t be carried out in the gift shop as the two buildings are separate and it is impossible for the same person to look after both. It would be best if the same person sorts and sells, but is not imperative. If you like sorting magazines but don’t like selling, or the other way around, we can work it out.
NEW EDITOR NEEDED
April Zalesky’s part time bank job will soon be full time, and she will not have the time to devote to the newsletter as in the past. Rose will take on the job but would sure like a volunteer apprentice who can write, and/or run “Ventura Publishing”.
RESTORATION/FABRIC WORKSHOP
The Fabric workshop is over-subscribed, so we cannot accept any more applications. Participants will be notified of actual start date. There may be room for full time volunteers to work on the Waco during the day, but this has to be at least 4 hours per day, and a minimum of three days per week, to be of any real help. Otherwise, the resident restorer spends all his time assigning and monitoring tasks, finding and replacing tools, materials and supplies, and not enough time working.
SPRING DINNER SPEAKER ENTERTAINER
The Spring dinner will be held at the Jet Chef at Vancouver Airport again, and thanks to Mr. Kapty, we now have (portable) reflective signs to make it easier to find. We would appreciate your passing on any ideas as to a speaker or someone to make a slide presentation, for that dinner and for future events. Date to be announced.
TCA LODESTAR CF-TCY
The wings are now Installed, and its up on it’s own gear, but the wheels are not back from overhaul. No more major work will be done until warmer spring weather, but there is still a lot of work to clean the interior. Doug and Lisa Girling and Jane Robinson have been working away at hauling out the old “Balsam Wool” insulation (which was probably state of the art in 1940 but holds moisture), but there is still more to take out. Also, the entire interior needs a good cleaning, so if you can help, please come out prepared to work and day except Sunday.
HAMPDEN RESTORATION
Restoration on another section of the WWII Handley Page Hampden bomber that was raised from the ocean depth has just begun. Lots of work there for a couple of people with sheet metal experience, preferably aviation but not necessarily. The project is being done in downtown Vancouver, in a working body shop, so has to be fitted in around their schedule. Phone Rose at 531-2465, Jerry Olsen at 687-6805, or Fred Gardham at 681-6886.
CASINO NIGHTS JAN. 9-11, ’89
Just over $8,000 was realized as our share of the recent Casino Nights held at the Blue Boy Hotel in Vancouver. Jane Robinson, who organized It, Dave Smith, Laila Bird, Jane Etzkorn, Shamina Senaratne, Basil and Mrs. Cooke, lan Anderson, Colin Hamilton, Doug Fraser, Hank Koehler and John deVisser helped out. Thank you. Proceeds are ear-marked for purchase of parts and materials for the Waco CF-CCW restoration project.
This was our second Casino event, and while a few people worked long hours into the morning and then had to drag themselves to work the next day in most instances, the work is not physically hard. It is a relatively easy way to earn substantial sums for CMFT.
COMPUTER DATA ENTRY COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT HELP WANTED
Two employees have been hired for short terms with funds donated for the purpose to try to catch up on the library and artifacts cataloging. The job was begun on a job creation grant, but didn’t get completed. Volunteer Elaine Orioll comes in two full days a week, and does a tremendous help, but we need at least one other person to come in on a regular basis over the next few months to help get the backlog cleaned up. You don’t have to know anything about cataloging or about computers, but you have to be willing and able to learn, and to do accurate work.
SENIOR’S WING NEWS
lan Anderson has been appointed to the 10-member Board of Directors, replacing Bill McGarrigle who passed away suddenly Sept 18th, 1988. Another director is needed to replace Frank Coulter, who has been ill and can longer devote the time he would like to the project. You needn’t be over 50 (the other 9 are), but you do have to have an interest in the Senior’s projects, and be willing to help out when called upon. They meet one evening a month while projects are in progress.
Projects for 1989 include putting the deck, wiring and finishing touches on to a new hauling trailer presently being built for the CMFT to replace the one lost in a highway ac cident in 1985, and which has been sorely missed; making of a video on CMFT; and, when the parts can be obtained, completing the Stampe biplane to at least display status.
The Seniors hope to support the acquisition and refurbishing of an enclosed (covered) car hauling trailer into a portable gift shop, as well.
PORTABLE GIFT SHOP
Progress is at a standstill on a portable gift shop, but it is a much needed item. Souvenir sales at Air Shows and other events are still the most important part of our fund-raising activities and something more practical than flimsy tents and booths has absolutely got to be done. It is a real pain to set up tents or booths, usually out in the open, usually intent on blowing away in the wind and always leaking if it rains, with no security, and rarely are we able to find harassed people in charge to arrange set up; so that we almost never get set up before the crowds come.
Because cost is a big factor, the most economical and practical route would be to convert a covered tagalong, not 5th wheel auto hauling trailer, or maybe an uncovered one. Length needed is about 27 to 30 feet, and it will be built in such a way that the sides flip down to create platforms, while a canopy slips out for a roof over the platforms. In this way, we can stock the shop at home, including displays and packaging needs, and be ready to go within an hour of arriving at a site. Please let us know of anything that might be suitable, even if it is damaged or no longer in service.
CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA
We will be expanding the children’s play area, hopefully in time for this summer, and need workable ideas as well as people to carry out the ideas. Please drop us a note with your ideas and rough sketches. If you absolutely hate to write letters, phone Rose with your idea. Perhaps we can get a committee together to take on the project. We already have some good ideas on hand, but only $350 in the fund for such things.
BOOKKEEPER WANTED
Competent, experienced, full or part time, as a volunteer or for pay. Please call Rose at 531-2465 if you’re interested.
GIRL (PERSON) FRIDAY TRAINEE WANTED
Full time job, to train “from the ground up” as Rose’s assistant. Experience not needed, but you must be able to type a minimum of 50 wpm, have strong English skills, and have completed Grade XII. What is necessary is high intelligence, and a desire and the ability to learn fast. It’s hard work, but excellent training is provided in all facets of office operation, computer work and bookkeeping.
COMPUTER DATA ENTRY CLERKS NEEDED
Volunteers needed to help key in the thousands of books and photos in our collection into the computer. Experience is not necessary, and you don’t have to know anything about computers, but you do have to know how to type. We’ll teach you, but you do have to commit a minimum of three 5-hour days per week, for one or two months to get the back log completed. Once we’re caught up, one day a week should do it.
FREE WORD PROCESSING TRAINING
We’ll give free training in exchange for work performed, which includes transcribing taped interviews with pioneers, various copy typing tasks, and correspondence. A minimum of three days for the first week, and as little as one day a week or as much as you want after that, but please don’t use us for free training that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars if you are not prepared to follow through and volunteer a reasonable amount of time.
DONATIONS
1988 was a good year with many new donations coming in. The job creation work projects only addressed the items that had been donated and had accumulated in the early part of the year. We’re now back to volunteer and temporary staff, but have just about cleared up the 1988 back-log. if you were expecting a tax deductible receipt for a 1988 donation, and did not so specify at the time you made the donation, you must advise us immediately, as it may already be too late to issue the receipt.
We thank all of you who shared your treasures with us. All of your donations are important and are cherished. They will be catalogued and carefully stored against the time that we can use them to create exhibits, incorporate them into restorations, or otherwise put them to good use. We plan to exhibit lots of the small items, as the few now on display elicit a lot of interest, so don’t worry that your donation will get buried, never to see the light of day. Please keep them coming.
We are looking for airplanes of course, but also any small or large pieces from airplanes, instruments, materials and supplies, uniforms, helmets, goggles, memorabilia of any kind, books, magazines, etc. If it has to do with aviation, we’re interested. We’re also interested in monetary gifts or bequests-cash, cheque or Real Estate.
And we love to get photos, snapshots, posters and aviation art. If you are considering donating photos, we ask that you not write on the back of them with ballpoint or felt pen. We do love to get photos that are already identified, marking them with other than a soft pencil harms them. Better to make a list of captions on a separate piece of paper.
Among the larger recent donations is a Corcoran (Frankfort) Cinema TG1 glider, a partly built Thorpe T-18, and other aircraft. Next newsletter will detail.
VISITOR FIGURES FOR 1988
As we become better known, we are asked for more and more statistics. Some of these prove quite interesting, such as the following schedule of visitors worked out in response to a request from a Japanese University:
TYPE ADULT SENIORS STUDENT FREE 5,710 1,134 557 4,310 904 88 682 General 111 856 Car Show Open House TOTALS 2,101 10,577 61% 12% ADD: GROUP TOURS 1,674 10% TOTAL 1,532 9,280 150 1,158 7,006 906 2,840 17% 17,192 616 GRAND TOTAL 17,808
*Broken down on the basis of general admissions. Most tours are children or students, so the above percentages are not quite right. We’ll be more specific this season. Not bad for 6 months operation, and what some perceive to be a “Hole in the Wall” operation.
JOB CREATION PROJECTS
There are three people on an “Employment Plus” B.C. Government Tourism program which expires the middle of March. They are busily completing a huge and very comprehensive computer data base program and cataloguing photos. It has been an exceptionally successful project, with much to show for the time spent.
We make applications to any and all compatible programs that we become aware of, as there is still a backlog of old material to catch up with which is holding up processing the new work that comes in. If you know of a program that we might possibly qualify for, please let us know.
Membership fees pay for producing and distributing the Newsletters, while earning from the Gift Shop provide for operating expenses, but not for salaries. While the museum does have some money in term deposits, it is all slated for particular projects, most of which are on hold because we need money for salaries. Catch 22? The message is buy lots from our Gift Shop. Remember, paid up members are entitled to a 10% on most items stocked.
NEW TOYS IN GIFT SHOP
A surprising amount of the sales in the gift shop are toys and models. You guessed it – they are all aviation theme. We’ll be adding more plastic models for the 1989 season, and have just received a small shipment of really neat toys. Most are wind up for those parents who are tired of paying for batteries. If your child has a birthday coming uo buy some inexpensive foam gliders as party favours, and check out the selection of toys for gifts.
NEXT NEWSLETTER
Try as we might, we haven’t been able to produce our “quarterly newsletter quarterly. It has been closer to bi-annually these past two years. One of the problems is the escalating cost of postage, made worse because we now have to buy envelopes. There is also the shear volume of work that producing a newsletter represents. This is extra work, but there are no extra people, so long days are stretched even longer for the few stalwarts who wind up doing it. For example, it takes at least four days to assemble. and prepare the camera-ready masters, even though larger articles are prepared ahead of time, then there is the expense of having the metal printing plates made. After that comes 40 hours of press time (that’s just the printing), then comes the collating and folding and stapling and envelope stuffing and addressing and stamping, and linally-it goes to the Post Office.
If there are a few “goofs” and typos, so be it. We are doing the best we can with available resources and manpower. Besides, we try to please everybody, and there are those I who love to find mistakes.
Next newsletter is slated for early April. Lots of photos are planned.
PHOTOS WANTED
Please keep the photographs coming. We are especially looking for photos from the early days of B.C. aviation to illustrate a book which has been ready to print for two years but is awaiting pictures. If you cannot donate them, please allow us to borrow them for copying and return. Your name will appear as the source of the photo in either case.
PHOTO RESEARCHER FOR BOOK WANTED
CMFT has produced a manuscript book based on a series of interviews with aviation pioneers which were carried out by the CMFT in 1985 and 1986. We’re looking for someone who is familiar with early B.C. aviation history, or someone with enough interest in the subject to learn, to read the manuscript and choose photos from our collection to illustrate the text. AIR BC TOUR Mike Gatey has arranged a tour of the Air B.C. facilities at Vancouver Airport for CMFT members. We’ll get to see the various aircraft in service, and go through the engine and overhaul shop. No fee is charged for the tour, but it might be practical to car pool. Date is set for a Saturday afternoon in April. Please phone and book a space. It will proceed only if enough interest is shown.
PACIFIC A.M.E. ASSOCIATION SYMPOSIUM AND TRADE SHOW
Feb 23, 24 and 25 is the date for the 1989 symposium, “Flight into the 90’s”, being held at the Skyline Hotel, Richmond, B.C. A full program of events, lectures and workshops is planned. CMFT has been allowed to set up a small booth, as in years past.
If you are interested in attending or need more information write the Pacific A.M.E. Association, P.O. Box 23042 or phone 520-5942.
OPEN HOUSE ’89 MEETING
The first planning meeting will be held 7:30 Wednesday evening, March 8. This event gets bigger every year and requires more work to organize. In addition to 120 or so volunteers who help out on the two days of the event itself, there is a lot to do to get ready. We need input for ways to make it better, and to help spread the workload. Come out to the meeting and share your ideas.
SEMIAHMOO MALL DISPLAY
The CMFT put a display at the Semiahmoo Mall in White Rock last Fall, which featured the Air Canada DC8 model, a display case WWI artifacts, and Maxse Tayler’s beautiful Stinson SR5 model. We were allowed to sell souvenirs, which brought in a needed dollars.
THANKS TO THE HAULING DEPT.
Special thanks go out to the people who make their time, vehicles, equipment, tools, and often cash, available to the CMFT to haul various airplanes and pieces around the country. Top of the list are Gerry Van Humbeck and Pieter deVries, and Bill Thompson who go out time and again on most difficult assignments and manage to “bring ’em home”.
Thanks also to Mac MacGregor, who hauled very heavy helicopter pieces from Kapuskasing, Ontario to Surrey, and to Don Campbell of the Kap who somehow found room for tons of helicopter parts that had to be dropped off by Jerry and Pieter when they found they had no room for them on a prior trip. There are still some there, plus a set of floats at Timmins, plus a load of instruments and radios near Toronto, plus a Saunders ST27 airframe at Sudbury, Ontario. If you can suggest any practical means of getting any or all of these items home at reasonable cost, please let us know. Someone hauling a piece of equipment East might have space on the return trip, or perhaps a cost sharing may be worked out.
Check your membership expiry date! See the mailing label, also the note on page 1.
FREE TRADE AND THE CMFT TRUCK
Or “How Bureaucracy Can Slow Down Progress”. Imagine a very badly needed recovery truck setting for 8 years where we can see it, touch it, run it up, but not use it in Canada for our own use. That is exactly what happened to CMFT. We’ll try again under the new Free Trade rules, and will report next newsletter.
HALF PRICE ADMISSION TICKET
A reminder that members get free admission to the Museum but not their guests. Use the enclosed 2-for-1 ticket to bring two new visitors to the museum for the price of one. Good any time during the 1989 season.
LIKE BALLOONING?
Major Canadian Balloon Events in Canada this year include:
Feb. 10-14 July 5-9 Calgary Winter Festival Balloon Festival – Barrie, Ontario July 8-17 July 21-23 July 22-29 Aug. 3-7 Aug.12-20
Stampede Balloon Race, Calgary, Ab Newmarket Balloon Festival, New Market, Ontario Can Hot Air Balloon Championship, Grande Prairie, AB London Balloon Fiesta, London, On Festival St. Jaan-sur-Richelieu, Que
THE DODO BIRD CLUB (of ex-Flight Sergeants of the RCAF)
Affiliated with the RCAF Association, “the backbone of the service” people whose motto is “Distinction to Extinction”. Write R.G. McPhie, the DODO BIRD CLUB, P.O. Box 6154, Station “C”, Victoria, B.C., V8P 5L5.
BOMBER COMMAND ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
If you served with the Bomber Command you might be interested in joining this association. Annual fees are $15. (Life $100). Write for membership application to 888 Retlaw Drive, Sarnia, ON, N7V 2W8
AIRCREW ASSOCIATION BOOK
“Critical Moments”, a book recounting the feats of 100 young men who came from every walk of life during WWII is being produced by the local branch and will be available May 89. Few people realize that 42% of all Canadian Military casualties in WWll were aircrew. Price $25 plus postage $3. Order direct from H. J. Hardy, 4566 Portland Street, Burnaby, B.C.
BEWARE OF EPOXY PAINTS
The following is reprinted from the February, 1989 issue of “Model Aviation Canada” the newsletter of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) in an effort to make this timely and valuable information available to our members. Modelling enthusiasts can find out about joining MAAC by writing Box 9, 3444 Lakeshsore Rd., E., Unit C., Oakville, ON, L6J 425, phone (416) 844-8764.
North Central Airlines (which is now Republic Airlines) published the “Ungarbled Word”. A recent issue contained an account of an employee’s experience with an epoxy- based paint used to finish a model gilder. As he tells it, he spray-painted the bird in his heated garage workshop. He sprayed a tack coat and stepped out. Twenty-five minutes later, he stepped back in, sprayed a finish and stepped out again. Total time in the spray area was less than four minutes. He then proceeded to clean his spray-gun. About one-half hour later, he noticed a strong smell of algae-like a stagnant swamp. An hour and a half later, he was experiencing pains in his lower rib cage. The pains spread throughout his chest cavity; and in short order, he found himself in a coronary care unit. Here’s what he says about it:
“Even though I suspected possible poisoning from the epoxy and took a can of it to the hospital with me, an educational program followed which should be shared with everyone:
- 1) There is no antitoxin (as in the case of a snake bite) or reversing-type chemical to render the effects of the epoxy formula harmless.
- 2) If you are going to live, you live; If not, the staff just has to watch you die.
- 3) The resins and hardeners inflame the tissues in the lungs and surrounding areas near the heart; the effect is like a coronary, but no traces can be fund later. The moral of the story is obvious; If you are going to spray epoxy, do it outside or In a vented spray booth. If you are going to dry-sand epoxy, wear a carbon-activated face mask the powder or dust is as dangerous as the wet spray. Final note: the effects are cumulative over a period of time; and when your tolerance has been reached, there is no reversing the process.”
LETTERS TO EDITOR
A flurry of letters was received after the publication of Jerry Vernon’s article on the Bolingbroke In the summer of 1987. Even though a year and a half has passed, we’d like to share the following three with you:
“I wish to renew my membership which is inspired by the restoration photo of the Bolingbroke in your publication.
I flew the airplane type with 8BR Sqdn out of Sea Island from Jan 1942, to June 2, 1942 when our group was transferred to Anchorage, Alaska (18 aircraft) and spent 9 months in that area looking for submarines off Kodiank and Nome and returned about March 1943.
Some historians associate the Bolingbroke as a yellow drogue towing aircraft in the prairies. It has an operational role in WWII in Sydney, N.S. (where I was), Yarmouth, N.S., and I think Tofino and probably elsewhere.
The point of this letter is to let you know that a whole bunch of guys maintained and flew this aircraft on an operational basis from the fall of 1939 to about the middle of 1943, and although the various crews were not “overseas”, they all felt that their operational roles out of Canadian bases were essential. They, Incidentally, had no choice as to their individual postings.
The Bolinbroke aircraft, which was a prototype of the Blenheim (short nose) was manufactured in Longeuil, Quebec and was the development of the Blenheim (long nose). It was designated a Bolinbroke MKI to MKIV, with eventually, Mercury engines. The one I flew was the latter.
It was a good aircraft for its day, about 1936, but was obviously totally inadequate for the 1940-45 war. From a flying standpoint, it was easy, forgiving and a delight to fly. It was cramped and uncomfortable for the crew, particularly the wireless operator and the rear gunner. On submarine patrol the average air time was 4 to 5 hours with a maximum of 8 hours, a long time in a confined space.”
Ted (Edward J.) Watkins, Vancouver, B.C.
Jerry Vernon’s interesting article (Fall 1987) on Blenheim and Bolingbroke lore served to jog my aging memory and prompted my digging out the old log book. It was February of 1942 that I had my first introduction to Blenheims under conditions that were a little bizarre.
At the time I was a Bristol Beaufort pilot preparing to ferry a machine out to the Middle East, there to join 322 Squadron. I was suddenly ordered to Honeybourne Airfield to undergo high-speed landing practice in Blenheims. It developed that the Brass were considerably exercised by the litany of ground looping Beauforts and collapsing undercarts. It seemed to be a fact that a few of my colleagues were suffering from finger trouble. the Beaufort then had the second highest wing loading among contemporary aircraft, exceeded only by the JU.88; which rendered it a mite hot on landing, further exacerbated by its rather high narrow undercart.
A WWI retread by the name of F/Lt Cole proved to be my mentor and we crawled aboard a Blenheim MKI, the two seat fighter version mercifully withdrawn from Ops shortly after Dunkirk. Compared to the all-up ten tone grace of the Beaufort, the MKI felt like a Tiger Moth. It settled in with a sedate 60 knots which I had ample time to observe since Flt. Lt. Cole never removed his hands and feet from their vise-like grip on the controls. No fool he, as having achieved a venerable age of 43-44, he was intent on striving for even greater old age. Round and Round we went on circuits and bumps with Cole calling out encouragement while continuIng to lock solidly on the controls.
By and by an errant thought came to me. Since the Beaufort bustled in at close to 90 knots, just what were we achieving with the MKI’s gentle glide? Finally, after an hour and forty five minutes of this fatuity Mr. Cole pronounced himself satisfied with my sterling performance, and we called it a day. I was however ordered to be on deck the following day.
On the morrow I was lead by Cole to a MKIV Blenheim. No fool he, as I was requested to go aloft alone. The MKIV had much the same poor cockpit layout as the MKI, both featuring the wretchedly located push-pull type pitch control positioned aft of the left seat. The MKIV was a delightfully light aircraft to handle compared to the Beaufort, landing as I remember, around 75 knots and served no more useful exercise than the MKI in the sphere of high speed landings. After an hour and a half of flying over the snowy fields of Worcestershire and a half a dozen landings, Cole and I parted with expressions of esteem.
The passage of time has served to obscure the genesis of the Blenheim and the part of that Canada played indirectly in its development. It was Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, the doughty Canadian press baron who was responsible. In the mid-thirties he contracted with Bristol Aircraft Company to design for him a modern executive aircraft. The mid-wing, twin engined prototype that resulted made a major impact on the RAF. The machine literally walked away from the existing fighters and bombers of the era. From Aitken’s machine came the development of the subsequent Blenheim Marks..
When I next brushed up against the Blenheim, in late 1942 and early 1943, it had undergone another transformation. It was then known as the Bisley, a general purpose bomber, loaded with a tray of four .303 machine guns under its nose, armour plate, gunned aft and at side hatches, a crew of four-it made one wonder how it lumbered off the ground with a full bomb load. Like the man said, Ardua Ad Astra.”
A.M. Feast, Ladner, B.C.
And this one, which dates from August 1988, which we had to share with you. This note might make those of you who joined up for the adventure and never made it past Winnipeg or Tofino the following note may smart a little.
“Your letter stimulated many memories for me. As an American, I enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada in 1940 in Hamilton, Ont. In the spring of 1941 we were sent by train to Nanaimo, B.C. where we spent an idyllic summer on Vancouver Island.
I was transferred to RCAF in 1941, went through Observer training Edmonton, Lethbridge, Saskatoon and Rivere where I got my wing with Course 43. On to UK, OTU, Middle East and eventually India where I achieved the rank of Flying Officer and was transferred to AAF and 27th Troop Carrier Squadron., Your newsletter, the pictures, it all stimulated this outpouring from an ‘old sweat. If you ever meet any of the Course 43 boys from Edmonton, please ask them to write, especially my old flying partner F/Lt. Emery Grunninger, DFC, Sunnybrook, Alberta.”