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Dear CAHS Member,
I hope that you will forgive the minor delay on this month’s newsletter. This weekend my dad and I attended the Hamilton Airshow for Father’s Day (and his birthday) and I thought that this year’s event - which also celebrated the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s 40th anniversary – deserved a special mention in this month’s CAHS newsletter.
My dad and I have spent Father’s Day at CWH since 2006 (which may not sound like very long but hey, I’m 24!). From 2001-2011, the Hamilton Airshow was on hiatus and in its place CWH held “FlyFest” - a weekend of fly-bys and static displays. It was a unique and compelling experience because all of the aircraft – including the Lanc – were accessible to the public. Though a relatively modest event which drew a few thousand people or so, we revelled in its sense of intimacy and spontaneity.
This weekend, however, close to 100 aircraft and crowds in excess of 20,000 helped CWH celebrate its 40th anniversary. The Hamilton Airshow was revived in 2011 and this year’s show was even bigger, louder, and more successful than the last. CWH does not receive any government funding and their airshow has become an important fundraiser for the museum.
 My dad and I greatly anticipated the event, yet the show far exceeded both of our expectations. The 6-hour program (see it here) opened with a mass formation tribute to CWH’s collection. Exciting performances from bombers, modern and vintage fighters, parachutists, and stunt aircraft followed and wowed a very enthusiastic crowd. Heart-stopping appearances by the Snowbirds, Matt Younkin, a CF-18 Hornet, and Pete McLeod contrasted well against the majestic and impressive warplanes. The show culminated in a historic and awe-inspiring formation as the CWH’s Lanc and B-25 flew together with B-17 “Chuckie” and B-29 “FIFI” (who reside in the U.S).
The overwhelming success of the Hamilton Airshow reflects positively on the growth of the Museum, the support of the local community, and the future of air displays in Canada (not to mention the desire for genuine, family-friendly entertainment!). Airshows play a key role in preserving Canada’s aviation heritage and educating Canadians about their flying past. They illustrate the growth of aviation and help inspire a greater appreciation for the vital role of aviation in shaping our country. It is an unfortunate reality, though, that many Canadian airshows are being forced to postpone indefinitely, in part because of our current economic climate. For 10 years this was the case with the airshow in Hamilton and it is impossible not to be proud of its newfound success. Congratulations to all involved on another successful year (and thanks for reorganizing the parking situation!).
Did you attend the Hamilton Airshow, or any other aviation-related events recently? Share your photos on our Flickr page here or e-mail them along with your stories to cahs.newsletter@gmail.com!
This Month in Canadian Aviation History..
12 June 1944: P/O Andrew C. Mynarski killed after crew shot down over Cambrai, France
On this day in 1944, Andrew Mynarski died after trying to rescue tail gunner Pat Brophy from their flaming Lancaster bomber. For his heroic efforts, Mynarski was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
 27 year-old Pilot Officer Mynarski of 419 “Moose” Squadron was the mid-upper gunner of a Lancaster detailed to a target at Cambrai in France. On this night, the aircraft was attacked and fire broke out. The crew was ordered to bail out, but Mynarski saw Brophy trapped in the rear turret. He crawled through twenty feet of burning hydraulic oil to try and free him but Brophy eventually waved him away. Mynarski retreated and jumped from the plane, hitting the ground hard. French farmers brought him to a German field hospital, but he succumbed to injuries suffered as a result of the fire. Brophy survived the crash.
The Mynarski Memorial Lancaster is housed at the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum, and is one of two airworthy Avro Lancaster bombers in existence. In a ceremony on 24 September 1988, the restored bomber (detailed with Mynarski's Lancaster markings) took flight carrying the fire axe Mynarski used in trying to free Pat Brophy.
(*All articles copyright of their respective publishers.
CAHS National News
Membership Renewal
Your membership forms for 2012 were included in the recent Journal mailout (Fall 2011). Filling out the renewal form and returning with payment will ensure you receive the 2012 Journal issues with no interruption.
2012 CAHS Convention
Registration forms are now available! Some items of note:
Begin planning your trip now by visiting the following web sites for information:
For more details on the convention including a listing of special activities and location highlights, visit the "Events" page on the CAHS website here.
CAHS 50th Anniversary Committee
From CAHS National:
"In 2013, the CAHS will be celebrating its 50th anniversary and the CAHS National wants to make sure that this milestone is appropriately marked, both at the convention (which will be in Ottawa, the site of the first convention) and throughout the entire year. In order to accomplish this, the 50th Anniversary Committee needs your help if:
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You are a CAHS Chapter and will be organizing an event marking the 50th Anniversary, let the Anniversay Committee know so that widespread advertising can take place through the newsletter, website, Facebook, and Twitter
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You are a long time CAHS Member and have stories and/or pictures from the early years, the Anniverary Committee would love to hear from you
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You have any ideas of how to commemorate the 50th (events, writings to publish, items to create and sell, etc), please contact the Anniversary Committee
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You can volunteer to be a committee member and help share the workload
Contact Rachel Lea Heide at treasurer@cahs.ca for more information.
CAHS Journal
By now you should have received the Fall 2011 issue of the CAHS Journal. This Journal mailing includes the billing notice for your 2012 CAHS National dues, unless you signed up for a two-year membership in 2011. Note that if the expiry date states "31 Dec 2011," then your membership is valid until the end of 2011 and you will receive all four of the volume 49 Journals.
- Did you enjoy the articles this issue? Find the topics interesting? Have comments about the content? Excited for the next issue? Share your thoughts on our new Flickr discussion page here! (Be sure to sign-up first to comment!) or e-mail our interim editor, Terry Higgins, here.
An announcement from the CAHS President: "As you might be aware, our current editor, Major Bill March, has been exceedingly busy this last year with his full-time job with the Armed Forces and a deployment to Afghanistan for several months. 2012 is turning out to be just as busy, so Major March will be turning over the controls to our excellent graphics manager (and publisher of Aviaeology), Terry Higgins. We also have a set of well-known guest editors to work alongside Terry, and an editorial board at the ready. Thank you to all who have put in extra effort to maintain the Journal’s high level of professionalism, and to you, our members, for your patience."
CAHS Online
 On Twitter: Follow us at @CanAvHistSoc along with 398 of our followers!
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On Flickr: Join our Flickr group here. Share your aviation photos and view others' favourite shots!
On the website: Visit cahs.ca to view our rotating blog feature. This month, Bill Zuk offers a glimpse into domestic Canada-US wartime relations with his feature on covert aircraft transportation across country boundaries at Emerson International Airport.
 Bill writes: "1940. Much of the world was at war but the Neutrality Act passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Aug., 1935 was designed to keep the United States out of a possible European war. The law specifically banned shipment of war materiel to belligerents... The Neutrality Act allowed purchase of war material but disallowed their movement out of the United States. Foreign pilots could not come to the United States to “fly away” aircraft while American pilots could not fly the planes to international territory unless…"
Read the full story on the blog! Note: All featured blogs are available as downloadable PDF's for easy reading on your smartphone or tablet.
Upcoming Chapter Meetings
Chapters usually take a break from meeting during the summer months and resume again in September. The month of June saw only two Chapter meetings:
12 June: Former RCAF test pilot Colonel (Ret'd) R. A. "Bud" White discussed aircraft crash sites and the RCAF's altitude record attempt flights.
14 June: Paula Rein of the Saskatchewan Provincial Archives taught attendees how to use the Archives systems and databases.
Full meeting details are available on our website at www.cahs.ca or click on the city name above. Be sure to check the website / future newsletter issues to find out when your Chapter resumes meeting.
Events and Announcements
George Fuller wrote in to let us know that a Parks Canada National Historic Site plaque will be unveiled on Saturday morning, 30 June, adjacent to the active airport and floatplane facility at Lac-à-la-Tortue, near Grand'Mère, Shawinigan, Québec. It will commemorate the birth in 1919 of Canadian bush flying at this, the country's first commercial air harbour. For further information please contact him at dodseful@bell.net
Canadian Skies magazine recently published a special issue titled "RCAF Today." Offcially endorsed by the RCAF, it offers exclusive stories about Canada’s air force and its people, missions and aircraft. Order your copy on their website today!
Airshows and Aviation Events: May - June 2012
See below for what is scheduled for the next two months! Click on the event name to be re-directed to their website.
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June 2012 |
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| 16-17 |
.Hamilton Airshow – CWHM 40th Anniversary |
Hamilton, ON |
| 17 |
AWings 'n' Wheels, Aerospace Museum of Calgary |
Calgary, AB |
| 20 |
.Thetford Mines Snowbirds Display |
Thetford Mines, QC |
| 22-25 |
Haute Voltige Laurentides |
Mont-Laurier, QC |
| 23-24 |
Canadian Owner & Pilots Association AGM & Fly-In |
Hanover, ON |
| 27 |
Snowbirds Display |
Bagotville, QC |
| 30 |
Orillia Air Show |
Orillia, ON |
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July 2012
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| 1 |
Canada Day Flypast
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Ottawa, ON
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| 7 |
15 Wing Armed Forces Day Open House |
CFB Moose Jaw, SK |
| 13-14 |
Peace River Regional Air Show |
Peace River, AB |
| 14 |
Northern Skies Air Show 2012 |
Yellowknife NWT |
| 17 |
Snowbirds Display |
Inuvik, NWT |
| 19 |
Snowbirds Display |
Norman Wells, NWT |
| 21 |
Princeton Air Show |
Princeton BC
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| 21-22 |
Alberta International Air Show |
Lethbridge, AB |
| 22 |
Snowbirds Display |
Whitehorse, YT |
| 23-29 |
EAA Air Venture Oshkosh 2012 |
Oshkosh, USA
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| 25 |
Snowbirds Display |
Watson Lake, YT
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| 28 |
Nelson Flightfest 2012 |
Nelson, BC |
| 28 |
Boundary Bay Air Show |
Delta, BC |
| 28-29 |
Whitecourt Hometown Heroes Air Show |
Whitecourt, AB |
| 28-29 |
Fort McMurray Air Show |
Fort MacMurray, AB |
| 31 |
Snowbirds Display |
Fort St. John, BC
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Museum and Restoration Initiatives
 Alberta Aviation Museum
The building that houses the Alberta Aviation Museum at the City Centre Airport has been recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Site by the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. Read about the distinction here!
Bomber Command Museum of Canada
 Join the Bomber Command Museum of Canada as it pays tribute to former RCAF pilots Bruce and Douglas Warren. The identical twins were born in Nanton and became two of the most outstanding of Nanton's citizens who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during and after World War II. On 7 July, the museum will honour them with the official opening of a new, permanent display in the museum, Lancaster Engine Runs, and the Dedication of a beautiful Memorial Garden. Read more here.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum has lots of family activities for June and July!
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
 The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum celebrated its 40th anniversary with a massive airshow! The Hamilton Airshow ran 16/17 June and saw performances by a wide-range of aerobatic, vintage, and jet aircraft from across the country. Check out some photos from the event here!
National Air Force Museum of Canada
Vintage Wings of Canada
The Ottawa Business Journal recently did a spot on Vintage Wings and its owner, Mike Potter. Read the full article, "Life After Cognos," here!
 The Stearman and Mustang from Vintage Wings are making their way out West for the summer! The Stearman has already started her journey, and the Mustang starts her journey June 18. You can follow their progress via their SPOT tracking devices:
You can read more about the Stearman’s journey on their blog here (photo source) or in the Winnipeg Free Press here!
New on the Vintage Wings Newsreel:
Western Canada Aviation Museum
 On Sundays in June, the Western Canada Aviation Museum will be conducting guided tours of the Bush Gallery - a tribute to float planes, Northern flying, and the men and women who flew them. Read more about the museum and its tours here.
Also check out this short piece (with video) on the Museum from the Winnipeg Sun!
Researcher-to-Researcher
We receive requests each month from independent researchers and associations looking for help with projects. If you have a research question or are looking for information on a topic, send the details to cahs.newsletter@gmail.com - the CAHS community is a great resource!
Anne Gafiuk is looking for correspondence written by Second World War RCAF personnel. She would love to hear your stories at anne@whatsinastory.ca (www.whatsinastory.ca).
Larry Gray is looking for photos of RCAF/CFB Summerside airbase on PEI. Contact him at landgg@sympatico.ca.
Bits and Bytes
Preservation
Personalities
History
Current Events
  T hank you for reading this e-newsletter. We hope you have enjoyed it! Please feel free to forward it to friends and family members, and encourage them to sign up on www.cahs.ca for FREE to receive future copies directly. If you have any news or events to share, please contact us at cahsnewsletter@gmail.com.
Whether you are a long-time subscriber who has missed an issue or you just signed up and want to get aquainted with the CAHS, note that all National e-newsletters (including this one) are indexed online on our website! Click here to view past issues.
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 June 2012 - Issue 20
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Changed your mailing or e-mail address? Keep in touch! Contact Rachel Lea Heide to update your contact.information or payment records.
Financial inquiries: treasurer@cahs.ca
Membership inquiries: membershipinfo@cahs.ca
Special thanks to the following supporters:
Sponsors:
HOPE AERO
North Wright Airways Ltd.
Corporate Members:
Bombardier
Clearwater Fine Foods
VAC Developments
Partners:
AC Family Network
Alberta Genealogical Society - Edmonton
Aviaeology
Bomber Command Museum
CANAV Books
Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
Experimental Aircraft Association
Fondation Aérovision Québec
Leavens Aviation
Linguistek Inc.
Rockcliffe Flying Club
Vintage Wings of Canada
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The 2012 Spring edition of the 