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Dear CAHS Member,
Announcing the re-launch of www.cahs.ca!
If you've been to www.cahs.ca in the last few days, you may have noticed a few changes! Our web team has completed a substantial series of upgrades and improvements on the CAHS website. Their goal was to make changes that would enhance the site’s usability as an interactive hub for discovery, debate, and discussion about Canada’s aviation history. Using updated software on the back end, our team has created a more robust site complete with a redesigned interface and many new or improved components.
We are still bringing over some features from the old site and appreciate your patience as we work through this transitional period. In the meantime, if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please contact our webmaster at webadmin@cahs.ca.
Below is a list of some of the new and upcoming features on the site. We will be rolling out the latter over time, so keep an eye on www.cahs.ca!
New or Improved Features:
- Home page rotating blog shows last 5 to 10 articles submitted by our contributors. Clicking on image leads to the article in question
- Chapter pages enhanced with meeting dates, new logos, and maps so members can find their Chapter meetings easier
- Completely redesigned membership signup area
- Event listing on front page (right side) shows all upcoming Chapter Meetings with maps
- Contact area completely redone
- Smart Search function added
- Buttons to join, donate, or sponsor are enhanced and clearly visible near bottom of homepage
Upcoming Features:
- Login will be enabled for members to access ‘members only’ content
- Last two years of the Journal as digital downloads from members area
- Ability to purchase Journal back issues online
- Ability to purchase gift subscriptions
- Contributor biographies with links to articles by individual authors.
- Photo and video gallery
- Discussion area
Blue skies, and happy holidays!
Caitlin McWilliams
e-Newsletter Editor
Vice-President, CAHS
cahs.newsletter@gmail.com
This Month in Canadian Aviation History
11 November 1940: Air Cadet League of Canada Formed
 The Air Cadet League of Canada is a country-wide, voluntary civilian youth organization. It was first established during the Second World War in partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force to train future aircrews and promote an interest in aviation as a career.
79 squadrons existed across the nation by the end of 1941. By 1944, the program reached 374 squadrons and over 29,000 cadets - its peak wartime strength.
 Today, the Air Cadet League partners with the Department of National Defence to support the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and its membership of ~23,000 cadets and 456 squadrons. According to the League’s website, close to one million young Canadians, men and women, have participated in the training program since 1941. (*Newspaper articles from warmuseum.ca's Democracy at War.
Certificate from wartimecanada.ca)
CAHS National News
Journal Update
 The CAHS Journal Editorial Team has been working hard very to get caught up with the CAHS Journal production!
Volume 50-1 - though a bit delayed by a "busier than usual Christmas season bulk mailings period" - has been sent out for distribution and should be in the mail stream, on their way to you as we speak! If you just can't wait for your issue to arrive in the mail, click here to view the Table of Contents and whet your appetite!
Volume 50-2 is in the final part of the editorial process and we are aiming to have it out by Christmas.
Remember the CAHS rule: You will always get four Journals for every year you have paid your dues, no matter when they might arrive! If you have any comments or questions, contact Terry Higgins at editor@cahs.ca.
Christmas Gift Ideas
This Christmas, consider honouring a beloved pilot or aviation enthusiast in your life by making a donation to the CAHS on their behalf. All pledges support the CAHS’s work of celebrating and preserving Canada’s aviation heritage. Visit our donations page here to learn more about how you can support the CAHS this holiday season. Don’t forget: We are a charitable organization and issue tax receipts!
 Alternatively, why not give someone the gift of a CAHS Membership? They're also priced just right to use as a Secret Santa gift! Visit the “Join the CAHS” page on our redesigned webpage for more details. Don’t forget you have the choice between an “Online” or “Traditional” membership, and you can select either a 1 or 2 year membership.
Available for Purchase
RAPCAN's Retired Airline Pilots Database (2006 edition) can be purchased in PC CD format from CAHS National for $10 each (includes postage). Contact CAHS National Treasurer Rachel Lea Heide to place an order (treasurer@cahs.ca).
Keep connected with the CAHS online
 On Facebook: Like us at "Canadian Aviation Historical Society - National"
On Twitter: Follow us at @CanAvHistSoc along with 542 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, Mathias Joost looks at "Bombing the South Saskatchewan River in 1951."
 Mathias writes: "Bombing ice jams was nothing new. In 1929, the Canadian government decided to bomb the ice in the St. Lawrence to speed the opening of the river. Canadian Airways pilot D.S. Bondurant, flying a Fairchild 71, dropped explosive charges onto the ice which produced a lot of ice chips and dead fish but no expedited break-up of the ice. [...] The efforts to dislodge the ice jams became Operation Floodhat, as the RCAF named it."
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, or saving for future reading.
CAHS Member News
Bob Petite from Leduc, Alberta recently started up a new website focusing on early helicopter history in Canada. It can be found at helicopterheritagecanada.com. He also just finished a book on the Bell Model 47 helicopter, which will be going to print shortly.
Robin Higham, a CAHS member from Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.A., published two titles of interest this year: "Two Roads to War: The French and British Air Arms from Versailles to Dunkirk" and "Unflinching Zeal: The Air Battles over France and Britain, May–October 1940."
Bob Cameron, an engineer, pilot, and researcher from Whitehorse, has launched a new book, "Yukon Wings," an illustrated history of the birth and development of the aviation industry in the territory.
National Director Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail was named one of Avenue magazine's Top 40 Under 40 list! Read her stellar interview - where she gives a shout out to the CAHS - on their site here.
Upcoming Chapter Meetings
| Chapter |
Date |
Details (speaker, location)
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| Calgary |
20 December
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Held at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
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| Manitoba |
29 November
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"Spy Master" Sir William Stephenson CC, MC, DFC and Bill Macdonald
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| Montreal |
17 January 2013
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Held at Royal Canadian Legion
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| New Brunswick |
March 2013 |
TBA
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| Ottawa |
29 November |
Colin Hine discusses the three Avro 504Ks in the Can. Aviation and Space Museum's collection
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| PEI |
2 March 2013
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Held at Charlottetown Airport Terminal
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| Regina |
14 December
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Lt. Col. Maryse Carmichael & Christmas supper with the local wing of the RCAF Association
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| Toronto |
8 December
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Held at Canadian Forces College
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| Vancouver |
11 December
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Keith Wade and his latest aircraft photos from around the world
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Events and Announcements
CATP Museum Project
 The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is erecting a memorial to recognize members of the RCAF and all Canadians serving in any Commonwealth air force who lost their lives during the Second World War. Their names - over 19,000 compiled so far - and ages will be etched on an impressive granite wall about 300 feet long, situated on the Museum grounds at McGill Field in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. The project has been ongoing since 2012 and with a cost of over one million dollars, the Museum is looking for public support. Its tentative unveiling deadline of August 2014. View the media and donation pamphlet in its entirety here.
Canadian Air and Space Museum to Relocate?
 The Canadian Air and Space Museum - currently running as a 'virtual museum' - has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $500,000 to move its equipment into temporary storage, and eventually open a NEW facility potentially (and becoming more and more likely) at Toronto's Pearson International Airport!
Support the campaign at www.indiegogo.com/casmuseum. Different pledge levels will get you a range of "thank you" perks including DVD's, gala tickets, memberships, and other cool swag.
Museum and Restoration Initiatives
Bomber Command Museum of Canada 
The Bomber Command Museum of Canada is co-supporting the upcoming book launch and speaking event, “Wings Over High River – Conversations with A. Gordon Jones” Mr. Jones is a former BCATP pilot instructor and Tiger Moth pilot for seventy years. The event will be held at the Museum of Highwood in High River, Alberta on 1 December.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Starting in December 2012 (in time for Christmas?) the Canada Aviation and Space Museum will begin selling Canadian Space Agency (CSA) products in its museum boutique and online store.
Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre
 The Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre in Ste Anne's de Bellevue, Quebec, has unveiled a replica of 1926 Fairchild Model FC-2 "Razorback." the twelve-year long project was finished in October by volunteers at the Centre who used sketches and photographs from the era. More about the process is outlined this news story.
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre has begun a project to digitize its collection of aviation photographs, maps, records, and logbooks. Funding from Ontario's Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is helping make this year-long project happen, and individuals who purchase a membership will have complete access to the Centre's archive. You can read more about the initiative through this SaultStar.com news article.
 Also check out the following articles on the Centre's involvement with the local community:
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
 Follow the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Facebook to get daily updates on the progress of their restorations and status of their flying aircraft. To commemorate their 40th anniversary, every day they post archival photos from their collection with their backstory!
National Air Force Museum of Canada
 The National Air Force Museum of Canada continues to undergo construction but is still open! Read about their progress in their November e-newsletter, available on their website here. The document also details the Museum's recent awards, Ad Astra Ceremony, new acquisitions, and upcoming events.
Vintage Wings of Canada
Recently the blog at vintagewingsofcanada.blogspot.ca has been focusing on the word of aircraft restoration. Discover what goes into giving vintage aircraft new life through not just one, but two updates on some of their recent projects.
New on the Vintage Wings Newsreel:
Western Canada Aviation Museum
On 29 November, the Western Canada Aviation Museum will be working with the Manitoba Chapter of the CAHS to host a presentation by Col. Gary Solar and Bill MacDonald on "The Spy Intrepid" – Sir William Stephenson. This goes along with their event theme for November, "Pilots, POW's, and Peril." Next month, catch one of their free "One-of-a-Kind" themed tours, revolving around their collection's more unique aircraft.
Bits and Bytes
Lost and Found:
Remembrance and Recollection:
Skyward
CAHS National Member No. 948, Charles F. Vaughn of St. Catharines, passed away in October at the age of 86. He was a pilot and one of his famous aerial adventures was when he flew a twin engine airplane in the London (UK) to Victoria (BC) Air Race in 1971. He later spoke to the Toronto Chapter on the details of the two Atlantic crossings as a race participant.
From his obituary: "Predeceased by his first wife of many years. Charlie was a well-known pilot in the Niagara Peninsula and stories of his numerous adventures will be sorely missed. [...] If desired, memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society or the St. George's Anglican Church Breakfast Club would be appreciated by the family."
We also recently received the news that Alan J. Grant, CAHS National Member No. 5228 and RCAF veteran, passed away in June.
  Dear {tag:firstname}, thank 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 cahs.newsletter@gmail.com.
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 November 2012 - Issue 25
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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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