CAHS Museum Members
By John Chalmers, CAHS Membership Secretary
Museum Members of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society comprise a valued component of our membership. Each issue of our newsletter lists those members, with their names linked to the museum’s website. We encourage readers to visit those web locations, and to visit the museum itself when opportunity arises. This is the third in a series about our Museum Members.
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum at Brandon, Manitoba, housed in a wartime hangar, commemorates the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of the Second World War. Collection aircraft were for training or types flown in combat. The Museum has published They Shall Grow Not Old, naming all members of the RCAF who were killed during the war, and those names appear on a huge granite memorial. Also featured are displays, vehicles and historic flying aircraft. (Chalmers photo)
Located at 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, the museum commemorates the role and history of 19 Wing (CFB/RCAF/RAF) and achievements in west coast military aviation history. The museum was founded in 1982 as part of the Air Force Indoctrination School, then accredited as a standalone Canadian Forces Museum in 1987. In the Heritage Air Park are several types of aircraft flown by the RCAF, and exhibits deal with history starting from the First World War. (Museum photo)
Founded in 1970, operated by the Ontario Aviation Historical Society, and located at the Brampton, Ontario, airport, the Great War Flying Museum emphasizes aviation history of the First World War. As well as displays of artifacts, five flying replica aircraft are representative of types flown during the war. Two more period aircraft are under construction, one of which is the legendary Sopwith Camel, and the Fokker D. VII under reconstruction is expected to fly this summer. (Museum photo by Eric Dumigan)
Harvard Historical Aviation Society
Located at the site of the former Penhold base in Alberta, built for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the Harvard Historical Aviation Society plans construction of a wartime H-hut and a hangar. A Night at the Museum event is held on two Mondays each month for volunteers to experience hands-on museum work. Programming commemorates and celebrates the unique history of the RCAF Station Penhold, the RAF Station Bowden and the Red Deer Airport. (DND photo)