by Val | Aug 20, 2017 | Aircraft, Books, Library Display, News & Events, Posts
The Schneider Trophy, the common name for the Coupe d’Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider, was awarded annually to the winner of a race for seaplanes and flying boats. The trophy itself is now found in the Science Museum in London. In 1912, Jacques Schneider, a French financier, balloonist, and aircraft enthusiast, offered a prize of about 1000 pounds for the competition. The race was meant to encourage technical advances in civil aviation, but ultimately became a contest for pure speed, with laps over a normally triangular course of between 280 and 350 kilometres. These contests were actually time trials, with aircraft setting out individually and at pre-agreed times, most often 15 minutes apart. The contests were very popular and drew huge crowds. The race was held twelve times between 1913 and 1931. If an aero club won three races in five years, they would retain the trophy and the winning pilot would receive 75,000 francs for each of the first three wins. Each race was hosted by the previous winning country and was supervised by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, as well as the aero club in the hosting country. Each club could enter up to three competitors with an equal number of alternatives. The races were important in terms of advancing aeroplane design, especially in the fields of aerodynamics and engine design; these would then show results in the best fighters of WWII. The streamlined shape and the low drag, liquid-cooled engine pioneered by the Schneider Trophy designs were easy to see in the British Supermarine Spitfire, the American P-51 Mustang, as well as the Italian Macchi C.201 Folgore....
by Val | Aug 6, 2017 | Aircraft, Books, Collections, Library Display, Links, News & Events, Posts
Larry Milberry is a lifelong aviation enthusiast who has authored, co-authored, or edited approximately 41 books on Canadian aviation history, including many of the best-known reference books on the subject. In 2004, Milberry was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. As well, he’s an honorary Snowbird, a long-time member of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, and last spring our Museum Association presented him with an Honourary Lifetime Membership. It’s interesting to note that while Larry Milberry has come to our Museum to conduct his research for upcoming projects ~ many volunteers and visitors who come into the Library to get help with their personal research are often pointed in the direction of Milberry’s publications! Let’s have a look at just a few of the titles on our shelves: Aircom - Canada’s Air Force - Published in 1991, this is ” … a detailed look at the air force seen through the photographic viewfinder. It shows all the aircraft operated by Air Command. It also focuses upon the people who make the air force work, and on their many bases. A special section deals with Canada’s Hornets in the Persian Gulf war.” The Canadair Sabre - This book is considered “… the most detailed book ever about the famous F-86 Sabre… the book tells the story of the 1815 Sabres built under licence by Canadair in Montreal… The RCAF’s first Sabre squadrons were formed at St. Hubert, Uplands, North Bay and Bagotville, then moved to the U.K. at North Luffenham and finally to the Continent. Their story is enlivened with details from the...
by Val | Jul 23, 2017 | Aircraft, Books, Collections, Library Display, News & Events, Posts
I was helping in our Gift Shop the other day, and is my habit, invited our guests to have a look in our Museum Library. People who venture in are amazed with the size and quality of our collection, as well as the variety of topics we have covered. People are also intrigued by the number of model aircraft we have on display above our bookshelves; they also enjoy checking out other model aircraft in the Main Gallery and in the hallway showcase. I recently discovered an extensive collection of books published by Squadron/Signal Publications and by Sabre Model Supplies. These books would be a great source of information for model-builders, historically and structurally: Bristol Blenheim in action by Ron Mackay has a close look at the development of this aircraft and chronicles its use in combat. You’ll appreciate the black and white as well as the coloured photos; you’ll also find the detailed line drawings most helpful. Sopwith Fighters in action is written by Peter Cooksley and illustrated by Joe Sewell. Cooksley introduces his book, “It could be argued that the aircraft built at Thomas Sopwith’s factory at Kingston-on-Thames contributed more to the Allied cause during the First World War than those of any other aircraft company. Of these, the Sopwith Camel is the best remembered… they made a great contribution to the development of the aircraft as a fighting machine at a time when the very science of flying was in its early stages…” I freely admit that I was taken by the SR-71 Blackbird in action cover. Lou Drendel wrote and illustrated this...
by Val | Jul 9, 2017 | Aircraft, Books, Collections, Library Display, News & Events, Posts
With the recent focus on North Korea, perhaps this is a good time to have a look at the collection of books we have available in our Museum’s Library: First, let’s have a look at the area at the time: From the publishers of Legion Magazine, Canada’s Ultimate Story - Korea, the Forgotten War looks at the Canadian involvement in this war. The magazine includes photos, relevant texts, and quotes from interviews with Korean War Veterans, “The people were starving. When you are supplying rations to a large number of men surpluses build up. We would give the surplus to the refugees - and felt very good about it.” (Marcel Richard) The Directorate of History and Heritage, DND, published Canada and the Korean War. The book not only shares the history of the times, but also includes maps, photographs, art work, and individual stories of those involved. Deadlock in Korea was written by Ted Barris. “Between 1950 and 1953, nearly 30,000 Canadian volunteers joined the effort to contain communist incursions into South Korea and support the fledgling United Nations. All of the services were there and served with distinction… The book is considered a fascinating, sometimes heart stopping look at Canada’s forces in a war that history forgot.” Graham Thomas is the author of Furies and Fireflies Over Korea - the Story of the Men of the Fleet Air Arm, RAF and Commonwealth who Defended South Korea 1950 - 1953. “On 25 June, 1950, five years after the free world had finished a dreadful and terrible war against...
by Val | Jun 25, 2017 | Aircraft, Books, Collections, Library Display, Links, News & Events, Posts
One of the most common questions asked of us is, “What happened with the Spitfire?” We’re now happy to report that Vintage Wings sent an update: “Last week, Spitfire TE294, the Roseland Spitfire, made its first flight after nearly two decades of steady progress. Click on this link to enjoy the official photos and video of the event.” If you have a thirst for all things Spitfire, check out these books and others that can be found in our Museum’s Library: Jeremy Flack wrote Spitfire. The inside cover reads, “The Supermarine Spitfire is the most famous of all British fighters. Designed by Reginald J. Mitchell at a time when all serving RAF fighter aircraft were canvas-covered biplanes, the prototype first flew on 5 March 1936. Over 20,000 Spitfires were to be produced in over 40 variants and it was used as a fighter, in the ground-attack and photo-reconnaissance roles and even - as the Seafire - from aircraft carriers. By the early 1960s, just a handful of Spitfires remained in flying condition and it was the making of the film The Battle of Britain which was to turn the tide on the extinction of airworthy Spitfires. Today nearly 50 can be seen flying including those of the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight… Birth of a Legend - The Spitfire was written by Jeffrey Quill. Quill’s book celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Spitfire’s first flight with this volume. “The achievements of the fighter pilots ensured that the Spitfire became a legend in its own time. No other aircraft has ever enjoyed quite the same charisma nor engendered the...
by Val | Jun 13, 2017 | Aircraft, Books, Collections, Library Display, News & Events, Periodicals, Posts
Did you know that our Museum Library has over 8500 books? Our collection is used by our visitors, by folks coming into the Museum to do research, by volunteers, and by those of you looking for titles related to topics of interest. If you’re not able to come into the Museum personally, perhaps your community library would have these titles, or perhaps you might like to purchase them from your favourite bookstore in order to have them in your home library. The titles I’m sharing with you this time are focussed on the Lancaster: Written by Leo McKinstry, who also wrote Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend, Lancaster: The Second World War’s Greatest Bomber has a close look at the place of the Lancaster in air history. “The Lancaster and the Spitfire were the RAF’s two weapons of victory in the Second World War. But without the bomber, Britain would never have been able to take the fight to the German homeland. Lancaster highlights the scale of the plane’s achievements, including the famous Dambusters attacks, and how it transformed the effectiveness of Bomber Command. With the first-hand accounts from surviving pilots, engineers and ground crews, this is a compelling saga which cements the plane’s special place in our history.” FM159, The Lucky Lancaster was authored by Dave Birrell. This is “one of 7377 Avro Lancasters built to wage war against the Nazis…now one of only four taxiable Lancasters in the world. It has flown widely over the Pacific, the Atlantic, and to the northern-most point in Canada; has been only weeks away from being scrapped; was towed by a truck...
The CAFM commemorates the role and history of 19 Wing (CFB/RCAF/RAF), documenting significant achievements in West Coast Military Aviation History.
Founded in 1982 as part of the Air Force Indoctrination School, CAFM was accredited as a stand-alone Canadian Forces Museum and officially opened its doors to the public on 12 September 1987.