Comox Air Force Museum

Holiday time at the Comox Air Force Museum means our annual closure. This year we will be closed from December 20 to January 2, 2016. Until then our regular hours apply.  

Tyko is back with more information about the RCAF Aerobatic Teams:   Sky Lancers The Sky Lancers were another European-based team. They were based at the 2 (F) Wing, RCAF Station Grostenquin, France and flew the Canadair F-86 Sabre. The team was started in 1955 and performed 20 shows in the 1955 season. Unfortunately, a tragic accident occurred on 2 March 1956 in which 4 of the five pilots were killed in a flight manoeuvre. Consequently the RCAF banned aerial demonstration teams for several years.     Fireballs The Fireballs were a Europe-based RCAF team from 1954 to 1956. The team operated all-red Canadair F-86 Sabres and participated in various shows across Europe. There all-red paint scheme did not last long, as a superior officer decided to take away the scheme due to the fact that people might mistake the team for communists.    

Though Battle of Britain Sunday is behind us, we thought you might enjoy the following article, "At the Going Down of the Sun" in Vintage Wings of Canada.  In it, you'll find photos of the Spitfire that began its return to life here at our Museum.

[caption id="attachment_9346" align="alignleft" width="199"] Portrait of McGregor (Battle of Britain London Monument)[/caption]   Gordon McGregor was born in Montreal on September 26, 1901.  Educated at St. Andrews College and McGill University, McGregor was the winner of the 1935, 1936, and 1938 Webster Trophy award, presented to non-professional airmen and awarded for airmanship and navigation. He was commissioned in October 1938, at the time serving with RCAF 115 Squadron.  At the outbreak of war, pilots of his squadron, along with those from No. 1 Squadron, formed No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron.  McGregor was a Flight Commander with this squadron when it arrived in Britain June 20, 1940.   Following a number of successes, he was awarded the DFC (gazetted on October 25, 1940).  He commanded the squadron during November and December of that year, and in January 1941, he was given command of 2 (RCAF) Squadron at Digby (renumbered 402 Squadron March 1st).  In April, McGregor was promoted to lead the Canadian Wing at Digby.  He returned briefly to Canada but was back in London by fall.  He was appointed Director of Air Staff at HQ RCAF London on December 5th and was there until mid-April, 1942, when he once again returned to Canada. McGregor formed and commanded a Wing to give air support to Americans in Alaska.  In January 1943, he was made an OBE (Order of the British Empire).  He took command of Patricia Bay at the beginning of April, where its squadrons served on defence of the west coast Read more...

A reminder that our Museum will be closed to the public tomorrow, September 12th as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary.

This year marks the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. What exactly was it? The name of the battle was actually coined by Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time. After Germany had overrun France, Churchill said, “The Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin.” The Battle of Britain, an important battle in World War II, was a struggle between the German Luftwaffe (commanded by Hermann Goering ) and the British Air Force (headed by Hugh Dowding’s Fighter Command). After Germany and Hitler had conquered most of Europe, including France, the only major country left to fight them was Great Britain. Germany wanted to invade Great Britain, but first they needed to destroy Britain’s Royal Air Force. July 10, 1940, is the day fixed as the beginning of the Battle of Britain. Although there was fierce fighting leading up to that date, “the engagements on that day were of such scope and scale that this was the date chosen for historical purposes. The day was marked by an attack on a British shipping convoy as it entered the Channel near Dover. The attacking force, a large force of Dornier 17 bombers escorted by several fighter squadrons, was opposed by British fighters. As each side was reinforced, a huge dogfight of over 100 airplanes – the largest engagement between two nations up until that time – was joined.” ( Battle of Britain Illustrated )   [caption id="attachment_9376" align="aligncenter" width="220"] Heinkel Read more...

Many of Al Wilson's cartoons relate to specific happenings from about 1958 - 1974, especially in the Comox area.  We know you're enjoying this series, and are happy to share this month's edition with you!               [caption id="attachment_9323" align="aligncenter" width="1629"] L. JUNIOR JET JOCKEY[/caption]       [caption id="attachment_9322" align="aligncenter" width="1578"] LOCAL "BROWN JOB" MAKES LIKE...[/caption]

Comox Air Force Museum Celebrates its 30th Anniversary On Tuesday 12 September 2017 the Comox Air Force Museum will celebrate the thirty years since our accreditation as a DND museum. An invitation-only ceremony will be held commencing at 2PM in the afternoon (we are very space limited for such events). During the ceremony the new Hallway Display will be officially opened. Furthermore, the newly published book: “Comox Air Force Museum: Our First Thirty Years”  will also be available for the first time. A short reception will be held for our guests.  

  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. [caption id="attachment_9242" align="alignleft" width="187"] JACQUES SCHNEIDER[/caption] 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 Read more...