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.  

Major Richard Nelson 'Red' Hill, MMM, CD RCAF Photographic Branch 1946 - 1982   Earlier this year, Red Hill brought two of his personal photo albums to the Comox Air Force Museum and spoke with members about the photos and tried to remember some of the faces and places over his lengthy career. This was most enjoyable and before leaving, Red granted the Museum access to his photos and stories and the permission to use them at our discretion. This photo album, reproduced using Red’s photos and words, is the result. We are indebted to Red for his gracious gesture, and are posting this in honour of his recent 91st birthday.   Richard Nelson Hill was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on 26 November 1927. His Grandfather, Private Henry Mills, served in World War I, and his Father, Charles Nelson Hill, served in World War II with the 14thCanadian Light Horse (209thCanadian Infantry Battalion, CEF). Richard’s younger brother, Sergeant Leonard Hill, also served in the Army during the Korean War.   Charles Nelson Hill with the 14thCanadian Light Horse prior to World War II, circa 1939.   In 1941, Richard joined the newly formed No. 54 Air Cadet Squadron in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.   Air Cadet Richard Hill, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, 1943   No. 54 Air Cadet Squadron, July 1stin Swift Current. Richard is 5thfrom the left.   In 1944 the Hill family moved to Cabri, Saskatchewan. Richard found out there was no Air Cadet Squadron in his new town, Read more...

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Canada's Hundred Days and the Armistice. You might appreciate seeing this graphic from Canada's Veterans Affairs; to learn more, check out their website shown at the bottom of the poster below.  

        THE ALLIES OF WORLD WAR II   The allies of World War II, called the United Nations from the 1 January 1942 declaration, were the countries that together opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War (1939 – 1945).  The Allies promoted the alliance as a means to control German, Japanese, and Italian aggression. At the start of the war on September 1, 1939, the Allies consisted of France, Poland and the United Kingdom, as well as their dependent states, such as British India.  Within days they were joined by the independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.  After the start of the German invasion of North Europe until the Balkan Campaign, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, and Yugoslavia joined the Allies.  After first cooperated with Germany in invading Poland while remaining neutral in the Allied-Axis conflict, the Soviet Union joined the Allies in June 1941 after being invaded by Germany.  The United States provided war material and money all along and officially joined in December 1941 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  China had already been in a prolonged war with Japan since the Marco Polo Bridge incident of 1937, but officially joined the Allies in 1941. The alliance was formalized by the Declaration of United Nations, from January 1, 1942.  However, the name United Nations was rarely used to describe the Allies during the war.  The leaders of the “Big Three” – the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Read more...

    SOME OF CANADA’S AIR FORCE HEROES     F/O Lyle James. Lancaster Pilot.  Lyle flew a record 32 missions in 90 days over enemy territory. F/O Alan Early DFC.  Saved his crew crash landing his B24 on Sable Island. F/O George Clark.  Lancaster Bomber.  Killed in action November 30, 1944. P/O Raymond Adams.  Killed in Action.  December 20, 1944.  Age 20 years. F/O Edward Brian.  Killed in Action.  Night raid over Belgium.  Age 27 years. P/O Robert Chapman.  Killed in Action.  Shot down during night raid over Germany.  Age 21 years. F/Sgt Joseph Deschamps.  Killed in Action.  Shot down over English Channel.  Buried in Dieppe.  Age 23. P/O George Matuszewski.  Lancaster Bomber.  Shot down by German jet fighter.  No known grave.  Age 19. AG Alphonse Ouellette.  Wellington Bomber.  Lost over Egypt.  Never found. Age 20 years. F/O John Zwina. S.O.E.  Failed to return from S.O.E. drop.  Now known grave.  Age 24 years.  

      HIGH FLIGHT Written by F/O John Magee, Royal Canadian Air Force – killed December 11th, 1941 at 19 years of age     Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air . . . Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

  The Comox Air Force Museum will be closed this Saturday, November 10th for the day; our Museum family will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Deb Dyer, our Gift Shop Manager. We'll be open again Sunday, November 11th for Remembrance Day and hope you might spend part of that day with us.

Norm Danton describes himself as a “proud volunteer”. Originally from the UK, he brings that part of his history with him when he volunteers Thursday mornings; his fellow volunteers, along with our Museum visitors, always learn something new.         At Norm’s request, this year’s focus on Veteran's Week is a look at a number of meaningful posts selected  by Norm himself – each one is meant to focus our attention on a specific aspect of our history.  In addition, Norm shares a very personal “What Remembrance Day Means To Me”.  Norm's series is called "Remembrance Week". I invite you to take the time over the coming week to read and to ponder… to remember and to appreciate… Lest We Forget…

Every night for 10 weeks, September 7th until November 14 1940, London was attacked by an average 160 German bombers. Thereafter from November 14th 1940 until May 10th 1941 the attacks spread out to other major cities, Plymouth, Birmingham and Coventry. One of the worst nights was the first night, September 7th. It began with a daylight raid on London where hundreds of incendiary bombs were dropped to set London ablaze. Later followed a night time raid; this time the aircraft were guided to the target by the many fires still burning. Following these two raids 400 people were killed and 1,600 were severely injured.                 By October the number of aircraft had increased and on October 15th, a raid of 400 bombers dropped 540 tons of high explosives causing hundreds more casualties and massive damage. On December 29th 1940, the attackers dropped an estimated 2000 incendiary bombs on London which caused a major firestorm. 1500 major fires were started, 52 being considered “major”. The fire services were stretched to the limits. But for all the continuous bombing, on the last night, May 10th 1941, the worst was still to come, with several German squadrons together, thousands more incendiary bombs and tons of high explosives; 1,400 people were killed and 155,000 people left with no gas, water or electricity. By May 11th 1941, 28,556 people had been killed as well as 25,578 people were very seriously injured. Across Britain, two million homes has been damaged or destroyed, and 1.5 million people were homeless.