Comox Air Force Museum
Timeline
Heritage Stone Dedication CeremonyThe Comox Valley Air Force Museum Association Cordially invites you to the Heritage Stone Dedication Ceremony When: Sunday, 20 September 2015 Time: 2 P.M. Please be seated by 1:45 Where: Protestant Chapel across the road from Heritage Air Park Suggested Dress: Business Casual Guest of Honour: Colonel Tom Dunne, Commander 19 Wing Comox, or his delegate The 2015 ceremony will follow the Battle of Britain Parade. The Master of Ceremonies will read out the name on each stone. Reception to follow in the Comox Air Force Museum. RSVP: by 14 September 2015 Museum: (250) 339-8162 E-mail: cafm.lib@gmail.com Canada Post: CVAFMA Building 11, 19 Wing Comox PO Box 1000, Station Main Lazo, BC, V0R 2K0 Please let us know how many people will be with you. Participants are requested to bring an umbrella in case of inclement weather. If you are unable to attend, we will be pleased to send you a photograph of your Heritage Stone.
HERITAGE AIR PARK UPGRADESIf you have driven by the Air Park recently, you will notice a lot of construction going on. This fall, funding was acquired to upgrade the walkways from gravel to concrete. This improvement to the pathways will greatly add to the accessibility of the Park. In addition, the Labrador and Piasecki helicopters will have permeant cement pads for their landing gear. The project also includes a set of pads for the eagerly awaited arrival of the Park's newest resident, a retired Aurora aircraft. [caption id="attachment_12466" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Heritage Air Park concrete pouring of the new paths and pads[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12465" align="aligncenter" width="768"] First new concrete pathway[/caption] Stay tuned for more improvements as spring approaches.
COMOX AIR FORCE MUSEUM 2018 “SPIRIT OF THE VOLUNTEER” AWARDThis past week, at the Comox Air Force Museum's Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, Jon Ambler, our Programme Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, presented the annual "Spirit of the Volunteer" award to a most deserving volunteer. This year's recipient has been a volunteer for just over 25 years. She is referred to as the Museum's Librarian; her knowledge and experiences continue to astound all of us! She means a lot to those of you who have emailed asking for help with your research; she spends a lot of time hunting down the answers to your questions. She wants you to have the most recent and best quality information she can access… She means a lot to those of you who have come in with a relative’s military memorabilia, asking for details about insignia, a journal, a military record… she takes time to inform you… She means a lot to those of you who have come in with a donation for the Museum; not only does she carefully list the items you’re donating, but spends time with you, learning about your loved one… thanking you for your contribution… But for those of us who work alongside her, she means so much more. Need a new pen? She’s got that (actually she has several)… Need labels for the work you’re doing? She’s got that (actually she’s got quite the variety)… Going to need a calendar for the coming year? (actually she has three, count them, three different styles from which to choose)… Forgot your snack or Read more...- CHRISTMAS IS COMING ~ FIND YOUR AVIATION GIFTS HERE ~ 442 SQN THEMEThe countdown continues! Miriam, our Gift Shop Manager has some suggestions for your shopping lists. Today, we're focussing on 442 SQUADRON THEME! There are many stocking stuffers available (patches, decals, drink glasses, bumper stickers, pins...), as well as caps....
- AL WILSON’S CARTOONS ~ DECEMBER EDITION[caption id="attachment_10890" align="alignleft" width="150"] AL WILSON[/caption] Welcome to December's edition! It's our honour to continue to share Al Wilson's work for all of you to enjoy. [caption id="attachment_10933" align="aligncenter" width="858"] 407 SQUADRON XMAS PARTY[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10934" align="aligncenter" width="878"] JOLLY OL' MC NICK[/caption]
CHRISTMAS IS COMING ~ FIND YOUR AVIATION GIFTS HERE ~ ALL THINGS AIRCRAFTThe countdown continues! Miriam, our Gift Shop Manager has some additional suggestions for your shopping lists. Today, we're focussing on ALL THINGS AIRCRAFT! There are many stocking stuffers available (patches, pencil sharpeners, mugs...), as well as T-shirts and caps that your aviation fanatic would love. In addition, we carry a number of models.-
CHRISTMAS IS COMING ~ FIND YOUR AVIATION GIFTS HERE ~ KIDS’ STUFFThe countdown has begun! Miriam, our Gift Shop Manager has some suggestions for your shopping lists. Today, we're focussing on KIDS'S STUFF! There are many stocking stuffers available (toys, stuffed aviation bears...), as well as T-shirts and caps that kids will love. Be sure to come in soon before the stock dwindles; these items are always popular!
HAPPY 91st BIRTHDAY, MAJOR RICHARD NELSON ‘RED’ HILL, MMM, CD!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...
WORLD WAR II HEROES REMEMBER…Though this year recognizes the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice, it's also very important that we remember those who fought in World War II. One of our volunteers, Mel, located some interesting interviews with a few of those men and women, and thought you might enjoy them yourself. Check them out here. Lest we forget...
REMEMBRANCE WEEK ~ THE ALLIES OF WORLD WAR IITHE 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...-
REMEMBRANCE WEEK ~ CANADIAN HERO BEHIND ENEMY LINESCANADIAN HERO BEHIND ENEMY LINES Gustave Bieler was one of them. In 1940, at age 38, he was an officer in the Regiment de Maisonneuve. He came from Montreal and volunteered for service in the S.O.E., Britain’s special operations (Spies). He arrived in the UK in 1940, was interviewed and sent for a 4 month training course in Scotland. His specialty was explosives and unarmed combat. At 38 years old, he was the oldest in his training class. When his training was complete, he was dropped by parachute at night and landed just southwest of Paris and was met by partisans. His assignment was the recruitment and training of other cells all over France. With arms and supplies of explosives by night flights and parachute drops by the S.O.E. in England, they began the work of blowing up trains, railway lines, factories, troop trains… they became very effective against the German occupation. Within a few months, Bieler had set up and trained 25 cells all over France, which was causing many delays in movements of German goods and troops. The Gestapo and Police began a manhunt to find the leader of this group offereing a 100.000 mark reward. Being involved always presented great danger as many people were afraid and became informers. Bieler was a warm and affable man, highly regarded by his comrades, but alas, he stayed in France too long. The Germans were able to pick up his daily radio transmissions. In January 1944 he was Read more...
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REMEMBRANCE WEEK ~ SOME OF CANADA’S AIR FORCE HEROESSOME 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.
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REMEMBRANCE WEEK ~ WHAT REMEMBRANCE DAY MEANS TO MEWHAT DOES “REMEMBRANCE DAY” MEAN TO ME? My Father. Harry Danton. Gassed in WWI My Eldest Brother. Peter. Royal Navy. WWII My Second Brother. Tom. Royal Air Force. WWII My Uncle Jim. British Army. Killed. WWI My Uncle Fred. British Army. Killed. WWI My Aunt Emma. Royal Air Force. WWII My Neighbour. Billy Sheehan. Billy joined the Army in 1944. He was 18 years old, sent for basic training for 6 weeks, took part in D. Day landings and was killed on the beaches.
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