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Canadian
Warplane Heritage Museum
(CWHM)
“For
over 35 years, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario
has interpreted Canada’s proud aviation history through its restoration
and preservation of its outstanding collection of airworthy aircraft and
other artifacts, and gained international acclaim for its vintage aircraft
flying program.”
- Belt of
Orion Award, 2008
The Canadian Warplane
Heritage Museum is located at the Hamilton International Airport in Mount
Hope, Ontario.
In 1970 pilots Dennis
Bradley and Alan Ness formulated a plan to preserve, in flying condition,
some of the training and combat aircraft flown by Royal Canadian Air Force
pilots during the Second World War. They invited two friends, Peter
Matthews and John Weir, to become partners with them in this new
adventure.
They acquired their first
aircraft, a Fairey Firefly, in October, 1971. After major restoration work
and hours of volunteer labour, it was test flown the following year. In
1972 the group moved into part of Hangar 4 at Hamilton Airport and started
to seek out other restoration projects. A Harvard Mark IV was their second
acquisition, followed by a Supermarine Seafire, a Vought Corsair, a de
Havilland Chipmunk and a Tiger Moth.
Hangar 3 was purchased a
few years later. The group applied for charitable foundation status under
the name Canadian Warplane Heritage. The Canadian Warplane Heritage
Museum’s aim is the preservation, restoration and display of a collection
of aircraft that are significant in Canada’s aviation history. About half
of its current collection of nearly forty aircraft have been restored to
flying condition.
In 1975 the collection
took over more of Hangar 4, and the restoration of a B-25 Mitchell bomber
began. A Westland Lysander and Cessna Crane also joined the museum’s
collection.
Tragedy struck in 1977,
when Alan Ness lost his life when the Fairey Firefly he was piloting at
the Canadian International Airshow crashed into Lake Ontario. The group
remained undaunted. The aircraft would be replaced by another, and Alan
Ness’ memory is carried on through the annual award of the Alan Ness
Memorial Trophy’ to a deserving museum member or group.
The museum’s most
ambitious restoration project has been the Avro Lancaster bomber,
which was acquired by the museum in 1977. Restoration work began in 1979,
and nearly ten years later, on September 24, 1988, before a crowd of over
20,000 spectators, the museum’s Lancaster took to the air.
On February 15, 1993, a
large part of Hangar 3 was destroyed by fire. Included in the destruction
were five museum aircraft, the administration offices, engineering records
and all ground and maintenance equipment. The fire spread quickly through
the north side of the building. Volunteers could only watch helplessly as
the fire blazed only a few feet away from the Lancaster, which,
fortunately, was sitting on jacks outside of the hangar.
With the support of all
three levels of government the museum battled back to design and build a
large delta-winged building. The new museum was officially opened by the
museum’s patron, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on April 26,
1996.
The museum now houses all
operations under one roof, including an extensive aviation exhibit
gallery, a library and a gift shop. Special events take place throughout
the year. Group tours of the facility are available, with the services of
an experienced tour guide. Many of the visiting groups are students
learning the theory of flight, aircraft design or military history. A
visit to the museum enhances many areas of the provincial school
curriculum, thus fulfilling another aim of the CWHM, educating Canadians
about their aviation heritage.
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum was presented with the Belt of
Orion Award for Excellence at ceremonies held in Toronto on May 28, 2008.
Website:
www.warplane.com
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