19 Wing Comox June 2007

Volume 2 Issue 1

Photo Ken Oxley

Spitfire pilots meet at the Comox Air Force Museum for lunch 20 May 2007

See caption on page 2

ON PROUD WINGS THE COMOX VALLEY AIR FORCE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

19 Wing Comox June 2005

CVAFMA Executive 2006-07

President: Mike Hendren

Vice President: Harlin Price

Secretary: David Stinson

Treasurer: Mike Spooner

Membership: Ken Hutchison

Director at Large: Bill Cuell

Bingo Coordinator: Herb Lightfoot

Fund Raising: Terry Chester

Ex-Officio: John Low

Ex-Officio: Lorraine Angly

Newsletter Staff

Publisher: Ken Oxley

Contact Information

Museum Chairman: John Low, Capt. 19 Wing Heritage Officer

Curator/Program & Volunteer Manager: Lorraine Angly

Gift Shop Manager: Noreen Purdy

Comox Air Force Museum

19 Wing Comox, Lazo BC V0R 2K0 (Vancouver Island)

Phone/Fax: 250-339-8162

E-mail: info@comoxairforcemuseum.ca

Website: www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca

Museum, Library and Gift Shop open 10am - 4pm daily

Spitfire Hanger - Saturdays 10am-3pm

Spitfire/Y2K Project Website: www.y2kspitfire.com

Heritage Airpark is open May-September - 10am - 4pm

Cover Picture

Left to right - F/O Jim O'Toole RCAF, S/L Hart Finley RCAF, Lt Cmd Jim

Rankin RN, W/O Jan Pomietlarz RAF, W/C Stocky Edwards RCAF/RAF, W/C

Duke Warren RCAF/RAF, S/L Art Sager RCAF, F/L Kit Carson RCAF/RAF

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TOUGHTS FROM OUR CURATOR Historica Fair a Huge Success The Museum recently hosted the 2nd annual School District 71 History Fair on the 27th and 28th of April. The event, held at the Military Family Resource Centre, saw 380 students representing kindergarten to grade 12 from nine schools display their work. On the Friday, 43 judges evaluated 265 projects and interviewed students on their research. The judges were excited at the quality of the projects produced by the students and the level of energy exhibited in the room. To facilitate the judging, students were separated into divisions, with only one division being judged at any one time. Museum volunteers were kept busy hosting events for the divisions while they waited their turn at evaluation. Marty had her hands full with the junior students, drawing Aircraft pictures and playing Bingo. David challenged middle school students and teachers with a famous Canadians historical quiz. Amanda and Mike reviewed the construction and aerodynamic capabilities of paper planes in the arena. The volume of students through the Museum provided some interesting moments for the volunteers. Irv, Don and Mike did a great job of managing the traffic flow. There must have been some confusion though, as after a large group of senior students went through, our Argus engine Tech lost his drawers. All in all, the fair was a huge success. Considering the original estimate was for 100 participants. The students were very pleased with the activities held for them and the public was pleased with the projects. The big lesson for next year will be to not underestimate the level of participation.

Lorraine Angly Curator/Program & Volunteer Manager

THE PUBLISHER’S CLIPBOARD

As always, thanks to those who contribute articles and other material to the newsletter. There

must be more members out there who have something to submit that would be of interest to

others, whether it’s a photo, a story, or anything relevant to what we do and who we are. Please

don’t hesitate to send it to me. Contact us at info@comoxairforcemuseum.ca or leave a message at the Museum. Visit

www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca or drop by the museum to find out more about current activities.

To join our Association download the application on our website under Volunteer, leave a

phone message at the Museum, or drop by and fill out an application. For only $10 annually,

some of the benefits you receive include our newsletter, discounts in the gift shop, and a voice in

the organization.

Ken Oxley Publisher/Volunteer

If you are currently receiving this newsletter by mail, please forward your email address to

receive a high quality issue via the Internet.

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A Word from the Museum Chairman

Our 20th Anniversary Celebration is now well underway. Since the last newsletter, we have

been very busy. The Snowbird autograph session brought a lot of visitors to the Museum. We

have all heard the sad news about the accident that has happened since then.

The School District #71 Heritage Showcase was a great event, with approximately 350 students

participating. The Y2K Open House saw over 1500 visitors. The Garage Sale and “Operation

Paper Shredder” were both successful, with over $2,400 being raised.

We have received excellent coverage in the media with articles in the Echo, Record, Totem

Times and coverage on A-Channel (see our website “News” page to view this clip).

I am happy to say that, at this point, we are up over a thousand more visitors than other years…

the actual number being 5,900. That means we are halfway to our usual yearly total of 12,000,

and the busy season is just starting. Talking about the busy season, June continues the trend of

April and May, with even more weekend events. June 2nd is the 19 Wing Open House. It

remains to be seen just how many visitors this will bring to the Museum, as it is the Wing’s first

Open House.

The Heritage Stone Dedication ceremony will take place June 3rd. At the time that I am

writing this, we already have over 155 guests and not everyone has RSVP’d. Needless to say, we

had to order more chairs, 250 to be exact. Now, all we need is good weather. Then, on the 23rd

and 24th June, the Museum hosts the RC Model Aircraft event.

For those of you who have been by the Heritage Air Park recently, you will have noticed that

more paths are being put in. This is part of the continuing “beautification” of the Air Park. Don

Smith has sent us a detailed drawing of the Heritage Entrance - now all we have to do is figure

out who is going to build it. As you can see, the Museum continues to be a happening place.

Thanks volunteers, you continue to make it happen.

Capt. John Low Chairman CAFM

Presidents Report Summer 07

Three Cheers for the Volunteers!

What a crazy busy spring we’ve had and it was all a great Success because of the enthusiasm,

hard work and support of the Association Volunteers. The 2nd

Annual Heritage Stone Dedication

on June 3rd

was very well attended, had great weather and our special guest, the Lieutenant

Governor, Iona Campagnolo delivered one of her wonderful thought provoking speeches. The

two hundred guests couldn’t say enough good things about the event. We can look forward to an

article about the Heritage Stone Program and the Museum in the “Infocus Magazine” in the next

couple of months.

Amazing turnout for the Spitfire Annual Open House, a 3rd

successful Garage Sale and the

unveiling of Op. Shredder were all on the same day. I think everyone of our volunteers was

involved in some capacity that Sunday.

The Snowbird autograph session was again hugely popular with line-ups stretching through the

museum.

Being part of these events, we were all out doing what we love to do; working for the Museum.

It’s difficult to single out any individuals for special recognition as everyone’s time is very

valuable but a few of the people have contributed above and beyond and are usually at every

event helping in some capacity, and they are: Allison Hetman, Bill Cuell, Mel Birnie, Val

Kaehler, Don Manley, Ken and Lynda Oxley.

Mike Hendren President CVAFMA

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UPCOMING MUSEUM EVENTS 23-24 Jun 07: Joel Clarkston Memorial R/C Aircraft Scale Model Event

24 June 07: Organization of Military Museums tours our Museum

1 Jul 07: CAFM participates in Courtenay Parade with heritage vehicles

4-6 Aug 07: CAFM participates in Comox Nautical Days Parade with heritage vehicles

15 Sep 07: 20th Anniversary of the Comox Air Force Museum Open House

15 Sep 07: REXPO

16 Sep 07: Battle of Britain Ceremonies at Heritage Air Park

BOOKS Let’s start with what I consider a “must read” book for those who are interested in the

criteria used by the Awards Committee when they “Gave” an award.

The book by Hugh Halliday, “Valour Reconsidered” makes inquiries into the Victoria

Cross and other awards for extreme bravery. ISBN – 10: 1-896941–47–8. This book

raises many questions and answers only a few. It is published by Robert Brass Studio.

Several chapters explain the questions:

(1) Air Force Victoria Crosses, Granted and Denied

(2) Not the Face of the Enemy

(3) Gallantry With a Supporting Cast

(4) Righting Wrongs or Settling Scores

The author describes how politics affected the granting or withholding of awards and

revisits the controversy stemming from the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Billy

Bishop in 1917.

“In Canadian Service-Starfighter CF-104” is number 4 in the series by A.L. Stachiw

and A. Tattersall, ISBN – 10: 1-55125-114-0. This book profiles the design, operational

history and variants of the CF-104 in Canadian Service and is published by Vanwell

Publishing Limited.

“Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft, a Military Compendium” by BGEN Terry

Leversedge, ISBN – 10: 55125-116-7 is a brief summary of the majority of aircraft used

by the various arms of Canada’s Forces from the Burgess-Dunne up to the Sagem

Sperwer used in Afghanistan. This is a most valuable addition to any serious aero-

aficionado’s library.

Two additional books by Chris Weight in his series “Air Pilot Navigator” Vol. 3 and 4,

ISBN – 14-1208861-5 and ISBN – 142512073-3 are about some obscure and other well-

known airports. Vol. 4 covers the lower mainland from Vancouver to Lethbridge. If you

are doing research on aviation in BC, all four volumes are a useful series and should help

you in your quest. They are available from the author.

Brian O’Cain Volunteer

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The Spitfire Hangar

7th ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE A GIGANTIC SUCCESS

Over 1,700 Spitfire enthusiasts attended this year’s open house and gave a standing

ovation to the 9 veteran Spitfire pilots as they entered the restoration hangar, led by piper

Wally Lewis. To make the event even more spectacular Major Jack Shapka of 386

Squadron, Air Cadets provided an honour guard and an escort for each pilot. The visitors

were entertained by the Air Cadet Band and music they provided drifted into the hangar

and annex and was appreciated by all. Special thanks to the Air Cadets who brought a

touch of pomp and ceremony to our event.

Rob Roy and his team did an excellent job transporting the Spitfire veterans to the hangar

in the heritage military vehicles while the RCMP and the Military Police provided an

escort for the procession. We appreciate their efforts and the veterans loved it.

Many visitors that turned out for the open house brought memorabilia with them

including group photos of Fathers or Grandfathers taken at air bases in England or the

continent during the War. They wanted to share the pride they grew up with knowing

that a loved one had flown Spitfires and had been part of something historic and special.

The restoration team draws a tremendous amount of energy and motivation from these

family members.

The main attraction as always was the veterans; collectively they signed thousands of

autographs and charmed everybody, regrettably former F/L Eric Marsh RAF one of our

invited Spitfire veterans passed away at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital on Friday May

18. He was looking forward to attending the event, to promote the project and to spend

some quality time with the other Spitfire veterans. Eric’s picture will be displayed in the

hangar and we shall share his story with our summer visitors.

If you missed this year’s open house; you missed the premier aviation event on

Vancouver Island this year.

Pat Murphy, Spitfire Volunteer

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THE PAST THREE MONTHS

Snowbirds Visit 2007

Operation Paper Shredder

Garage Sale Photos Ken Oxley

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Canadian Forces Day 2007 Photos Ken Oxley

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Heritage Stones Dedication Ceremony June 2007 Photos Ken Oxley

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