Windsor, The Canadian Aviation Museum.
Founded in 1994 as the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association (CH2A), Group Box 40, Airport Road.
The Objective of the Association is to encourage, foster, preserve and maintain history, knowledge and awareness of all types of aircraft built, flown, or otherwise used within, or of historical importance to Canada and its Provinces and Territories, including aircraft used by Canadians in other parts of the world in their role as military, private or commercial aviators in the service of, or representing Canada.
Web site: Canadian Aviation Museum
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584699)
Avro Lancaster Mk. 10, RCAF (Serial No. 212), coded AK-A, No. 408 (P) Squadron, 26 Aug 1952.
(DND Photo via James Craik)
Avro Lancaster Mk. 10MR (Serial No. FM212), coded AK-A, No. 408 (P) Squadron.
(John Meneely Photo, 1995)
Avro Lancaster Mk. 10MR (Serial No. FM212), coded EQ-W, built at Victory Aircraft in Malton, Ontario as a Mk. 10. FM212 was retained in Canada during the war. Modified to Mk. 10P (Photographic Survey), No. 408 Squadron, coded MN. Part of the second production batch to 130 aircraft ordered from Victory Aircraft Limited, Malton, Ontario. Serial numbers in this batch included FM100-FM229. Aircraft were equipped with Packard built Rolls-Royce Merlin 28, 38 or 224 engines. This Lancaster has been renamed “Bad Penny”, coded SR-N, to commemorate the first RAF Lancaster to fly into Holland during “Operation Manna” to save the Dutch from starvation in the closing days of the Second World War, 29 April 1945. Returned to factory, by then owned by Avro Canada, in 1948 and converted to a Mk. 10P. Served with No. 9 Squadron, No. 418 Squadron and No. 408 Squadron. Struck off charge on 9 October 1964. Stored at RCAF Station Dunnville, Ontario. Sold to the City of Windsor, Ontario and moved on a barge. Placed on display on a concrete pylon in Jackson Park. On 29 April, 2007 (to coincide with the 62nd anniversary of Operation Manna) FM212 was removed from storage in Jackson Park and towed to the Sears parking lot of Devonshire where it was on display and open for tours through the aircraft. On 13 May 2007, FM212 was towed from Devonshire Mall to Windsor Airport where it is on display and undergoing extensive restoration to return the aircraft back to a flight worthy status over the next few years.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582154)
Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, RCAF (Serial No. FD975), 29 Apr 1942.
(CAM Photo)
Boeing-Stearman A75N1/PT-17 Kaydet (Serial No. 75-2730), N2S2, CF-APG, C/N 75-3860), 1941.
(Members of the CH2A Photo)
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star (Serial No. 133299).
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650674)
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito B Mk. XX, RCAF (Serial No. KB174), T, No. 8 Operational Training Uunit.
(Members of the CH2A Photo)
de Havilland Canada DH.98 Mosquito Mk. XX (Serial No. KB161). The original Mosquito KB161 was a Mosquito Mk. XX manufactured by de Havilland’s Canadian subsidiary in Downsview, Ontario. The first five Canadian-built Mosquitoes arrived in Hatfield, England in the middle of August 1943. KB161, “Vancouver”, was one of the first to land on English soil.
KB161 took part in its first raid on 2 Dec 1943, an attack on Berlin and was flown by Canadian pilot G.W. Salter. The aircraft was allocated to No. 139 Squadron flying from RAF Wyton until Feb 1944 and then RAF Upwood airfield, Huntingdonshire. On the 11th of May 1944, the squadron was involved in bombing operations at Mannheim and Ludwigshaven, where the target was the I.G. Farben chemical works. It was piloted by F/O G.W. Lewis and Navigator F/O A.J.A. Woollard. KB161, coded XD-H, was tasked to drop a pattern of Target Indicator flares. On returning from the mission, it was found that one flare had not dropped correctly and was lodged in the bomb-bay. It ignited and caught fire to the belly of the aircraft. F/O Woollard was able to bale out with the help of Pilot Lewis, who was himself not able to escape. The aircraft soon crashed. KB161 had also become the first Canadian-built Mosquito to be destroyed in Bomber Command service.
(Members of the CH2A Photo)
de Havilland Canada CT-120 Chipmunk (Serial No. 18017), 151/189, CF-CYR, painted as 017.
(Members of the CH2A Photo)
de Havilland Canada CT-120 Chipmunk (Serial No. 18054), 192/230, CF-BNM, painted as 054.
Fairchild 24R Argus (Serial No. 4809). CH2A’s 1946 Fairchild 24R was donated by the previous owner to the association. He had purchased it from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, who had restored the aircraft to airworthy status and painted it in its current RCAF markings. The paint scheme commemorates one of only two Argus’ taken on strength by the RCAF in the Second World War. Argus 4809 served at RCAF Station Rockcliffe from November 1940 until October 1945. The other Fairchild 24H, registered as 699, was struck off strength in December 1942.
Canadian Car and Foundry Harvard Mk. IV (Serial No. 20382), C-FVIJ, built in 1952 at Fort William, Ontario, this aircraft is one of 270 built for the RCAF.
Windsor, CH2A, Mosquito Bomber Group, CH2A, Airport Rd.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650675)
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito B Mk. 25, RCAF (Serial No. KB380), R, No. 8 OTU.
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito B Mk. 35 (Serial No. TA661), CF-HMR, partial airframe.