Planning to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September is Edmonton’s non-profit 700 Wing RCAF Association and the Alberta Aviation Museum. “The battle saw the Royal Air Force (RAF) thwart the invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany from July 10 to Oct. 31, 1940,” said Erwin Loewen, immediate past-chairman of 700 […]

Nick Lees: Edmonton aviation groups throttle ahead in plans for Battle of Britain celebrations — Edmonton Journal

Dear Lindsey, My dad called that fall and said, “If I were to go to a fly-in fishing lodge up in northernmost Canada, would you consider going with me?” I replied, “In a heartbeat!” At 82, he knew it might be a once-in-a-lifetime, and I was so grateful for the opportunity. Like listening to a […]

The Heartbeat of Fishing with Dad — Letters to Lindsey

Research by Clarence Simonsen Calgary Municipal Airport Click on the link above Excerpt Calgary TCA “McCall Field” and the Canadian “Speedbirds” Undated color Post Card image was likely taken in postwar, showing [background north] No. 4 Hangar used by the RAF from 18 June 1941 to 10 March 1944. The white [with blue trim] painted […]

Calgary Municipal Airport (PDF version) — Preserving the Past II

Be sure to check out Pierre Gillard’s wonderful aviation blog. Keep up to date with what’s going on anywhere from St. Hubert to points around the world where Pierre travels: http://www.pierregillard.com/blog/index.html How are the airlines doing these days? Here is a very good overview: OPINION: Aviation is being reshaped, and governments are in control How […]

The Book Is Alive (No Apologies) + New Projects + Surviving in Canadian Book Publishing + A Reminder about the Ultimate history of the Bell 47+ A340s in Formation + Pandemics Today and Yesterday — CANAV Books Blog

In January 2006 the great Fred Hotson handed over part of his archives to me, including what he had of the Al Martin aviation photo collection — prints, negatives and transparencies. Fred had retrieved Al’s collection from a garage in BC, and earlier had shared it with me, as I researched for what in 1997 […]

Light Planes: Al Martin’s Photographic Handiwork from the 1950s + Some Reader Reaction — CANAV Books Blog

In part 1, we saw how 4 Group had been operating mainly Whitleys from Leeming, and how the squadrons here had taken a beating in the European skies. Now, following the departure of the last elements of 10 Sqn. in August 1942, Leeming was all but empty, and ready to be handed over to the […]

RAF Leeming Part 2 – The Canadians arrive. — Aviation Trails

It left Calgary some seven years ago, its majestic 12-metre wingspan packed into dust-covered boxes like discarded puzzle pieces, which gave little hint of its former airborne glory. On Wednesday, the Second World War-era Hawker Hurricane finally returned home after an odyssey that began more than a decade ago, arriving in Calgary just before midnight, […]

After a long and winding flight path, Calgary’s Hurricane fighter comes home — Calgary Herald