Aviation
There have been many instances of incredible acts of bravery and bizarre cases of survival that would normally seem impossible. Flt. Sgt. Nicholas Alkemade falling from 18,000ft without a parachute is just one of very many. Another such remarkable event occurred on May 3rd 1943, when twelve Lockheed Venturas attacked a Dutch Power Station near […]
Sgt. William Stannard – 487 Sqn RAF – Miraculous Escape — Aviation Trails
Hundreds of you have been enjoying our recent item covering the wonderful photos of the great Al Martin. Here’s another of Al’s always-interesting shots. So far as we know, only two Miles Gemini light twins ever came to Canada. One (G-AJKS) returned to the UK, the other became CF-HVK. Al spotted “JKS” at Toronto Island Airport some time around 1950. Here’s the story:
First flown in 1945, the Miles Gemini 4-seat light twin looked promising. Then, as the initial surge in postwar Great Britain’s recovery cooled, Miles folded in 1947. About 150 Geminis were built. Initially, G-AJKS came across on a Miles demo tour. Its arrival was impressive, since it came aboard the RCN aircraft carrier, HMCS Warrior. Once Warrior was about 20 miles off Nova Scotia, demo pilot, Jim Nelson (an ex-RAF American), flew the little Gemini off the deck to Halifax. Can you imagine pulling off such a…
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There have been many instances of incredible acts of bravery and bizarre cases of survival that would normally seem impossible. Flt. Sgt. Nicholas …
Sgt. William Stannard – 487 Sqn RAF – Miraculous Escape
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
