A collection of over fourty aircraft has grown through the friendship of Dennis J. Bradley and Alan Ness. Their love of aviation and their desire to maintain and preserve Canada's aviation history saw restoration projects that were not only great pieces of workmanship but airworthy examples.
Bradley and Ness approached friends Peter Matthews and John Weir to become partners with them to acquire the first aircraft, a Fairey Firefly. This aircraft was to become the masthead of the museum's advertising and stationery and continues to this day to be incorporated into logos, crests and memorabilia. A tribute to the four flying founders is located in the museum's main entrance.
In 1972, the group moved into part of a hangar at Hamilton Airport and started to seriously seek out other restoration projects or flying aircraft. A Harvard Mark IV was to be the next acquisition, followed over the years by Supermarine Spitfire, Corsair, Chipmunk and Tiger Moth.
Hangar 4, followed years later by Hangar #3 for restoration, was purchased and the aircraft collection and the volunteers finally had a home. The group applied for foundation status, to be governed by its own volunteers, operating as the Canadian Warplane Heritage. Meanwhile, sufficient interest was being shown by those watching the aircraft being restored. More enthusiasts wanted to become part of the growing activities and the membership program began.
1975 saw the collection move into another area in Hangar 4 and the acquisition and restoration began on the B-25 Mitchell. The story of the arrival of this aircraft suggests a strafing of the airfield and the bombing of the runway with watermelons. In the same year, the Westland Lysander and Cessna Crane joined the collection.
It is impossible to compress over 30 years of history into one short story. Many aircraft have joined the collection, or have been traded or sold. Tragedy struck in 1977 at the Canadian International Air Show. Alan Ness lost his life when the Fairey Firefly he was piloting crashed into Lake Ontario. The aircraft would be replaced by another and Ness' memory is carried on through the awarding of the "Alan Ness Memorial Trophy" given annually to a deserving member of the museum.
The most ambitious restoration undertaking to date has been the Avro Lancaster. This aircraft stood guard over the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 in Goderich, Ontario. With the support of the Sulley Foundation, the Lancaster was acquired by Canadian Warplane Heritage in 1977.
There was a tremendous amount of work required to remove the "Lanc" from its concrete pedestal and prepare it for transport to Hamilton. The Canadian Forces accepted the transportation challenge, as a training mission to be performed by 450 Squadron. By moving the Lancaster to Hamilton via a Chinook helicopter airlift, valuable information was obtained by the military on the logistics of transporting large aircraft by helicopter. The aircraft arrived at the museum in 1979 and restoration began. It was not until 1988, that the CWH Lancaster Bomber, dedicated to Andrew Mynarski, VC, flew before 25,000 visitors.
Avro Lancaster
In 1998, the museum celebrated the 10th anniversary of the first flight of this historic aircraft with a Gala Dinner and Dance featuring the Spitfire Band followed by other events throughout the year.
In 1978 the first employee was hired. Although, it is through the world-wide membership of dedicated volunteers, the increasing responsibilities of a year round museum open daily, require full time staff. The staff members work alongside volunteers in every aspect of the museum's day-to-day operations.
Membership in the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is open to all who share an interest in aircraft preservation. Funding for museum projects comes mainly from membership fees, private donations and sponsorships. The Ontario Government through the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, supports the museum through an operating grant. The Canadian Federal Government has recognized the importance of preserving certain aircraft of outstanding historical significance by certifying Canadian Warplane Heritage as a Cultural Property Institution.
On February 15th, 1993, a large part of Hangar 3 was destroyed in a devastating fire. Included in the destruction of the hangar were five museum aircraft, the administrative offices, engineering records and all ground and maintenance equipment. The aircraft lost were the Hawker Hurricane, Grumman TBM Avenger, Auster, Stinson and Supermarine Spitfire. The fire spread quickly, reaching temperatures as high as 3,000 degrees, through the north side of the building requiring the assistance of four fire departments and fifty-five fire-fighters. Volunteers who arrived to lend assistance could only watch helplessly as the fire was fought only a few feet away from the Avro Lancaster. At the time, the Lancaster was sitting on aircraft jacks. With fear that the roof might collapse, it was hours before the decision was made to allow the wheels to be installed and the aircraft removed. Also saved that day were two restoration projects, the Fleet Finch and Bristol Bolingbroke.
The museum battled back to design and build a 108,000 square foot delta-wing shaped building. With the support of the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Works Program, all three levels of government supported a new site that would house all operations of the museum under one roof. It was officially opened by the museum's Patron, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on April 26, 1996.
The museum now houses over fourty aircraft, and also an extensive aviation gift shop and exhibit gallery. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The museum is closed Christmas Day and New Years' Day. Special events take place throughout the year and facilities including the main aircraft exhibit area can be rented for private events.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Group Tours of the facility, with the services of an experienced Tour Guide, are available to groups of twenty persons or more with arrangements made in advance. Many of the groups that visit are school children learning the theory of flight, aircraft design or military history. A visit to the museum is a worthwhile field trip to enhance many areas in the provincial curriculum.
Later,
Kenaz
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