RCAF History Forum

This forum has been developed to discuss aviation related topics.

Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog

Post Reply
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G`day

Here is a Lockheed Hudson Mk. III, s/n BW709 and coded Z4. It was taken on strength with the R.C.A.F's Eastern Air Command on the 17th of February, 1942 The aircraft was then transferred to the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Operational Training Unit at Debert, Nova Scotia.
No. 31 O.T.U. was part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and tasked with training general reconnaissance crews. After a period of time being stored at R.C.A.F. Station Moncton as War Reserve, Hudson BW709 would go on to serve with No. 4 Composite Flight which was later re-designated as Eastern Air Command Composite Flight at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. On the 1st of April, 1946, the aircraft was designated APDAL – Aircraft Pending Disposal at Location at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth. It was struck off strength with the R.C.A.F. on the 26th of May, 1948 and became the responsibility of of War Assets.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Attachments
HudsonZ$.jpg
HudsonZ$.jpg (34.13 KiB) Viewed 5516 times
Old Dog Flying
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1259
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:18 pm

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Old Dog Flying »

A few Hudsons were converted to VIP transports as depicted here in miniature..1:48 scale. This aircraft served on the West coast and it is interesting to note that at one period during the war, all serial numbers were removed to confuse the Japanese spies.

The Smedley bit is a reinactment of a bit of shit that I dropped myself into while based at Downsview

Barney

Image
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G`day

Here is Vickers Viking IV. It wears the Canadian government registration G-CYEZ. The Viking IV was intended as a replacement for the Curtiss HS-2L flying boat. It was a British design already in production by the parent company in England. Vickers shipped the first two aircraft to Canada without engines, while Canadian Vickers of Montreal, Quebec built the remaining six. They were all destined for military service in Canada. The Viking IV was powered by the 350 horsepower Rolls Royce Eagle VIII instead of the standard 450 horsepower Napier Lion. It was used for economic reasons. This limited the five-seat aircraft to only the pilot and two other people.

The aircraft experienced other problems including the aircraft's hull. Just in to its third year of operation, one aircraft had its hull split in two after a wing tip float dug in. Another hull broke in two during take-off while a third disintegrated while in flight killing the three onboard. The aircraft performed well after modifications to the hull were made by strengthening it.

The Viking IV was initially used primarily in aerial survey with a secondary transport role. With the introduction of the Canadian Vickers Vedette and Fairchild FC-2 into R.C.A.F. service, the Viking IV was relegated to a a pure transport role.

G-CYEZ's acceptance flight took place on the 19th of November, 1923. It served with the following units:

Air Board at Victoria Beach, Manitoba

No. 1 (Operations) Wing in Manitoba

No. 5 (Operations) Squadron, a sub-unit of No. 1 (Operations) Wing

Transport Flight – Winnipeg Air Station.

Viking IV, G-CYEZ was struck off strength with the R.C.A.F. on the 28th of September, 1930.

The last Viking IV was struck off strength on the 4th of May, 1931.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Attachments
EZ1.jpg
EZ1.jpg (91.97 KiB) Viewed 5485 times
EZ.jpg
EZ.jpg (73.5 KiB) Viewed 5485 times
krashguard
Rank 0
Rank 0
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:21 pm

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by krashguard »

Moose47 wrote:G'day

Here is an R.C.A.F. pilot sitting in the left seat of a Handley Page Halifax.

No other information available.

Cheers...Chris
Chris, This a photo of Wing Commander Bill Swetman, who was the youngest ever Wingco in the RCAF with 426 Squadron. I believe Bill is still alive and living in the London, ON area
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day

Thank you so much for identifying him.

J15176 Wing Commander (promoted to the rank on the 1st of October, 1944) William Herbert Swetman from Montreal, Quebec, received the Distinguished Flying Cross while with No. 405 'Vancouver' (B) Squadron (effective the 16th of June 1942) and the Distinguished Service Order with with No. 426 'Thunderbird' (B) Squadron (effective the 25th of March, 1944). Swetman commanded the Thunderbirds at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire from the 18th of August, 1943 to the 4th of April, 1944.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day Folks

Time for a little quiz.

I recently posted two photos of an R.C.A.F. Viking IV, G-CYEZ.

Who knows where the photos were taken?

Just to give you a chance, the aircraft was based in Manitoba.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Old Dog Flying
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1259
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:18 pm

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Old Dog Flying »

Lac du Bonnet
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day Barney

Good guess but, NO!

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
YYZSaabGuy
Rank 8
Rank 8
Posts: 851
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:32 am
Location: On glideslope.

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by YYZSaabGuy »

Gonna take a wild-assed guess here and suggest Gimli (more latterly CFS Gimli), on Lake Winnipeg.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day

Sorry not anywhere near Gimli )-:

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day

Today's hint - Phalacrocorax

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
YYZSaabGuy
Rank 8
Rank 8
Posts: 851
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:32 am
Location: On glideslope.

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by YYZSaabGuy »

Moose47 wrote:G'day

Today's hint - Phalacrocorax

Cheers...Chris
So it's gotta be Cormorant, Lake Manitoba (N54, 14 W100, 36 per my CFS).
---------- ADS -----------
 
iflyforpie
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 8132
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:25 pm
Location: Winterfell...

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by iflyforpie »

I haven't seen it anywhere on here so I am sorry if it has been posted already, but there is a really neat film on the National Film Board's website called Canada's Air Defence. It's a really cool vignette of what the RCAF was in the 1950s from the perspective of a CF-100 crew.

http://www.nfb.ca/film/canadas_air_defence/
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
YYZSaabGuy
Rank 8
Rank 8
Posts: 851
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:32 am
Location: On glideslope.

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by YYZSaabGuy »

iflyforpie wrote:I haven't seen it anywhere on here so I am sorry if it has been posted already, but there is a really neat film on the National Film Board's website called Canada's Air Defence. It's a really cool vignette of what the RCAF was in the 1950s from the perspective of a CF-100 crew. http://www.nfb.ca/film/canadas_air_defence/
Good find, IF - I enjoyed that one. Thanks for posting it.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day Rolph

You get a free fish for getting the right answer.

Bon Apetit!

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day Pie

I have seen that film before. Thanx for posting it.

I'll be making you a coconut creme pie this afternoon. You can fly in anytime after 17:00 today to pick it up.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G`day

In the mid-1950's, the R.C.A.F. conducted a series of tests on this Otter fitted with retractable landing gear. It was hoped that it would help increase the airspeed by as much as 10 knots. After four incidents of gear failure, engineers proclaimed the test program a dismal failure and further development plans were shelved. Just kidding!

Here we have a de Havilland of Canada Limited DHC-3 Otter, s/n 3672 and coded MN*672 from R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario-based No. 408 'Goose' (P) Squadron. It was accepted into service on the 11th of December, 1953 by the R.C.A.F.`s No. 12 Technical Services Unit located at the de Havilland`s plant in Downsview, Ontario. The aircraft sustained Category 'A' damage after a rather hard landing at R.C.A.F. Unit Fort Churchill, Manitoba on the 26th of April, 1954. On the 19th of May, 1954, authorization was given to write-off Otter 3672 and have it reduced to spares and produce.

No. 408 'Goose' (P) Squadron used the Otter in support of photographic operations from February, 1953 to September, 1957. As well as providing logistical support, Otters were used to fly in maintenance personnel to ground based stations affilaited with the short range navigation system (SHORAN) The SHORAN stations were used for geodetic control in aerial phtography in Canada's far north and arctic regions flown by the squadron's Avro Lancasters.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Attachments
Otteruc.jpg
Otteruc.jpg (28.81 KiB) Viewed 6554 times
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day

This is a Douglas DB-1 Digby, s/n 740 and coded PB-L

It was taken on strength with the R.C.A.F. at Ottawa, Ontario on the 30th of December, 1939, It spent a short time at R.C.A.F. Station Trenton prior to being transferred to Eastern Air Command's No. 10 (BR) Squadron at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on the 17th of June, 1940. The squadron`s un-official title was 'North Atlantic Squadron' and its nickname 'Dumbo'.

Eastern Air Command's first attack against a German U-Boat took place on the 25th of October, 1941. Digby 740 flown by C196 Squadron Leader Clare Levi Annis from Highland Creek, Ontario, who was also E.A.C.`s armament officer, Annis and his crew dropped a pair of 600 pound depth charges over the U-Boat but unfortunately they did not explode. This attack was also the first against the enemy by a North American based aircraft. Annis would go on to command the squadron not once but twice during the war.

No. 10 (BR) Squadron provided a detachment of three Digbys with crews including 740 with No. 164 Transport Squadron`s formation at R.C.A.F. Station Moncton, New Brunswick. The detachment lasted from the 24th of January to the 22nd of March, 1943.

The Digbys were withdrawn from service with No. 10 (BR) Squadron in April, 1943. They were replaced by the Consolidated Liberator. In May, 1943, Digby 740 was transferred to Eastern Air Command`s No. 167 (Communications) Squadron. The squadron was based at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Digby 740 was transferred to No. 4 Repair Depot at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmout, Nova Scotia on the 18th of November, 1943. It was immediately put in to War Reserve. Digby 740 was time expired and as a result, written off on the 16th of May, 1944 reduced to spares and produce.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Attachments
Digby740.jpg
Digby740.jpg (33.46 KiB) Viewed 6450 times
Moose47
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1346
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by Moose47 »

G'day

This photo shows a Noorduyn Norseman Mk. IV, s/n 366 and coded AP*V from No. 413 'Tusker`(ST) Squadron. This survey and transport squadron was part of Air transport Command`s No. 22 (Photographic) Wing and based at R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. The Norsemans were used by the squadron to provide logistical support and light transport for survey teams in Canada`s far north from April, 1947 to October, 1950.

R.C.A.F. Norseman 366 was a Lend-Lease aircraft. It was originally U.S.A.A.F. s/n 43-5284 and designated as a UC-64. This Norseman was taken on strength with the R.C.A.F. on the 6th of December, 1943 where it served with Western Air Command`s Northwest Staging Route Communications Flight based at R.C.A.F. Station Edmonton, Alberta. It sustained Category 'C' damage at Edmonton on the 9th of June 1944 while with No. 6 Communications Flight. It later served with the Station Flight at R.C.A.F. Station Edmonton Norseman 366 was transferred to Transport Command`s No. 413 'Tusker' (ST) Squadron on the 13th of April, 1948. During its time with the squadron, it took part in No. 10 Geodetic Survey Detachment in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory.

Norseman 366 was then transferred to No. 408 'Goose' (P) Squadron at R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe, Ontario on the 1st of May, 1951. It was coded AK*T. On the 9th of June, 1953 it was transferred to No. 111 Communications & Rescue Flight at R.C.A.F. Station Winnipeg, Manitoba

On the 16th of December, 1953, the aircraft was put into storage at R.C.A.F. Station Lincoln Park , Calgary, Alberta.. It was sold to Noorduyn Aviation Limited on the 25th of November, 1955. In 1956, it was sold to Canadian Structural Steel Works and registered as CF-INL.

Cheers...Chris
---------- ADS -----------
 
Attachments
413Norseman.jpg
413Norseman.jpg (75.73 KiB) Viewed 6394 times
linecrew
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1887
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:53 am
Location: On final so get off the damn runway!

Re: RCAF History Forum

Post by linecrew »

Neat. I was curious about where RCAF station Lincoln Park used to be in Calgary and after a brief Google Earth search I found it. The old hangar line is still visible at N51 00' 52.91 W114 07 31.90. Mount Royal University is located on what used to be the airfield.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Post Reply

Return to “General Comments”