In summer, a historic hangar that was part of #10 Service Flying Training School (10 SFTS) in Dauphin, Manitoba collapsed. Rather than simply knocking the structure down and disposing of the materials, Troy Angus from “The Den” based in Pierson was contracted to dismantle the building. The Den is a business that supplies “barnwood that is sourced from rural resources. This process has begun and the materials will be repurposed rather than dumped in a landfill. The Den is rescuing some original windows form the hangar and is donating them to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum – housed in a similar structure. The windows will be put to good use by the museum and we are grateful for this donation! You can read more about this project in the following article from the Dauphin Herald.
A New Year Message
The following is a message to all of our supporters and volunteers as we enter 2024, from Museum President, John McNarry.
A New Calendar year is ahead of us. The past year was interesting and challenging.
We have a lot more challenges to meet as we move forward with the Museum.
It will be a busy and interesting year.
I want to personally thank you all for your support and dedication to the CATPM.
I hope you find the year to be rewarding as we continue in our efforts to preserve the story of the BCATP as well as the memory of those who sacrificed so much that we can enjoy living as we do. Happy New Year to all.
Thank you for supporting the CATPM.
John McNarry.
The Brandon Sun Archives
Back in the first week of October 2023, I had been talking with the Brandon General Museum and Archives, and Matt Goerzen of the Brandon Sun about saving the Brandon Sun’s Archives. The Brandon Sun’s new location does not have space for the original newspapers, and while the Legislative Library has expressed interest the archives was soon to go to the landfill. Our Archivist, Judith, and myself had taken a look and felt we could at least save 1900 to 1950, this would cover WWI and WWII. The Brandon Sun also provided the shelving to store the newspapers. At the time, depending on the number of volunteers we felt we may be able to save more, perhaps volumes which include our museum’s history. Opportunities like this do not happen often and it would be been a shame to see Brandon’s history go to the landfill. In the end we had a great crew of volunteers. It was decided that temporarily we would use a space in the east lean-to of the hangar. Certainly not a permanent home but at least the opportunity to keep it safe, and the resulting time will hopefully mean a permanent home. In the end we saved it all, something we can all be happy about!
This is an article from the Brandon Sun about this acquisition
submitted by Stephen Hayter, Museum Executive Director
Gift Ideas at the Tiger Moth Gift Shop!
As you know, we are closed over the winter, however, staff and volunteers are still at wok. Likewise, our gift store has a wide selection of great items as the Christmas season is upon us! If you are interested in making a purchase, just call the museum and we can either have the items ready for you to come by and pick up, or make an appointment to come in and look around. We have toys, clothing (t-shirts, jackets, hoodies), hats, mugs, RCAF 100th anniversary items, glassware and coasters, jigsaw puzzles, books – new and used, model kits, clocks, and so much more! Take a look at the photos below for some of the items we have. Great gifts and stocking stuffers!
Call or email – weekdays from 9:30 – 3:30! (204) 727-2444 or airmuseum@inetlink.ca
A New Donation: Bolingbroke
Recently the museum came in possession of sections of a BCATP Bolingbroke airplane. Here is the story from museum volunteer and incoming Flying Committee chair, Jeff Bell:
The Bolingbroke came to us via way of an email from an RCAF helicopter pilot/instructor operating out of Portage/Southport, MB. While on a training mission, the pilot spotted the aircraft in a bluff of trees. Upon landing, he provided the GPS coordinates to the CATPM.
With these coordinates, we were able to track down the land owner, and a meeting was arranged with the museum and the land owner. The aircraft was accessed and assessed during this meeting.
The aircraft had been moved to the site by a distant relative, who purchased the aircraft from Crown Assets after the war in 1946. The relative was apparently most interested in getting the tires off of it. During the war, tires were rationed, so many farmers bought airplanes to simply get the tires. The aircraft was purchased from RCAF Station McDonald, and was pulled to the site with the wings still attached.
The aircraft was largely picked over when it was located. The center section was damaged due to how it was sitting. Unfortunately, some previous souvenir hunters had removed much of the rear/upper fuselage at some point in the past.
We were able to remove the remaining items, which will add considerably to our Bolingbroke project in the future.
The museum is grateful to the landowner, and the RCAF for assisting in the location of this artifact!
Museum President, John McNarry noted that there the fuselage is mostly cut away so there are no side serial numbers. The centre section, other than landing gear, is badly hacked up as well. He also noted that under the yellow, the paint on the cockpit sides was camouflage.
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial 