Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial

From the Archives: A “Blood Chit”

Returning servicemen brought home many ‘souvenirs of war’. This small rayon piece of cloth was known as a ‘blood chit’. The instructions for use were printed on the back of the cloth. They were used by airmen flying over ‘Soviet Controlled’ territory. Blood chits continued to be used in war, such as Vietnam and Afghanistan. Some are nation specific such as ‘American’ and were issued in many languages. Some offered rewards to the locals for safe passage.

This ‘chit’ is currently on display in the Brandon Shoppers’ Mall.

submitted by archivist Judith G.

Historic Norseman Aircraft to Fly Again at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) in Brandon, Manitoba, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of three historic Noorduyn Norseman aircraft, including one in flying condition. This exciting addition strengthens CATPM’s mission to showcase the history and legacy of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) and Canadian aviation heritage.

CATPM is proud to share that one of the newly acquired Norseman aircraft is in flying condition. The Museum’s Flying Committee aims to have it operational for summer 2025. Once airborne, CATPM will become only the second museum in Canada to operate a Norseman as part of an active flying programme. The aircraft will be restored to reflect its wartime appearance as part of the BCATP.

“We are honoured to bring these iconic Norseman aircraft home to Brandon,” said Stephen Hayter, Executive Director of CATPM. “This project not only preserves an important piece of our BCATP history but will allow visitors to experience the sights and sounds of a wartime Norseman in flight.”

The CATPM wishes to thank Mr. Dennis Mockford, Mr. Curt Enns of Wings Over Kississing, and our friends at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) for these important acquisitions.

This acquisition builds on a longstanding partnership between the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) and CATPM. It is not the first deaccession from RAMWC to CATPM; the two museums have a long history of collaboration and mutual support in advancing the preservation of Canada’s aviation heritage.

CATPM extends its thanks to the staff at Red Lake Airport, Mr. Gary Pollinuk (Riverside Aircraft), and Mr. Rodney Kozer for their invaluable guidance.

Stay tuned for restoration updates and the public debut in summer 2025!

Some Background on The Norseman

The BCATP was a pivotal Second World War programme that trained over 131,000 aircrew for the Allied war effort. The facilities and industries developed to support the BCATP laid the foundation for Canada’s aviation growth.

The CATPM is dedicated to presenting the aircraft, tools, and facilities that were vital to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. One aircraft long sought for the collection was the Noorduyn Norseman.

First developed in Canada in 1935 by Robert C. Noorduyn, the Norseman was designed as the ultimate bush plane for Canada’s North. With its rugged construction and versatility, it became an iconic Canadian aircraft.

With the onset of war, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) ordered 38 Norseman aircraft for BCATP use, serving in roles such as transport, navigator training, and wireless operator training. Over the course of the war, about 100 Norseman aircraft entered RCAF service. Their durability also made them attractive to the United States military, which acquired nearly 700 for wartime use.

The Norseman remained in RCAF service until the late 1950s and later continued its career in Canada’s North as a preferred bush plane, securing its place in Canadian aviation history.

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is proud to be one of the seven Manitoba Signature Museums, a Manitoba Star Attraction and a National Historic Site.

From the Archives: Will you be my Valentine?

Some of the items that we have in the archives come to us with a story. Like this ladies’ compact; it is made of sterling silver and in embossed with the Badge of the RAAF – The Royal Australian Air Force. Accompanying it were a few photos that told the story of Mike and Helen.

“They met when Helen walked into a friend’s kitchen and there sat Mike at the table eating a banana and drinking whiskey. She remarked on the odd combination and the attraction began.

They planned to marry when he was done his service. Helen told me that he was officially done and waiting to come home. Flu hit the barracks so Mike filled in and was killed. Helen didn’t marry ‘til later in life…..”

Compacts were popular gifts and often came with a promise. Other ‘sweetheart’ gifts were pendants, bracelets and brooches. The badge of the airman’s service could be purchased separately and then a jeweller could put it on the item of choice.

Pillows were also a sweetheart gift but that sweetheart might be the airman’s mother or sister.

submitted by J. Grierson, CATPM Archivist

From the Archives: The Caterpillar Club

You may have heard of the Caterpillar Club. Here, at our museum, we had a volunteer who had such a pin. His life had been saved when he jumped from his aircraft during WW2. His membership then had been issued by the Irvin Parachute Company (see first photo).

In 1922 Leslie Irvin agreed to give a gold pin to every person whose life was saved by one of his parachutes. The caterpillar was used as a name for the club because parachutes were made from silk. At the end of the Second World War the number of members with Irvin pins had grown to over 34,000 though the total of people saved by Irvin parachutes is estimated to be 100,000.

In a similar vein, in the archives, we have a mug issued by Elliott Equipment Limited of Cardiff, U.K. The inscription on the mug (see photo 2) reads “From Elliott Equipment Limited, Cardiff, to commemorate your emergency descent with an Elliott Parachute.” The donor is unknown to us, but I am sure the recipient made good use of it!

by J. Grierson, CATPM Archivist