Warbird Information Exchange

Date: Mon Jan 5 10:51:16 2009
Subject: PUBLIC SESSIONS ON CITY OWNED AIRCRAFT
From: Bonnie Tucker

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CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
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Your Opinion Matters

The City of Calgary will host two public sessions to seek
input on what steps to take regarding two antique aircraft
owned by The City.

The City has custody of the aircraft, a de Havilland Mosquito
and a Hawker Hurricane, but neither is in any condition to be
displayed at the Aero Space Museum of Calgary. Restoration
could cost in the millions of dollars.

The de Havilland Mosquito (P.R. Mk. 35 Serial #RS700 CF-HMS)
was built in the UK in 1946. It never saw action in WW II,
but was converted by the Royal Air Force from bomber to photo
-reconnaissance service for 8 years. Along with 9 others, the
Mosquito was sold to Spartan Air Services of Ottawa in 1956
where it saw commercial service as a photo-mapping aircraft
primarily in Canada’s north. Logs for this aircraft show last
active use in 1960.

The Mosquito was donated to The City of Calgary in 1972 and,
except for a failed attempt at restoration between 1989 -
1992, it has been in City storage in pieces for the past 36
years.

The Hawker Hurricane (Mk XII Serial # 5389 FN*M) was built in
Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1942. Initially assigned to No. 4
Training Command at Calgary, Alberta, it was then assigned to
No. 133 (Fighter) Squadron at Lethbridge, Alberta. On October
26, 1942 the aircraft was relocated to RCAF Station Boundary
Bay, British Columbia where it flew Home Defense missions for
Western Air Command. On August 20, 1946 the aircraft was
retired from RCAF service.

Little is known of its subsequent history until it was found
in Saskatchewan and brought to Calgary to be a part of the
“Air Museum of Canada” in the early 1960s. It subsequently
became the property of the City of Calgary in the 1970s and
has been in storage in pieces since then.

The City will host two public information sessions at the
Aero Space Museum of Calgary, 4629 McCall Way NE, on January
6 and January 7, 2009, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Members of the
public will be able to learn about the aircraft and the
options open to The City regarding these aircraft. Citizens
will be asked to express their opinions on the various
options and those opinions will form the basis of a
recommendation to Council later in the year.

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Public Contact Information:

311

Public Email Contact:

3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca

Donate them to the CWH!!!!!!

I would like to see them listed with Provenance or Courtesy aircraft and sold for the best cash price for the museum.