1987
Inspection of aircraft
CF-FAV
Research into aircraft individual and type history - beginning of world-wide
correspondence. Realization of rarity of aircraft.
Ventura Memorial Flight Association formed as non-profit organization to salvage
aircraft CF-FAV. Begin regular meetings.
Visit to George Ventress at his farm near Brighton, Ontario, to discuss Ventura
aircraft he has obtained and scrapped from Crown Assets.
1989
- 1990
Continued meetings
and correspondence. Start of group newsletter.
VMFA registered as charity with Revenue Canada, and with Alberta Corporate Registry.
Feature article on aircraft and recovery in Air Progress Warbirds, Vol. 10,
No. 4.
Movement of wings, engines and other components from Yellowknife to storage
in Edmonton by NWT Air and NWT Transport.
Donation of Ventura parts from Ray Geir, Muir Lake, Alberta
Final cleanup of crash site, included mapping of site and location of items
recovered, sweep of site and debris trail by metal detector, and check of lake
by mask and snorkel.
Join Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society (EAHS), assist in acquiring #11 Hanger
at Municipal Airport from City for museum.
Sent VHS tape of recovery of aircraft to 8 BR reunion.
Continued research into Ventura aircraft, begin gathering documents and tools
required for restoration.
Donation of Ventura and Hudson parts from Ventress farm, courtesy of Mrs. Ventress.
Access to #11 Hanger (ex-BCATP, RCAF 418 Aux. Squadron) for use as museum.
1991
VMFA provided personnel
for cleanup of hanger, installation of sprinkler system, and construction of
Museum and Air Cadet drill hall. VMFA Ventura first aircraft in Museum, used
for publicity.
Included as part of display for 418 Squadron 50th anniversary. VMFA also took
part in several mall displays as part of EAHS to promote new Museum.
Work done on aircraft components by NAIT students.
VMFA recovery featured on video Wings of Change, produced by Prince of Wales
Heritage Centre. Project also featured on CNN news clip.
Visit to Australian War Memorial Historical Flight Ventura (ex RCAF #2221),
Sydney, Australia, by VMFA member.
1992
Besides normal activities
the VMFA also participated in the Airshow '92 display at CFB Namao.
Sent copy of Lockheed Erection and Maintenance Manual and Lockheed Hudson cockpit
section obtained from Ventress farm to Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum via Air
Canada, Toronto.
VMFA member visits site of old Lockheed (Vega) plant, Burbank, California.
Material on recovery sent to reunion of ex-Spartan CF-FAV aircrew in Ottawa.
1993
Complete microfilm
record of Lockheed parts list and drawings obtained from Smithsonian Institute.
Surplus microfilm and microfiche equipment obtained and reconditioned.
Correspondence with Jim Ricketts, Aero Nostalgia and SAAF Historic Flight.
Feature article on RCAF Ventura Anti-Submarine work in VP International -Maritime
Patrol Aviation by VMFA member.
VMFA members attend reunion of VPB-146 in Pensacola, Florida. Collect oral history
on behalf of VMFA and US Naval Aviation Museum
1994
Contact with Louise
Rushton, Merritt, B.C. regarding Ventura parts at her father's farm. Inspection
of site and photographs.
Two expeditions to Busby farm, Merritt, B.C., recovers majority of internal
fittings of RCAF Ventura G.R.V #2179.
Supply information to Public Relations Officer, NAS Whidby Island, Washington,
regarding VPB-146 PV-1 wreck discovered on Mount Baker that summer.
Itemized work plan for disassembly, repair and reassembly of aircraft, based
on Lockheed manuals, completed.
After extended construction work, Air Cadets moved out of VMFA restoration area,
fuselage moved to restoration side of museum.
1995
VMFA moves into permanent
office at EAHS Museum, begin to bring material and equipment to restoration
area. Begin computer inventory of parts recovered from various sites. Mobile
cradle for aircraft built and fuselage mounted, work begins.
Inspection of ex-Spartan airfield at Pelly Lake, NWT by EPS and DIAND as part
of Environmental Impact Assessment. VMFA supplied historical background material
and member as part of inspection team. Photographs of Spartan Ventura and Mosquito
aircraft artifacts taken.
Further oral history work for VMFA and US Naval Aviation Museum done at VPB-146
reunion at NAS Whidby Island, Washington.
Sent copy of Lockheed Illustrated Parts Catalogue to Queensland Air Museum,
Brisbane, Australia, to assist with their restoration to static display of ex-RAAF
Ventura recovered from farm.
1996
Adoption of written
restoration policy.
Join Lockheed Owners Association.
Computerized cross-reference software of Lockheed Illustrated Parts Catalogue,
blueprints and VMFA parts inventory completed.
Attend Allied Aircrew Reunion in Toronto to gather oral history.
Obtained RAAF Ventura files from Australian National Archives.
1997
The VMFA donated
to Jim Ricketts, Aero Nostalgia, Stockton, California, Ventura parts recovered
from Merritt, B.C. to be used in his reconstruction of a PV-1 for the National
Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. These included a spare canopy and
escape hatch, and drop tank mounts.
Accessed the files of the National Archives and the Department of National
Defense, Directorate of History concerning Ventura aircraft in RCAF service.
In so doing, a working relationship established.
Contact established with the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
1998
Obtained all the RCAF
Record Cards of Ventura's in service from the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
Supplied the National Aviation Museum with copies of all armament related manuals
in VMFA library ( 1000 + pages).
Contact made with Mr. D.U. Howard of San Antonio, Texas regarding post-war conversions
of Ventura aircraft.
Ventura 2195's Data plate returned by John Decker. He removed it from the crash
site the 1970's.
First of the Ventura fuel tanks sent to Hartwig Fuel Cell Repair in Winnipeg
Traveled to Eindhoven, Netherlands (Holland) where RCAF flags were placed on
the graves of Canadians killed during a Ventura attack on the local Philips
factory during WWII. Contact made with local historian, Ad Hermens.
R.C.A.F. Greatcoat and Uniform of F/O Keith Irwin Fletcher donated by Kate Fletcher.
1999
Agreement
entered into with SPAR Aerospace and the outer wing panels transferred to their
facility at Hangar 39, Edmonton Downtown Airport.
Received the TA-12C radio and other components. List of applicable radio and
radar equipment developed.
Petsche Wire Company donates all wiring required for the restoration.
Byron Reynolds of the Reynolds - Alberta Transportation Museum in Wetaskiwin
allows access to the museum's old radio storage.
Represented at the VPB-128 Reunion in San Diego, California.
2000
Contact
established and working relationship arranged with the new Government of Nunavut
regarding relatively recent artifacts.
Attend the Aero Survey Reunion in Ottawa and meet many of the ex-Spartan Aerial
Survey personnel. Painting of Spartan crest signed by attendees.
More vintage radios obtained for the restoration.
Lockheed - Martin Corporation allows proprietary rights of "Ventura"
and "PV-1" to VMFA. They also establish a working relationship with
the group by assigning a Technical Representative to the project, based in South
Carolina.
First fuselage patching accomplished by Darren Paches.
Visit to our project made by the Liberal Cabinet Minister, Rt.Hon. Ann McClellan.
Visit to the restoration shops of the National Aviation Museum made. More correspondence
entered into.
2001
First
of donated ASD/APS-3 Aircraft Radar Equipment secured thanks to John Szewcyk
of Michigan, U.S.A.
Rare parts for the tunnel gun position and the radar/radio installation acquired
from Charles Darby in New Zealand.
The book Lockheed Twins is published by Air Britain written by Peter Marson.
He and his wife visit the VMFA at the Hangar prior to the books release.
Joe McBryan, owner of Buffalo Airways, opens his vintage radio stocks to the
Association.
Learstar wing cradles are manufactured and flown to Nanisivik for the Western
Canada Aviation Museum of Winnipeg. Air Freight courtesy of First Air.
Association contacted by the producers of NOVA with the WGBH Educational Foundation,
Public Broadcast Station, Boston, MA. Assistance rendered for the production
of a documentary concerning US Navy Ventura's flying into the Kurile Islands
from Alaska during WWII.
2002
Donated
main radios for the CAF, Wisconsin Wing, PV-2D (BuNo 84060) project
John Swezcyk reconditioned ASD and APS-3A Radar components
Arnold Dayman machines small parts for the Tunnel Gun
Dennis Whitehead drives out from Ontario delivering parts to and from including
donated parts from the Yankee Air Museum
Lancaster rudder pedal set delivered to Nanton Lancaster group
PV-1 book published this year by Alan Carey. It is filled with many pictures
from the VMFA archives.
Association is represented at the VP-142 reunion
Taigh Ramey of Stockton California purchased Ex-RCAF Ventura #2226 and it’s
wartime history was provided of all flights by this aircraft in 115 B.R. service
from Tofino, B.C.
Alberta Aviation Museum Association provided with IPC manuals for Lancaster
and B-25 Mitchell
Member Brian Samuel of Cold Lake continues to recondition original parts
CF-FAV
In the weeds, where we found her.
1988
Regular meetings and
correspondence with Ventura air and ground crew continues.
VMFA catalyst in GNWT legislation of policy for recovery of "relatively
recent artifacts".
Contract agreement with GNWT for recovery of aircraft.
Aircraft registration reserved (CF-ZMR, from wartime squadron code ZM and aircraft
individual letter R).
June 18 - recovery of aircraft by 447 Squadron CH-47 as exercise with 1st Air
Service Battalion, Calgary, with support from VMFA members and NWT Air.
June - August, lift aircraft onto main gear, dismantle by VMFA members with
assistance of NWT Air, Buffalo Air, Conair and RCMP Air Division. Wheels shipped
to Edmonton by NWT Air for servicing. Fuselage moved by road to Giant Mine docks
by Robertson Trucking, lifted onto barge, taken to Hay River by NTCL, and stored
in their yard.
October - Vehicles and equipment arrive in Hay River to tow fuselage to Edmonton.
Stored at CFB Namao
