11/15/2023 0 Comments Player 2 helldivers accident![]() Molson in Canadian Aircraft since 1909 (another seminal CCF sourcebook), CCF turned out 52 G-23s, most of which were exported to Spain for use by communist forces against Franco’s fascists. ![]() But, by the eve of WWII only the G-23 had succeeded. CCF did, however, build prototypes of the advanced Gregor biplane fighter, and a biplane trainer known as the Maple Leaf. CCF also considered building a large passenger plane based on Burnelli’s flying wing concept, but this did not go beyond a mock-up (a smaller version was built in 1945, but that went nowhere, see Air Transport in Canada). The first fighter built in Canada, the G-23 flew initially at Fort William’s Bishopsfield aerodrome in February 1938. Also, in CANAV’s 2018 book, Aviation in Canada: Fighter Pilots and Observers 1915-1939, I cover how Canadian Car and Foundry, having begun at Fort William in 1912, established an aviation division there in 1936 to assemble the obsolete Grumman G- 23 biplane fighter for foreign sale. It’s out of print, but a copy occasionally pops up for sale on the web. Other sources? Keep an eye out for Gordon Burkowski’s 1990 book, CanCar History. This is a book for any serious follower of Canada’s great aviation heritage. What about the region’s particular aviation heritage? Your No.1 source is the marvelous Jim Lysun book, Aviation in Thunder Bay, published by the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society This book is much more than a general treatment, but digs below the surface from pre-WWI to modern times. ![]() of the Lakehead in the published literature (books are your chief source of knowledge if you are as on the ball as I hope you are), then such other sources as Wiki. You should look into the basic history, geography, etc. The Lakehead also had a thriving forest industry, with huge mills turning out paper products and lumber and supported much of the mining in the vast surrounding hinterland. There it was stored in the elevators lining the waterfront, then shipped down the Great Lakes for Canadian, US and international markets. They also were vital in Canadian agriculture, with the railroads annually carrying millions of bushels of prairie grain east to the “Lakehead” cities. ![]() Since the 19th Century, they have manufactured such products as Great Lakes freighters, railway rolling stock, busses and airplanes. The twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur (today’s Thunder Bay) at the head of Lake Superior have a long, proud history as progressive industrial centres. Background to the Canadian Car and Foundry Story Other Helldivers were built by Fairchild of Canada at Longueuil, near Montreal. More than 800 Helldivers would roll off this line in 1943-45. Notice the plane’s massive Wright R-2600 engine. If there were any identifying serial numbers showing on a Helldiver at this stage, as a rule the dark room gurus in CCF’s photography department would dodge them out for security reasons. Kells, Shop Superintendent, on his right.” Then, a closer view of one of the planes. Those in foreground are checked and inspected. The official CCF caption for this photo reads, “Every day three planes come off the line. Such glorious factory scenes give the impression of stretching to the horizon. The impressive Curtiss SB2C/SBW Helldiver final line at Fort William in 1944. ![]()
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