A special addition
And then there were 10!
As per the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum’s (GMAM) mandate to display aircraft and/ or types flown overseas in the Second World War and from this Valley airbase, the Piasecki/Vertol H-44 Helicopter is the latest addition to the diverse and colourfullydistinct aircraft on public display in the Air Park. The others are the Lancaster, Neptune, Aurora (Arcturus), Argus, Dakota, Labrador, Hercules, Challenger, and Silver Star jet trainers.
Affectionately dubbed the Flying Banana because of its shape, this aircraft was built for Arctic rescue missions and use on the northern Distant Early Warning Stations, the “Dew Line”, with the maiden flight being April 11, 1952.
Built in Morton, Pennsylvania it was powered by a Wright Cyclone 1820 nine-cylinder radial engine, as used on the B-17 Flying Fortress WWII bomber. The airframe is the fourth in a series of tandem-rotor helicopters with the Labrador being the fifth.
Six H-44A helicopters were acquired by the RCAF and were based on the H-21B airframe and had metal rotor blades (unlike the wooden ones of the earlier models) and an advanced transmission. Helicopters with airframe numbers 9591 and 9592 flew here at R.C.A.F. Station Greenwood in the early 1960s by 103 Search and Rescue Squadron. Sister helicopter #9591 was written off in a crash at R.C.A.F. Station Chatham, N.B. in 1968.
On a trip to Wetaskiwin, Alta. Bob Johnson, then GMAM general manager, recognized the distinct colour scheme of an R.C.A.F. aircraft, as well as the side number #9592, as being linked to Greenwood and was instrumental in acquiring this newest display aircraft. The forward section and extra transmissions and rotor heads were trucked to Greenwood in the summer of 2012, and the next year saw the two rear sections arrive, one rear section to be used for parts. After a workshop reorganization and the forward and aft sections “shoe horned” under cover in the workshop, the actual reconstruction project began June 17, 2014. This new museum addition is the actual aircraft aft section, side number 9592, coupled with a U.S. Army H-21C forward section; these were joined to form the new 9592 on display. The forward section of 9592 was destroyed in a northern accident. Over four years of dedicated work were spent by a team of GMAM volunteers in bringing the aircraft back to its former glory.
Corrosion around the engine bay posed the first major task, necessitating the removal and replacement of five large side panels, requiring drilling out and replacing hundreds of rivets. Many fibreglass sections along the top and tail were replaced with more durable aluminum, where possible, while distinct curved shapes were fortified with extra fibreglass. Many other holes and tears were repaired, all glass was replaced with durable Lexan and many parts had to be manufactured.
The formal transfer of the H-44 from the restoration crew to the Wing will take place next spring. A special invitation is extended to those who flew or worked on this type of venerable aircraft; anyone can make themselves known to members of the restoration crew who can reunite them with the aircraft and hear their H-44 memories.
Soon to come out of the museum workshop is a Bolingbroke/Blenheim, and the next restoration, already started, is a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor.
Jackie McPhee was in for a big surprise recently.
During a recently held regular meeting of the Rags to Riches Rug Hooking group, McPhee, of Harbourville, received an honorary membership award and roses for her significant contribution to the craft of rug hooking. This award was from the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia and was presented by a couple of the ladies from the guild. McPhee was recognized especially for encouraging many beginners of the art.
The following day, at the Centreville group, they recognized her efforts again. McPhee has been rug hooking for 30 years. She only recently returned from Ontario where she was visiting family.
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Janet Boates, of Harmony, a member of the Rags to Riches Rug Hooking group, recently received an award for artist of the year for Canada from the Hubbards Museum. Her works were on display there all summer. Recently, there was a hook-in at the museum with 60 to 70 artisans and several members of the group from this area attended.
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Oct. 24 was our last full moon. It was called the Hunter’s Moon. Not that hunters are allowed to hunt by the full of the moon, but it’s the season for hunting.
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There were six tables of 45s in play at the South Berwick Com-