Aviation and Heritage Roundup December 2025
Provided by Paul Squires, CAPA-ACCA Contact, Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Latest from CANAV Press
CANAV Books Blog | The first and last word in Canadian aviation publishing since 1981
The Aerodynamics site has been rejuvenated. Here are some of the books they have reviewed that may be of interest to you for reading or for your Museum Giftshop:
British, Dominions and US Wings: Air War Over Greece 1940–1950 Out Soon
Bomber Crew Morale in WW2: New Book Reveals How RAF Airmen Faced Impossible Odds
Dakotas Unleashed: 46 Group’s D-Day to VE Day Heroics Detailed in New Book
Flying Shuttleworth Aircraft: New Edition of “From Bleriot to Spitfire” Released in US
Double Sunrise: How Qantas Reopened Australia’s Severed Air Route to Britain in WWII
Note this book is titled How Qantas re-opened the route to England, but the RCAF 413 Squadron actually made the initial flights, which I hope it mentions!
Unveiling Okinawa 1945: Dive into the Royal Navy’s Epic Carrier Campaign
Many RCN pilots were involved in this campaign as well.
Workhorse Wellingtons: New Polish Wings Volume Showcases Poland’s WWII Bomber Squadrons
Now Available For Pre-Order: Part 2 of Series on Vickers Wellington
Volunteer Aces: Examining the Part-Time Pilots Who Helped Win the Battle of Britain
DC-3’s Epic Milestone: 90 Glorious Years Soars Onto US Shelves!
New Book Documents the Fascinating Story of Spitfire R6644 and its Pilots
Gardening with Bombs: New Book Reveals RAF’s Secret WWII Campaign
And from Osprey Publishing:
The Hump 1942–45: America’s first massive military airlift: Air Campaign Mark Lardas Osprey Publishing – Osprey
And books on Space:
The Space Review: Space books! Get your space books! New space books you can get for Christmas
And some plastic model kit reviews of interest to Canadians:
Airfix Releases New Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA Model Kit
LukGraph’s Upcoming Grumman Goose Has Stunning Interior Detail
First Look: Airscale Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib Test Build
LukGraph to Release Fully 3D Printed, 1/48 Westland Wapiti Kit
Jan. 5 – Radio interference grounds flights in Greece
Massive Interference Forces Temporary Closure of Greek Airspace – Aviation News
Jan. 4 – Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ update
Avro Lancaster B.VII NX611 ‘Just Jane’ – Restoration Update 250 – Vintage Aviation News
Jan. 3 – Interesting background on the Lysander, with an interesting title of ‘Deadly night fighter’
How an Awkward WWII Aircraft Became a Deadly Night Fighter
Jan. 3 – Air India pilot grounded in Vancouver, fails alcohol test
Pre-Flight Alcohol Test Grounds Air India Pilot in Canada – Aviation News
Jan. 1 – Happy 2026 from Hush-Kit
Happy New Year! Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes Vol 2 update coming & what is going in Hush-Kit world | Hush-Kit Aviation World
Dec. 31 – Calgary Attractions (including Hangar and Military Museums)
Calgary has more history than you think! — Everyday Tourist
Dec. 31 – The ‘race to sell the most accurate model of the Fw-190D-9’ goes on.
IBG to Release New Jagdgeschwader 301 Fw 190D-9 Kit in 2026
The quoted comment was made by the founder of Khee-Kaa Models in Alaska, who make models of bushplanes. If your museum is trying to teach about that history you should look at his kits and resin accessories and consider them for your Giftshop. Not cheap, but good, well researched, and quality items. Sadly a lot of ‘discontinued’ items, but perhaps interest might bring them back? Or add to the inventory.
Khee-Kha Art Products
Dec. 30 – The Dutch do not forget, and they will remember who did this.
U.S. removal of panels honoring Black soldiers at WWII cemetery in the Netherlands draws backlash
Dec. 29 – Coulson begins B.767 Very Large Tanker work
Coulson Aviation Launches Boeing 767 VLAT to Replace Aging Firefighting Tankers – Aviation News
Dec. 29 – China unveils VTOL fire fighting aircraft
EHang Rolls Out First EH216-F eVTOL Firefighting Aircraft in Beijing – Aviation News
Dec. 29 – Latest in New Zealand Mosquito restoration
de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI TE881 / NZ2345 Restoration Update, Aircraft Expected to Return to the Skies in 2026 – Vintage Aviation News
Dec. 28 – Views of the F-106, what was achieved when Convair used the data from the Avro Arrow to redesign the F-102
‘The F-106 “supercruised” before the F-22.’ Six pilots explain why the Delta Dart was the perfect bomber interceptor and how it helped the US to win the Cold War
Dec. 24 – Porter receives 50th Embraer 195
Embraer Delivers 50th E195-E2 to Porter Airlines – Aviation News
Dec. 24 – Battle of Britain Lancaster work
RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster PA474 ‘Major’ Maintenance Update – Vintage Aviation News
Dec. 23 – Climate Change and Clear Air Turbulence
Bumpy flight? Climate change may be to blame | What On Earth | On Demand | CBC Listen
Dec. 22 – Tillamook Air Museum blimp hanger damaged in storm. The blimps from this base were closely allied with the RCAF in patrolling the BC coast.
Storm Damage Forces Closure of Historic WWII Blimp Hangar as Tillamook Air Museum Launches Fundraising Appeal – Vintage Aviation News
Dec. 22 – New anti-drone interception key in Ukraine
Ukraine is leveraging its powerful – and cheap – new drone killers for air defense
Dec. 21 – First flight of civil tilt-rotor aircraft
Leonardo Achieves First Flight of Next-Generation Civil Tiltrotor – Aviation News
Dec 21 – Amateur radio support during the Lockerbie response
‘You’re on standby for Lockerbie’ – volunteers recall their role after Pan Am bombing
Dec. 20 – Air Support for Greenland P-38 recovery
Chalk 40 and the Ice: How a Douglas C-47 Helped Recover the P-38 “Glacier Girl” – Vintage Aviation News
(Is anyone looking for Boston BZ215? Epic RCAF survival story, and a rare aircraft)
Dec. 19 – SAAB proposal for Canadian production
Saab Proposes Canadian Production of Gripen and GlobalEye, Citing 12,600 Jobs – Aviation News
Dec. 19 – Upgrading Cormorant fleet begins in Canada
CH-149 Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade begins as Leonardo and IMP launch Canadian assembly line – Vertical Mag
Dec. 17 – 90 years still flying
The Mighty Douglas DC-3 Celebrates 90 Years Flying – Vintage Aviation News
Dec. 16 – RAAF Beaufort crash found in Papua-New Guinea
Discovery of Australian WWII bomber in PNG brings family closure – ABC Pacific
Dec. 15 – Airbus and Ingenium open simulator centre
Airbus and Ingenium launch aerospace innovation lab in Ottawa – Skies Mag
Dec. 15 – Safety and Training for DC-3 operations
DC-3 Society Launches Operations Committee to Advance Training and Safety Standards – Vintage Aviation News
Dec. 15 – Saving an historic New York terminal building
Why the LGA Marine Air Terminal Matters – New York Aviation History
Dec. 14 – JetBlue flight out of Curaçao has to avoid US military aircraft flying transponders off
Flight Narrowly Avoids Midair Collision With U.S. Air Force Tanker
‘It’s outrageous’ – JetBlue pilot decries near collision with US military aircraft
Second incident involving private jettisoned
Two Near-Miss Incidents Raise Airspace Safety Concerns Over Curaçao – Aviation News
Dec. 13 – RCAF selects Bombardier Global 6500
Canada Selects Bombardier Global 6500 Jets to Strengthen Air Force Transport Fleet – Aviation News
Dec. 13 – East Timor 2003 Il-76 crash, a look into the world of clandestine air freighting, from Admiral Cloudberg, another detailed and fascinating account of an obscure aviation loss.
Dark Networks: The 2003 Timor-Leste Il-76 crash and the global air cargo shadow industry | by Admiral Cloudberg | The Academic | Dec, 2025 | Medium
Still happening
Ilyushin Il-76 Cargo Aircraft Crashes Near Port Sudan, Killing All Ten On Board – Aviation News
Dec. 13 – R.W. Harrison dies at 103.
Sask. vet who survived four plane crashes dies at 103
Some details of his operational service:
March 1944 15-16
431 Sqn. Halifax V LL152 SE-U returned from an operation over France with a hung up 500 lb. bomb. The bomb fell off when the bomber was taxiing to it’s dispersal and exploded, destroying the aircraft and killing the gunners, P/O L.R. Barker and P/O I.G. Klein. The rest of the crew, F/O G.B. Philbin, F/O R.W. Harrison, F/O A.C. Brook, F/S T.E. Lee, Sgt J.I. Roche and P/O L.G. Stamp RAF were injured (R. Allenby). This was the last Halifax V lost by 431 Sqn. prior to their re-equipment with Mk. III aircraft. F/O Harrison, on his first sortie as a second pilot, became a Guinea Pig before returning to service, see R. Donovan for details. He had only arrived with his crew the day before (W.E. Heron). As well there is a book on this crew by K.B. Cothliff, Under the Maple Leaf: The Remarkable Story of Four Canadian Volunteers who Flew with Bomber Command During the Second World War, Fighting High Publishing, 2015 (ref. R. Allenby).
May 1944 12-13
431 Sqn. had 5 Halifax III aircraft return without bombing as they could not see any TIs on the target, flown by WO2 J.K. Gustafson, P/O E.O. Johnson, P/O M. McMillan, F/O R.W. Harrison and WO2 F.M. Skeaff (R. Koval, W.E. Heron).
May 1944 31- June 1
431 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O N.G. MacLeod, was hit by lightning that destroyed it’s wireless aerial. Four other Squadron aircraft, F/O J.B. Collver (SE-A), P/O J.D. Fetherston, F/O Harrison (P/O R.W. Harrison?) and F/O M.S. Kyte (SE-T) were forced to return early due to thunderstorms (R. Koval, Awards, W.E. Heron).
June 1944 12-13
431 Sqn. Halifax III SE-P, F/O R. Harrison (F/O R.W. Harrison?) claimed a night fighter set on fire by his gunners Sgt H.J. Esler and Sgt J.B. Trout (W.E. Heron).
June 1944 21
431 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O R.W. Harrison, lost both it’s outer engines shortly after taking off on an operation, but managed to return and land safely on 2 engines (R. Koval).
July 1944 5-6
431 Sqn. Halifax III MZ657 SE-K crashed and exploded just after take-off, bomb aimer F/O G. Dumville died of injuries later that day, F/O R.W. Harrison, Sgt F. Samson RAF, F/O A.H. Phillips, WO1 R. Hooker, F/S J.B.L.M. Content and Sgt K.J. Taylor were all injured. The efforts of WO Hooker and F/S Content to evacuate the crew from the burning aircraft were noted at the time and D. Gray in Airforce Magazine Summer 1993 notes WO Hooker received a George Medal and was later commissioned, while F/S Content was awarded an MiD (Award). F/O Harrison had previously been injured on March 16, 1944 as second pilot in a Halifax which returned with a hung-up bomb. See R. Allenby for details and see also August 25-26, below.
August 1944 25-26
431 Sqn. Halifax III MZ658 SE-E returned to England from an operation over France where it was ordered to divert to another airfield due to bad weather, but did not receive the order. Arriving over it’s base and unable to land it was abandoned out of fuel, F/O J. Kwiatknowski injured, F/O R.W. Harrison, F/O A.H. Phillips, P/O R. Hooker, Sgt G.J. Ward, F/S J.M. Content, Sgt K.J. Taylor and P/O G.D. Little RAF safe. This was F/O Harrison’s third close call (D. Gray).
November 1944 30- October 1
431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB788 SE-C was damaged by flak over Germany, and then further damaged when a Halifax fired on it, and was written off due to damage in landing (2 ground loops with only one wheel down) on return to England, F/L R.W. Harrison and his crew safe. In 19 sorties since March F/L Harrison had, through no fault of his own, become a Guinea Pig, a double crash survivor and a member of the Caterpillar Club. It was decided he had finished his tour (D. Gray).
In 2018 F/L Harrison was inducted as an honourary member of the Snowbirds Air Demonstration Team (CBC News Oct. 20, 2018).
Dec. 13 – Saskatchewan Air Museum gets early Christmas Presents
Santa gifts Sask. Aviation Museum with early Christmas present
Dec. 12 – Celebration of first flight of DHC-3 Otter
Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter – Vintage Aviation News
Dec. 12 – Decision in Crocodile Helicopter crash in Australia, points out falsifying flight hours was ‘the norm’
Australia: Croc wrangler Matt Wright jailed for evidence tampering in fatal crash
Dec. 12 – Measuring ultra-fine particles produced at airports
Air passengers exposed to extremely high levels of ultrafine particle pollution, study finds | Pollution | The Guardian
Dec. 10 – Images of parachutist caught in tailplane of his jump ship
Moment skydiver’s parachute wraps around plane
Dec. 10 – Long Island and Pan Am operations
The Port Washington Pan Am Connection
Dec. 9 – Balloons becoming an emergency for Lithuania
Lithuania declares emergency situation over risks from balloons from Belarus
Balloons from Belarus are causing chaos in Lithuania. Is it smugglers, or a hybrid attack?
Dec. 9 – First Bombardier Global 8000 delivered
Bombardier Delivers World’s Fastest and Longest-Range Business Jet to Launch Customer – Aviation News
and now certified in US
FAA Certifies Bombardier Global 8000, Opening US Delivery Market – Aviation News
Dec. 8 – Rough start to Australian fire season
Aerial fleet active as Australian summer kicks in – Wildfire Today
Dec. 8 – Airbus CC-150 Polaris joins Air Force Museum
Polaris 15001 joins the collection at National Air Force Museum of Canada – Skies Mag
Dec. 6 – Re-homing some of the artifacts of the Halifax Explosion
Some Halifax Explosion artifacts pulled from the harbour will have a new home | CBC News
Dec. 5 – Annual Saanich Museum Santa Visit
Aviation museum choppers in Santa for special North Saanich visit | Vancouver Island Free Daily
Dec. 4 – Cutbacks in US Forest Fire Fighting causing confusion
Democrats demand answers for Trump’s cutbacks at the USFS – Wildfire Today
Dec. 2 – RCMP restricting use of Chinese drones for surveillance
RCMP restricts use of its Chinese-made drones — the vast majority of its fleet | CBC News
Dec. 1 – Background on the A.320 grounding, and how cosmic rays might effect us as more micro-chips are used.
Bit flips: How cosmic rays grounded a fleet of aircraft
Dec. 1 – Drones and Whales. Sampling their breath with flying petri dishes
Breath samples collected by drone hold clues to health of North Atlantic right whales | CBC News
Dec. 1 – Accident puts Russia out of manned space flight for possibly 2 years
Baikonur Launch Pad Accident Severs Russia’s Manned Space Access – Aviation News