To all Canadians on the forum “Happy Canada Day!!!” July 1st [bday]
To all Americans on the forum an early “Happy Independence Day!!!” July 4th [bday]
While I was with the Canadian Army I passed by the location in the following link every weekend while on leave. When I left Petawawa for the last time and returned to the Toronto area I noticed that my “landmark” was missing and wondered where it had gone.
After some tricky searching through the websites and webpages of numerous locales. I finally found that the A-26 Invader that had always been my “Two hours to home” beacon. I was relieved to find out it had been purchased and moved to a site to be restored and not sold off to be scrapped.
So for any of you thinking of building an A-26 here is the link to keep for reference as the restoration is undertaken.
I know that plane very well since I used to work for the company that owned it.While it’s nice that it has been saved,it’s regretable that it will never be made to fly.While perched atop the building in Oshawa at Mackie Transport,it was completely open to the elements and birds.At the time I made the treck to the roof to check it out a few years before it was moved,it was carrying a full load of bird droppings(about 6" deep through the entire airframe).There was actually some concern when it was going to be removed from the roof that the entire bottom might fall out of it.The aircraft was completely stripped of everything including canopies before it was placed on the roof to save weight.It has been at the collectors guild for several years now but I’m sure after a cosmetic restoration it will make another great landmark for several years to come.
There were a few relics in the Oshawa area for several years.There was a Yale that sat on a pedestal over another restoration shop in Whitby until the early 80s.The Yale was one of several that was purchased at the auction of the now famous Ernie Simmons collection in the early 70’s.The Yale was sold and restored to flying condition but was completely destroyed in a crash soon after killing the owner/pilot.
There was also a Lancaster that sat at the Oshawa airport for many years.It was sold and went to Europe with the engines being removed and sent to Hamilton to assist with the restoration of VR-A or Mynarski’s Lanc that still flies regularly.
Just a little local history for those that might be interested.