Tuesday, December 6, 2022

The Aerodrome Of Democracy

 When World War Two broke out there was little doubt that Canada would join. At the time the country was underprepared and with low numbers in the regular military. That would change.


The German military surged through western Europe.


Canadians would head overseas, garrisoned in Britain, beginning to train for the inevitable push back into Europe. Naval assets fought their own war at sea in what was the longest campaign of the war- the Battle of the Atlantic. And Canadian pilots took to the air as part of the Battle of Britain.


A typical pilot's flight gear is here, with a model of a Hurricane overhead.


But to fly, you had to learn. This is the Link trainer, a flight simulator that some would describe as harder to handle than the real thing.


The British Commonwealth Air Training Program was agreed upon by Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand; hundreds of thousands of personnel were trained at Canadian bases. The quote by Franklin Roosevelt, who at the time understood the world's perils in a way that many of his countrymen refused to acknowledge, speaks volumes.


The BCATP was highlighted in an American film of the period by James Cagney, seen here with the Canadian ace of the First World War, Billy Bishop.


The Battle of the Atlantic raged from the very start of the war to the end of the conflict in Europe. Allied merchant ships, moving the cargo so needed in Europe, were protected by navy warships in convoys across the ocean. A recent addition to the Museum is a two minute realistic scenario featuring an encounter between a Canadian corvette ship and a German u-boat at night.

42 comments:

  1. I do understand you need to help against evil. Yet... I would not be so brave.
    Also. I don´t understand evil. I read some books on that and kept shaking my head in disbelief.

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    1. One of the definitions of evil can be the absence of empathy.

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  2. And now we can fire missiles from afar to destroy cities. Madness.

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  3. I am always praying for peace around the world. These new weapons are down right scary to me.
    Take care, enjoy your day!

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  4. Cada vez las armas, son más sofisticadas y más destructivas.

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  5. The photos are interesting, but the old uniforms are quite intriguing.

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  6. The scenario film sounds fascinating. I'd like to see that.

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  7. An air base was established here at Summerside for flight training at that time. There were accidents and deaths here too.

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  8. ...we fought for democracy and we have an orange idiot that what to dismantle it.

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    Replies
    1. That orange idiot deserves his reserved spot in hell.

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  9. Wow all impressive especially the pilot’s gear and outfit interesting to see. Thank you.

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  10. We will have to keep building more museums like this as time passes and more wars happen. Sad.

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  11. We just don't understand what a huge job it was to take all the war equipment and supplies across the Atlantic.

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  12. You have an impressive museum there, William. Is your city historic or did it just so happen to be built there?

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    1. The location has some history, but also a fitting place for when the need came for a new home for the museum.

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    2. It is close to the Ottawa River and has direct views to Parliament Hill.

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  13. Always great exhibits ~ bravo for democracy ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days ~
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. A boat at night is scary just reading the words.

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  15. Will men ever learn that war is not the answer, I think not.

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  16. Wow! Imagine learning to fly in that. :-)

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  17. The uniforms are always fascinating to see.

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  18. The armoured suit looks quite thick and terrifying

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