Mosquito Bytes
The official eNewsletter of the CALGARY MOSQUITO SOCIETY
Retain, Restore, Honour and Educate

Welcome to Volume 16 (October 25, 2009)

AGAIN WE BEGIN WITH A WELCOME to our many new members and especially to the many friends, associates and co-workers of Jack McWilliam who has encouraged over 35 people to sign up and support our organization and its goals. And an extra 'Thank You' to Jack who just returned from the UK after visiting the good people at the De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre. At our meeting last week, Jack informed us that the people who hold the 'Holy Grail' prototype, and TWO other Mosquitos (!), are well aware of our efforts and have pledged their full support. If you didn't make the meeting, you missed some great photos and Jack's stories of the back room tour he enjoyed. Perhaps a replay in the near future Jack?

SPEAKING OF MEETINGS, our regular schedule is to meet @ 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Phoenix Foundation, #1, 2821 - 3 Ave. N.E. So the next two are on Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. Sorry for the short notice on the last one; life overtook me (I can show you the tire marks on my back). Thanks to the Davidsons for allowing us to use the space.

Click for a larger map.

WHERE ARE WE AT? We know that the report to City Council by the independant consultant on the condition and restoration options on the Mosquito and Hurricane was delivered four weeks ago. If the City sticks to its process, they are to issue a Request for Proposals any day now. We must then respond with our proposal and await a decision in early March 2010. In broad terms we know that the proposal will have to include a restoration, funding and display plan for the airplane. We're going to need help with this. Volunteers and ideas welcomed.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HURRICANE? A question that keeps coming up is, 'What about the Hurricane? Because of the way events around the city owned airplanes have unfolded, the Hurricane is also part of the City's Request for Proposals package and process. As absurd as it may seem to us that the City or its aviation museum (located on McKNIGHT BLVD!) would consider disposing of the Hurricane, the question of its future is part of the package. Should we include a restoration and display plan in our Proposal to the City? Please let me know your thoughts on this as soon as possible.

WHAT'S A CAPA? CAPA is the national organization of aviation museums in Canada, with 47 full and associate member museums and supporters. I represented our organization at the annual convention last week in Winnipeg. We had the chance to talk about our efforts and progress and ask directly for support from both the national board of CAPA and from the individual museums. The new President of the Board, Tom Sand agreed that CAPA will at the very least provide a letter of support to go in our package to City Hall. Representatives of several other museums also volunteered enthusiastically to do so as well. Thanks to our hosts and organizers for an excellent weekend.

CHECK YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE STAND for the October issue of BRITAIN AT WAR. Thanks to our Australian member, supporter and author of "Mosquitoes Bite at Night" (www.calgarymosquitosociety.com/stories.htm), the latest issue has an 8 page colour spread of the F for Freddie story. Completely on his own intiative Ken contacted the editor and got the story published in this very dynamic magazine with a circulation of over 78,000. In lieu of cash payment, Editor Martin Mace very generously agreed to give our society two full page colour advertisements, with this month's right next to the last page of the Freddie story. A full page ad goes for £750! As well, Editor Mace and staff member Leanne Swannie have sent us 14 free copies: one for Mayor Bronconnier and each member of City Council. A very big THANKS to Ken, Martin and Leah!

AND IN THE DRAMATIC NEWS DEPARTMENT, with a story to be published in the Calgary Herald in the next day or so, we can finally reveal the identity of the very persistent and determined party from the UK who has, for over 6 years now, been trying to acquire CF-HMS. He is Peter Vacher, who several years ago made a tremendous splash in the vintage aviation world by recovering a derelict Hurricane (R4118) from India and restoring this Battle of Britain veteran to flying status. Peter was in town this past week to promote his bid to acquire the Mosquito and spoke with the Herald about his interest. The Herald then contacted us for comments. Having met Mr. Vacher back in 1997, I found him to be a sincere, charming and likeable man who certainly shares our interest in seeing the Mosquito finally cared for and restored as it so richly deserves to be. Without his interests and efforts the latent local interest and resources to see the airplane retained and restored here would likely not have come to the surface.

Okay, that's it, I'm done. Thank you.

Richard de Boer
President, CMS
403-235-1350