I shouldn’t pay too much for a Vampire -there are probably plenty around that are cheap in the U.S . As for putting it outside -not such a good idea!

Typically I would agree
For our internal display we are working on acquiring/restoring TG 372 (single place) the Vamp that came here for cold weather testing. It would never go outside with its provenance.

The one we are negotiated on for outside is a (2) seater in tough shape, but even then we have researched and found that it can be done without sacrificing the airframe if properly sealed,finished and a high level of maintenance is kept up. That said it also has no where near the provenance (for us) and would be representative of the type in our fighter line up.

If I had my way no aircraft would be displayed outside…but then reality interferes.

Tom H

Once again thanks everyone as the information and suggestions have been tremendously valuable.

Over the weekend we will be going over final layouts and making the final decisions.

All of the bits and pieces that have been collected are being thrown into the discussion pot.

Thanks again

Tom

Tom, I’ve just emailed your mayor – I hope that it proves to be of assistance! 🙂

Thanks TwinOtter23

Appreciate your support and all your assistance getting to this point.

As I see it this meeting will be critical point for our museum

Tom

I saw Dan Dempsey fly the Sabre at Hamilton last weekend.
Best Wishes
Bill

Saw him in Hamilton as well…came out from Alberta to assist Canadian Warplane Heritage with the show!

Tom

Hunt for the Mad Trapper Part VI
The Story ends
February 17, 1932 the final shoot-out between the trapper, Albert Johnson, and the RCMP occurs. In the fire fight Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Staff Sergeant H. F. Hersey, is injured and Johnson is killed.

The air and ground teams had continued their pursuit and search since the last chapter and now were closing in on Johnson.

Mid morning of the 17th of February 1932 with WOP May overhead in Bellanca “Lady Edmonton” Johnson was cornered along the Eagle River. In the fire fight that followed Staff Sergeant Hersey was hit and seriously wounded by rifle fire from Albert Johnson.
Johnson however did not give up, caught along the banks with nowhere to run he fought to the end and was killed in the fire fight.

WOP May landed on the River and carried Hersey back to Aklavik, the Doctor in Aklavic stating if it had been 15 minutes more Hersey would not have made it.

Returning May picked up several of the RCMP officers as well as the body of Albert Johnson and flew them to Aklavik. The largest man hunt in Canadian History had come to an end but the mystery has continued…who was Albert Johnson?

Why didn’t he speak with police? A year earlier in Aklavik he had, with no problems.
Why did he begin firing? The Police were only investigating.
Who was this man that never spoke through the entire chase? We may never know.

But this chase created the pattern of police pursuits that will still use today. High tech communications, aerial surveillance and pursuit and carrying on in the tradition of all those that enforce the law…brave police officers, soldiers and volunteers on the ground.

Compiled using information from these great sources and places for additional information on the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”.
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_…%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

The Alberta Aviation Museum unveils it’s exhibit on the Hunt for the Mad Trapper tomorrow February 17th…the 80th Anniversary of the conclusion of the Hunt for the Mad Trapper.

Tom H

Part IV
Hunt for the Mad Trapper…the Saga continues:

Between January 16th and January 30th 1932 much has happened, the RCMP with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals providing tow way radio communication, Western Canada Airways providing air drops of supplies and the help of local trappers and band members have been chasing the trail and hunting for Albert Johnson.

Temperatures have been falling as low as -45 to -49 degrees with intermittent blizzard conditions. Equipment is reaching it’s limits with the radio batteries eventually freezing, clothing and sleeping bags becoming damp due to the conditions and no way on the trail to dry them.

January 30th brings this chapter to a climax…Constable Millen is killed.

For several weeks the RCMP Team had been tracking Johnson. A tedious task as Johnson’s bush skills was keen and as a skilled tracker he also knew how to avoid being tracked. As a result the RCMP and its team were forced to travel in sweeping half circles to pick up the fugitive’s trail.

The morning of January 30th two teams, one of Riddell/Garland, the second Millen and Verville found Albert Johnson’s overnight campsite. Riddell and Garland made a secure position and shortly across from them settled the team of Millen and Verville.

Once again a fire fight ensued with many shots being exchanged, Millen spotting Johnson’s firing position dropped to one knee and fired twice, Johnson replied with three shots, one killing RCMP member Millen. Sporadic shots were exchanged in the hours after and till dark when the RCMP team was forced to retire.

RCMP Constable Riddell with one of the native guides and their teams of dogs again made a record run to Aklavik carrying Constable Millen’s body and by February 3rd was ready to run supplies back to the rest of the pursuit team that had remained behind.

February 2nd in the evening the Royal Canadian Corp of signals hears the announcement on Edmonton Journal Radio…Western Canadian Airways is sending a plane with it’s most experienced young airman…Edmontonian WOP May is now enroute in a Bellanca bush plane named “Lady Edmonton”. The tide is starting to turn for the “Mad Trapper”, time is running down.

Compiled using information from these sources and great sources of additional information on the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”.
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_…%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

Part II of the Hunt for the Mad Trapper

After the shooting of RCMP Constable King at the Rat River cabin of Albert Johnson on December 31st, 1931 the RCMP officers were forced to retreat to get Constable King
Life saving medical attention.

The harrowing non stop dog sled run from the Rat River cabin to Aklavik was a Herculean effort by Constable McDowel and their native guides and worthy of a book on it’s own. Once in Aklavik Constable King received medical treatment and would eventually recover.

January 9th, 1932 the RCMP return…Constables McDowell, Sittichiulis, Millen and Bernard, return with Inspector Alexander Eames, trappers Karl Garlund, Knud Lang and Earnest Sutherland, 42 dogs and 20 pounds of dynamite. A 15 hour siege and fire fight ensue but still, Johnson does not surrender.

Once again the RCMP team is forced to retreat to re supply and the Royal Canadian Signals Corps is asked to send a radio call for additional RCMP assistance and re supply.

The story continues January 16th

Additional information at:
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_…%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum