Bomber Command Museum of Canada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bomber Command Museum of Canada

Established	1986
Location	Nanton, Alberta

The Bomber Command Museum of Canada is an exciting aviation museum located in Nanton, Alberta. It used to be called the Nanton Lancaster Society Museum. This museum opened in 1986 with a special goal: to protect and fix up a famous airplane called the Avro Lancaster FM159. This particular Lancaster is one of only 17 left in the whole world! Only two of them can still fly, and two others can move on the ground. Over the years, the museum has grown a lot and now has many different aircraft. Many of these planes were used during World War II by the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Discovering the Museum's History

The Nanton Lancaster Society started in 1985. Their main job was to save the town's Avro Lancaster plane. This plane had been sitting outside since 1960. The very next year, in 1986, the society officially opened the museum to show off the aircraft.

Growing the Museum's Home

By 1991, the Nanton Lancaster Society finished building a special home for the Lancaster plane. Throughout the 1990s, the museum collected many more aircraft. These new planes helped tell the story of the Lancaster. The museum has expanded several times since then, adding more space in 1998, 2002, and 2007. Today, the museum also has a library, an archive, and a workshop where they fix old planes. They are currently working to add a second large building for their collection.

The Famous Lancaster Plane

Since 1986, the museum's Lancaster has been completely restored. All four of its engines now work! This means the aircraft can move around on its own power, making it one of only four such Lancasters in the world. The museum decided to paint the plane to look like Lancaster FM-159 (F2-T), which was nicknamed "T for Tommy." This was the plane where a brave pilot named Ian Willoughby Bazalgette was killed on August 4, 1944.

In 1990, the society held a special ceremony for the aircraft. Many important people attended. These included Mrs. Ethel Broderick, who was Ian Bazalgette's sister. Also there were Chuck Godfrey and George Turner, who were crew members from the original F2-T plane. The commanding officer of 407 Squadron, Colonel Terry Chester, also joined.

A New Name and National Recognition

In 2005, the museum opened its Bomber Command Memorial. Then, in 2010, the museum changed its name to the Bomber Command Museum of Canada. It is now a nationally recognized museum. This means it works with other aviation museums across Canada. It also hosts members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They all work together to remember the important contributions of Canadian airmen and women during and after World War II. Besides its airplanes and vehicles, the museum has a huge collection of engines. It also has many pieces of "nose art" (paintings on the front of planes) and important documents.

Exciting Museum Projects

The Bomber Command Museum is always working to make its collection even better.

Restoring Rare Aircraft

Right now, the museum is working with the City of Calgary and the Calgary Mosquito Society. They are restoring a de Havilland Mosquito plane, serial number RS700, so it can be displayed.

The museum is also working with Halifax 57 Rescue. Their goal is to find and bring back a Handley Page Halifax plane, HR871, from off the coast of Sweden. Once they get it, they will fix it up and display it. If they succeed, the museum would be one of only four in the world to have a Halifax plane!

Museum Collection

Airplanes on Display

Vehicles on Display

Gallery