Comox Air Force Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | CFB Comox, 19 Wing Comox, Lazo, British Columbia |
| Type | military aviation museum |
The Comox Air Force Museum is a cool place where you can learn all about the history of CFB Comox, which is a Canadian Air Force base. The museum collects, protects, and shows off items related to the base, its flying groups (called squadrons), and other units.
It's located right at the main entrance of CFB Comox, in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The museum first opened its doors on September 12, 1987. Besides the awesome displays, the museum also has a library about planes and an art gallery with aviation-themed artwork. Just 500 meters down the road, you can visit the Heritage Air Park where real aircraft are on display! There's also a special hangar where they restore old planes, like the Y2K Spitfire.
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Aircraft on Display
The Comox Air Force Museum has a special outdoor area called the Heritage Air Park. It's about 500 meters from the main museum building. Here, you can see many different types of aircraft that were used by the Canadian Air Force. It's like a giant outdoor exhibit of flying machines!
Here are some of the aircraft you can see:
- CF-100 Canuck
- CF-101 Voodoo
- CF-104 Starfighter
- CP-107 Argus
- CP-121 Tracker
- CT-114 Tutor (This one has been moved to the Comox Valley Visitor Centre)
- CT-133 Silver Star
- De Havilland Vampire
- Douglas Dakota
- Piasecki H-21
- Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
Museum Exhibits
Inside the museum, you'll find different exhibits that tell stories from various times in history and about the squadrons at CFB Comox.
First World War History
This exhibit shows items from the First World War. It focuses on the brave airmen who came from Canada's West Coast and their part in the war.
Second World War Stories
This exhibit has many interesting items from the Second World War. Some of the things you can see include:
- A Fire balloon: These were balloons launched by the Japanese during the war. They hoped these balloons would cause fires on the West Coast of North America.
- John Colwell's Stalag Luft III POW Log Book: This is a special book kept by a prisoner of war (POW) during his time in a German prison camp.
- Information about famous pilots like James Francis Edwards and Douglas "Duke" Warren.
UN Peacekeeping Missions
This exhibit shows many items from Canada's role in United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping missions. These missions help keep peace in different parts of the world.
19 Wing's Squadrons
CFB Comox is home to several flying groups called squadrons. These exhibits show items from both past and present squadrons.
Past Squadrons Exhibit
This part of the museum displays items from squadrons that used to be at Comox but have since moved or are no longer active.
- 409 Squadron:
- An Orenda 11 turbojet engine.
- An AIR-2 Genie Missile training device (used to practice loading missiles).
- A CF-101 Voodoo ejection seat (what pilots use to escape a plane in an emergency).
- 414 Squadron:
- The Black Knight Suit of Armour.
- VU 33 Squadron:
- A Tracker Tail Hook (used by aircraft to land on aircraft carriers).
Present Squadrons Exhibit
This exhibit shows items from the squadrons that are currently serving at CFB Comox.
- 442 Squadron: This squadron is known for search and rescue.
- A Search and Rescue Technician Jump Suit.
- 407 Squadron:
- A Wright 3350 Cyclone 18 Piston Engine.
- A Torpedo (a weapon used underwater).
- A Sonobuoy (a device dropped from aircraft to detect submarines).
Vehicles
Besides aircraft, the museum also has some vehicles on display.
- Willys Jeep: A famous military vehicle.
Museum Connections
The Comox Air Force Museum is connected with several important organizations. These connections help the museum share its history and learn from others.
More to Explore
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