HARVARD HAPPENINGS
September, 2005 29th Edition

Next CHAA Meeting: Tuesday, September 20 at 7:30pm
Tillsonburg OPS Building

Guest Speaker for September: Charley Fox DFC Bar, Spitfire Pilot and Hon. Col. 412 Squadron will speak about his May 2005 trip, the Celebration of the Liberation of Holland

What is happening…?

•  REMINDER: Members’ Flyday: The last 2005 scheduled flyday for current and new members is this Saturday, September 10 in Tillsonburg.
   

• News from CHAA’s August Members’ Meeting:
  -CHAA member Walt Irie announced two laptops were donated by Cami for CHAA’s use. Many thanks to Walt for his efforts on our behalf and to Cami for their generosity.
  -Our monthly meeting secretary, Ken Arnott, is retiring from the workforce at the end of the year. We wish him all the best!
  -A letter of appreciation was read from the May 24 flyover of the RMC graduation in Kingston. It was obvious from the letter that the Harvards added much to their day.
  -The last installment of the Trillium Fund ($16000) has been received.
  -The Board was most appreciative of and encouraged by the response of the membership to their donation appeal; as of the August meeting approximately $9100 had been received.
   

• August’s Guest Speaker: Dr. Clarence Cormier
  Dr. Cormier spoke of his twenty year career as a dentist with the Canadian Military, being stationed at various sites in Canada and around the world. What excited us was his interest in learning/mastering the skills of the unit
  to which he was attached; whether this was parachuting from an airplane or scaling down a rope from a helicopter, he was there to look after more than dental work (although he spoke of doing that as well); he was also using the opportunity to broaden his knowledge and to experience the world from his colleagues perspective. During his presentation, Dr. Cormier also showed several slides from his extensive aviation collection; even though most were of uncommon or unusual airplanes, someone in the group was able to identify each one! Thanks to CHAA member Bill Scott for bringing his dentist’s name forward. Great speaker and interesting presentation!
  
   

• Suggestions for Guest Speaker: If you have a name of interest, Pat Hanna This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it will be pleased to hear from you.
  
   

• CHAA Website: www.harvards.com Lance Russwurm continues to do weekly updates to this site which has both the history of CHAA and all its latest news. To remain informed, check it often. There’s even a button to click to hear the ROAR of the Harvard! Thanks, Lance!
  
   

• Bingo News: For more info on how you can help, contact Bill Shepard This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and visit the Dive Team site www.chaa-recovery.ca for upcoming bingo dates.
   

• Membership News: from Marion Bennell
  Gift Certificates: It is not too early to begin thinking about CHRISTMAS and what you are going to buy for that hard-to-buy person in your family. Here’s the perfect solution: A CHAA gift certificate. Not only do gift certificates solve Christmas shopping but also birthdays, retirements and anytime a gift is needed for that extra special someone. Call now and have one less gift(s) to buy during the Christmas rush. To obtain all the details, contact Marion at (519)633-0053 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (1 in her email address is the numeral one).
  Membership Renewal for 2006: In the September edition of the ROAR you will find the 2006 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL form. Thanks in advance for using this form when submitting your payment, as it will provide a ‘paper trail’ if you have any questions about your renewal.
  Updates: On August 20’s Fly Day, several new members joined CHAA and had their first flight in a Harvard; rain did not spoil the enthusiasm for these first time riders. Several members with gift certificates also took their flights.
  
   

• Payments to CHAA by Visa or MasterCard: Please note: When you use your Visa or Master Card to purchase CHAA stores items, membership, flights, etc, it will show on your next statement as being a purchase at K-W Surplus in Kitchener as we process our receipts through them. We thank K-W Surplus owner, Ray Whittemore for doing this for us and ask you to remember to not phone Visa to cancel the transaction when it shows on your statement in this manner.
  
   

• Hangar News: from Roy Venn
  Sunday 28th August - the repaired wing for the Tiger Moth was re-installed and as soon as the tail wheel problem is sorted out we should be back in the air. If it isn't one thing it's another. Great fun.
  Total hours, so far this year for COE are 18.9 with a good number of flying days left. Hopefully we can get our targeted 30 hours.
   

• Back Seat Rides: contact Dave Delaney This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  (519)-471-4730 for all back seat information on following flights and more
  
   

• Upcoming CHAA Flight Schedule:
  Sept 9-Oakville- Tin Hat Parade 1800hrs flyover
  Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield will be in attendance
  Sept 10- London- Warriors Day Parade- 1200hrs flyover
  Sept 10- Tillsonburg- Members Flyday
  Sept 14- Dunnville- Veterans 60th Reunion- 1500 hrs flyover, 1700 hrs perch dinner, followed by guest speaker, Ted Barris
  Oct 8- Simcoe- Warriors Day Parade- starting at 1130 hrs
  
   

• CHAA Stores Update: from Greg Tyrell
  We have some new CHAA stock: hats with CHAA logo in both ball cap and Tilley style; t-shirts; golf shirts and more. All are available for viewing with Bruce Tapp at the members’ meetings each month at hangar in Tillsonburg. If you are unable to get to the hangar and wish further information on purchasing any CHAA stock for personal use or as a gift, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
   

• News from Recent Shows: from Greg Tyrell
  On August 31, we participated in the Brant United Way Air Show (Brantford Airport) and all went well. The skies cleared up and the Aerobatic Team did us proud. According to a representative of the show, it was a toss up who was more appreciated....the Lancaster or the Canadian Harvards!
  
   

• CHAA Dive Recovery Team: www.chaa-recovery.ca
  Using the Site: Currently this site shows (among other information) the meeting dates for CHAA and the Recovery Team along with the Bingo dates. They would like to point out that anyone can submit events to their online calendar. To submit an event: Go their website, click on “Submit Event” and fill out the web form. Once the webmaster approves your event it will be displayed on their calendar.
  Dive Recovery Team Updates: by Chris Venn:
  CHAA Dive Recovery Team Hosts Training Dive in Tobermory
  In August of 2005, a contingent of divers from the CHAA Dive Recovery Team headed to the frigid waters of Tobermory, Ontario for a group training dive. The one-day excursion was led by Walther Irie, and with him were Aaron and Jessica Happl, Jeff Harrison, Ian King, Bill Tully and Chris Venn. This was a familiarization dive and we had an opportunity to work with underwater slates and tape measures that the group would use surveying a crashed aircraft. There was also some new personal dive equipment being tested, and the team was getting used to working together underwater. As we continue to research and survey to find a crashed aircraft, it’s also important for the team to continue training underwater so that we are ready to start the archeological survey of the first plane we find. We’ll continue our training so that we remain poised to act as soon as a sunken aircraft is located.
  
   

• News from the Archives Committee: from Pat Hanna
  With the recent donation from Mike Rodwell of England, I plan to utilize
  some space in the display cases at the front of the ops building to set up a small display. We have many other artifacts in storage that could be displayed if we had display cases. If you know where we might acquire some cases, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . I am also looking for help in getting a proper committee set up and functioning, with a team leader. A couple of fine gentlemen approached me about this committee a few years ago, and I apologize that I have lost contact with them! If you remember who you are and are still interested, I would be thankful if you stepped forward again!
  
   

• Air Cadet Flyday: from Kip Davis
  CHAA is pleased to be hosting the Havoc Squadron on September 25 at the Tillsonburg airport. This is meant to be an opportunity for Cadets to learn about the North American Harvard and its roll in the British Commonwealth Air Training Program during WWII. The day will commence at 0900 hrs, run until approximately 1500 hrs and will include: arrival formalities, tour of facilities, ramp safety, history of the BCATP and the Harvard, flights, lunch, Linc trainer demonstration, cutaway P&W 1340 radial demonstration and photo ops. Thanks in advance to the following for their assistance and participation: Johnny Curran, Greg Burnard, Bill Long and participating pilots, Brandon Zimmerman, Rice Brothers and Gib Newman.
  
   

• CHAA Mailing Address:
  Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association
  244411 Airport Road
  P.O. Box 175
  Tillsonburg, Ontario
  N4G 4H5
  
  Thanks to all those who have contributed to this newsletter. Your efforts go a long way toward keeping the membership informed.
  As some members receive their email at work and were experiencing difficulties with Harvard Happenings being sent directly to them, Harvard Happenings is being placed on the CHAA website and on CHAA Dive Recovery Team website, where you can open it at your leisure. Any comments or questions about this or any other issues dealing with CHAA, please submit to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
  Until next time...clear skies, safe flights and smooth landings!