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The Nanton Lancaster Society Air
Museum
17th Street & 21st Avenue
NANTON, ALBERTA, Canada
This page is
dedicated to all the Canadian Aircrew of the great aerial conflict of WWII.
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The Nanton Lancaster Society
was formed in 1986 in response to the Town of
Nanton's request that a group be formed to "take care of" the
town-owned Lancaster Bomber.
The Society determined that a museum should be built with the goals of
honoring those who served in Bomber Command and the British Commonwealth Air
Training Plan during World War II.
This Lancaster is dedicated to
S/L Ian Bazalgette.
VC, the only Albertan to be awarded the Victoria Cross
The initial facility was constructed in 1991 and has been expanded
twice. Our collection now includes fourteen aircraft,
most of which are displayed in our 19,200 square foot
hangar. The majority of our additional 7,000 square feet is used for the
display of related artifacts, artwork, and interpretive information. A library
and archives, restoration shop, parts storage area, and office complete the
facility.
The acquisition of aircraft and other artifacts, primarily through
private donations, has provided the Society with an impressive collection of
displays. Bomber Command aircraft are represented by the
Lancaster and a
Bolingbroke which is being restored as a Blenheim
IV bomber. BCATP aircraft such as the Fleet Fawn, Tiger
Moth, Cornell, Anson, Yale, Harvard, and
Expeditor provide our visitors with an excellent
understanding of the training effort. On outside display, a T-33 and CF-100
serve as "Gate Guardians." The Society attempts to connect people to the
artifacts as much as possible. Our Lancaster has been dedicated to
S/L Ian Bazalgette VC, the only Albertan to be awarded the
Victoria Cross during WW II.
The bombing offensive carried out by Britain, Canada, and other
Commonwealth countries during the Second World War has been described as the
most grueling and continuous operation of war ever waged. The first Canadian to
be killed was Sgt. Albert S. Prince, the pilot of a
twin-engine Blenheim that was shot down while
attacking a battleship the day after war was declared. Almost six years later,
F/Sgt. William Holowaty was killed while aboard a
Lancaster returning to Canada. Throughout these six long years,
Canadians played a critical role in this huge
effort that made a significant contribution to victory.
The Nanton Lancaster Air Museum is the
only facility in Canada whose primary goal is to honor those who served with
Bomber Command. To this end, the museum had created a
Memorial that lists the name of every Canadian who was killed while
serving with Bomber Command. The Memorial, with the 10,643
engraved names, was dedicated by Canada’s Minister of National Defense on
August 20, 2005.
The aircraft in our collection cannot be displayed within our
existing facility. Additional space is required to display three aircraft that
pertain directly to our goals. Two of these are currently under restoration by
our volunteers. As well, additional space is required for the display of small
artifacts, interpretive information, and aviation art. For these reasons it is
anticipated that an 11,200 square foot expansion project
will be underway during the fall of 2006.
Supplied by
Spitfirespares a 4/5 Scale replica of the famous upkeep bouncing bomb
is on display in Nanton.
More exhibits
Please give this Museum your full
support.
Visit their Website here
www.lancastermuseum.ca.
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