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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995

In NetLetter #1398, we had an article about the Canadian Aviation Historical Society which included the CAHS logo. On seeing this, Jim Bruce sent us this information regarding the origin of the logo -

It was nice to see the CAHS logo in #1398. I designed this while an art director at The Montreal Star.

In 1972, Bill Wheeler, the editor of the Journal at the time, and CAHF Member asked me if I would do a redesign of the Journal including a logo design. So I did, and the logo (based on the typeface Bookman Swash caps) has hung in there all these years, with a slight change I did in 1990, to add a fine line around the outside of the letters.

The front view of the Silver Dart, which I included in the logo, is the work of Robert Bradford, also a member of the CAHF, and former curator of the National Aviation Museum (as it was called back then).

He had done a very detailed 3-view of the Dart for a U.S. aviation magazine. I scaled down his front view to use with the new logo. The Journal stopped using my logo for a time, but it was brought back when Terry Higgins, current editor/art director started using it again. Even when it wasn’t for a while part of the Journal, it was still being used on T-shirts, coffee mugs, etc.

Jim


Betty Draper found this article in The Regina Leader-Post - August 12, 1948, referring to the following TCA North Star accident at Sydney, Nova Scotia on that date.

A Trans-Canada Air Lines stewardess calmly led 11 passengers to safety early from a flaming four-engine North Star aircraft. The five other crew members also escaped uninjured when the big trans-ocean plane burned after touching down at the nearby reserve airport at 1:45 am MDT

Miss Rita A. Meyers, a native of Kitchener, Ont., led the passengers to the emergency exit as flames licked at the opposite side of the aircraft. Purser-steward Jack Triggs of Montreal stood on the ground and caught the passengers as they leaped 15 feet to the ground. The collapsible ladder used to descend from the exit would not work. The pilot was Doug Holland of Montreal.

Trans-Canada Air Lines issued the following statement:

"En route flight 210, destined for Prestwick, the aircraft made a normal approach for landing, and it is thought that the right wheel struck a mound of earth approximately 20 feet from the end of the runway. Ditching is being carried out all along the end of the runway. Impact of the wheel striking the mound split a gas tank and, as the plane landed, gasoline was running out of the tank along the runway. After landing the right wing caught fire."

Members of the crew, besides Triggs, Holland and Miss Meyer were: Flying Officer Bob Penrose, Navigating Officer Gil Evands and Radio Officer Bob Wright all from Montreal.

Another North Star from Montreal was used to continue the flight to Scotland, but first, the passengers were issued with new clothing, passports and luggage.

Everything aboard the aircraft was lost. We have no other information regarding this incident.

tmb north star incidentHere we have this photo of Miss Meyers receiving congratulations. 

Stewardess Rita A. Meyer and Purser Steward J. R. Triggs are shown as they were presented with engraved wrist watches by President G. R. McGregor in recognition of the part they played in the recent Sydney North Star incident.

The President said that these gifts were "something to tell you what the Company thinks of your activities at Sydney, N.S. However, it is not a reward for good work well done, but a memento of some fairly exciting times and we want you to know how much we appreciate your action on that occasion.''

(Photo Source: TCA Between Ourselves magazine issue dated October 1948)

(Comment from Ken Pickford, our proofreader) - It was the following event listed on the Aviation Safety Network. The aircraft was one of the 6 unpressurized North Stars intended for the RCAF that were temporarily operated by TCA while waiting for their own pressurized North Stars to be delivered. For accident report see Aviation-safety.net

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