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The Museum opened its doors to the public at 1000 hrs Saturday 27
May 95 after a Friday night wine and cheese reception for Society members and Wing guests.
The original Museum was conceived by the Base Commander in 1992, Col Ken Allen; and a
group of retired military and local civilians formed a Society, which was incorporated in
1994. The first two Curators, Maj Ken Millar and Maj Lew Ferris were ARAF COs with a
secondary job of Curator. Maj John MacIntosh followed - he was awaiting retirement
release, as was Capt Wayne Metcalf after him.
The Society was the driving force and its
members took the empty library building, designed a structure, built the walls, painted
and cleaned the place using materials they solicited or purchased from local merchants.
Many of the first displays were from Society members personal artifacts. The expansion
plans, movement of aircraft and sidewalk bricks were Society ideas that were included in
the first 5 year plan, as was the movement of the observation tower from Lower Economy
which was negotiated by the Society Chairman. Similarly, the Donald Lee collection of
model aircraft was negotiated with the widow by the Chairman, and the glass cases
enclosing the display were purchased by the Society - as were many items in the Museum
today.
The Society was officially sanctioned in a memorandum of understanding between the Base
Commander, Col Tom Johnson, and the Society Chairman, MGen (Ret'd) Ian Patrick, giving the
Society the mandate of supporting the Museum and helping in the acquisition, preservation,
protection, restoration, and display of artifacts and researching the history associated
with Maritime Aviation.
The Founding Officers and Board of Directors were:
Chairman
- MGen (Ret'd) Ian Patrick
VPresident
- Keith Wyman
Secretary
- Rod Nixon
Treasurer
- Brad Pineo
Directors:
Roger Brooks
Cindy Bawn
Norman Van Ember
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