Bike trips out to the airport with Terry Dafoe were always fascinating explorations.
		THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION I was only eight yrs old at the end of the war - however I can recall some of the parts or accessories being resourcefully applied to civilian purposes in Post War Years In southern Saskatchewan the generators and propellers being refitted for electrical power wind turbines on farms (believe this was a 32 volt system) for which the electrical power generated was applied for use in farm homes for radio transmitters and general lighting. The power generated was stored in batteries --if there was no wind there was no electrical power. Wind turbines generating electrical power today is nothing of a new revolution. The propellers were mounted on gasoline engines and thus mounted on the back end of snowmobiles (these snowmobiles were homemade) which were facilitated for use in transportation. The electrical generators from aircrafts were also adapted as arc welders.(NOT VERY POWERFUL) Wheels from the Aircrafts were adapted for use on farm equipment/wagons/farm hay racks The hydraulic rams were facilitated for use on various pieces of equipment. I can recall a dump truck in a municipality in northern Alberta having a front end bucket which facilitated the use of the hydraulic rams --this front end bucket was much the same as a front end loader on a farm tractor and used mainly for loading snow. In all likelihood the hydraulic rams were also facilitated for use on various pieces of farm equipment as well. It would be assumed that some of the aircraft were purchased by individuals for transportation in the north as well as crop dusters etc. At one time aircraft accessories and war surplus materials could be purchased from Princess Auto in Winnipeg and Ribtors in Calgary as the Government of Canada had referred the war surplus materials to these firms. There is no doubt many parts, accessories etc. from the old planes landed in a melting pot. Hoping the above provides some information. As Ever Louis L Damphousse ***** Hi Mr Haig My name is John Ramberg. Past president of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Preservation Society. We had several airfields in southern Alberta that were loaded with aircraft after the war ended i.e. Lethbridge, Pearce, Orton, Fort Mcleod, Claresholm and Vulcan. Some were sold to Hutterite colonies, they cut the wings off and hauled them home, stripped all electric wiring, hydraulics and landing wheels for farm wagons. Most of the planes parts was put to good use. Some folks picked one up as play toy for their boys. The big bombers, very few were sold. The sad part is a lot of these aircraft were pushed in to a big hole and buried. In my travels I stop at the old airfields . So far I have found two dump sites, diameter about 300 feet and very deep.They dumped most everything in those holes when the bases were demobbed. Cheers
						School buddy Don Hansen climbs aboard.
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