Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

National Film Board of Canada - Trans Pacific Flight 1953

I'm not sure how and why I saw short National Film Board of Canada vignettes on television when I was young. I would guess that they may have been broadcast on the CBC on Saturday nights around the time of Hockey Night in Canada. 

Unsurprisingly, today the NFB broadcasts much of their excellent documentaries via YouTube, although they do have their web site where we can watch streaming content and registration is free. Of course, it did not take me long to lose myself there for a few hours. 

I particularly enjoyed an episode of an early TV show called "On the Spot" hosted by Fred Davis on a Trans Pacific flight from Vancouver to Tokyo on board a Canadian Pacific Airlines Douglas DC-6B (CF-CUQ) in 1953. 

The aircraft was new at the time and was named the "Empress of Tokyo" during this trip. It was later renamed "Empress of Buenos Aires."

Sadly, it was destined to be lost on July 8, 1965 on the Vancouver - Prince George leg of a flight to Whitehorse.

Click the image below to view the video on YouTube

Additional Info:

The National Film Board of Canada website

The fate of CF-CUQ at aviation-safety.net

I am very happy to pass along my congratulations to some good friends on their retirements.

Vancouver Purchasing and Supply Manager Stephen Vasseur (no photo available), Duty Manager Mike Feldmann with Lead Stock keeper Tamara Tendeck (below left) and Stock keeper Miron Gazda (below right) received their 'promotions' to the retirement team this past June.

Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to celebrate their 'promotions' together in the future. 

Best of luck to all!