Membership
Malton CF-100 Rededication Ceremony 24 Sept. 2017: A tribute to teamwork
Photos and report by Gord McNulty
An impressive restoration of Avro Canada CF-100 Mk 5 Canuck, tail number 18619, was celebrated during a Rededication Ceremony at Legion Memorial Gardens at Paul Coffey Park in Malton on 24 Sept. To see this aircraft looking resplendent once again is a tribute to excellent teamwork and vision by people who recognize the importance of the CF-100 to Canada’s aviation history. The aircraft was first erected on a concrete pedestal in the gardens in 1972, a fitting location not far from the Avro plant where 692 CF-100s were built between 1950 and 1958.
Sunny, albeit sweltering, skies prevailed as Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who spearheaded the restoration with the help of generous sponsors and the City of Mississauga, presided over the ceremony. The Toronto Scottish Regiment and a colour party from Streetsville Legion Branch 139 participated. A warm and sincere thank you is owed to the long list of sponsors who made what Carolyn described as an incredible restoration possible.
The aircraft entered service in 1956 with 433 Squadron. It served with No. 3 AW(F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, until early 1962. Taken on strength by (reassigned to) the Canadian Armed Forces at CFB Borden in 1968, the aircraft retained its RCAF serial number and markings. It became an instructional airframe in 1969 and was struck off strength in 1972.
Originally destined for display at the Barrie Legion, the airframe was purchased for $500 by the Malton Royal Canadian Legion Branch 582. The CF-100 was then erected on a pedestal in the Legion Memorial Gardens at Wildwood Park (now Paul Coffey Park) and officially unveiled in October 1972. It was first restored in 1994 but over time it continued to deteriorate and either had to be moved to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton or completely stripped and repainted.
The City was fortunate to find Jim Hurlburt & Sons Heritage Restoration of Barrie, who had refurbished a CF-100, No. 18683, displayed at Haliburton, ON. They concluded the Malton CF-100 was structurally sound but badly in need of preservation. To accelerate the project, more than $45,000 was raised from donors and $6,000-$7,000 in donated paints came from PPG Paints. Magellan Aerospace, the lead donor, gifted two significant parcels of land at the park, where the CF-100 and the Malton War Memorial are located. Magellan has long been an important part of the Malton community.
The CF-100 was stripped to bare metal by blasting with fine glass particles. A primer of 16 gallons of paint was applied, then 16 gallons of silver, exact duplicate decals and eight gallons of clear coat. A solar panel to light the cockpit, wing tips and tail provided a unique finishing touch. The job was completed on 5 August, 2017. For more coverage of the ceremony and information about the restoration, check out Carolyn Parrish’s website at www.carolynparrish.ca/cf100.
CF-100 18619
Avro Canada CF-100 Mk 5, 18619, rededicated at Malton on Sept. 24, 2017.
The colour party from Streetsville Legion Branch 149 marches off as Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish watches at the podium.
The Toronto Scottish Regiment participated in the CF-100 Rededication Ceremony with Streetsville Legion Branch 139.
The Toronto Scottish Regiment.
Korry Frew of lead sponsor Magellan Aerospace spoke at the ceremony.
Two excellent plaques at the base of the CF-100 in the Legion Memorial Gardens in Malton.
