After more than a year of planning, structural work and exhibit renovations, the Great War Flying Museum GWFM) re-opened to the public last Saturday at Brampton Flight Centre. Mayor Allan Thompson was on hand to cut the ribbon, accompanied by Museum Curator Nat McHaffie, Councillor Johanna Downey and her son Angus, 4. GWFM was created through the efforts of the Ontario Aviation Historical Society, founded in 1970 by a group of members at the Brampton Flying Club. With a vision was to inspire a passion and appreciation for First World War aviation history, it is dedicated to all those who served in the world's first air war. The restored museum now houses a renewed collection of original First World War uniforms, artifacts, documents and art through new displays of aircraft models, rare treasures and aviation-related dioramas. There were several members of the family of David Henry Tachauer, who flew in the Great War, and shot down a Fokker D-7. The museum has a replica of such a craft. The family contributed several sets of uniforms to the collection.
Photo by Bill Rea