Bomber Command Museum of Canada, Nanton, Alberta

My friends and I had just a very quick stop at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada on Highway #2 at Nanton, Alberta, on our way south from Calgary, heading down to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, US. Not sure, but I think this interesting museum was previously called the Nanton Lancaster Museum, or maybe that is its most recent name. My photo is of one of the planes that is on display outside. It's a very sobering thought that there are 10,659 names on the Museum's Memorial Wall.

Just read that in 2010, the Nanton Lancaster Society made the decision to change the name of the museum from the Nanton Lancaster Museum to the Bomber Command Museum of Canada.

Their website is a great place for those interested in information about War and Aviation:

www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/

"The Canadian Air and Space Museum in Toronto describes the T-33, or CT-133 as it was manufactured in Canada, as the following:

"Known as the "T-Bird", the Lockheed T-33 started life in 1944 as America's first operational jet fighter, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star. In 1948 a second cockpit was added to create the world's first jet trainer: the T-33.

Canada entered the jet age at this time (the Avro CF-100 Canuck prototype was being built) and was therefore looking for its own jet trainer. Canadair of Cartierville, Quebec won the contract to build the RCAF version of the T-33, and the first "CT-133 Silver Star" rolled out in 1953. Over 650 were built and distributed to bases all over Canada.

Two squadrons (400 & 411) operated CT-133s as trainers here at Downsview when it was a Canadian Forces Base.

Surprisingly, the T-33 was a better performer than the original F-80 Shootng Star. In addition, the CT-133 Silver Star with its Canadian-built Rolls-Royce Nene engine was 50 mph faster than the American version.

Though replaced as Canada's advanced jet trainer by the Canadair CL-41 Tutor in 1963, the CT-133 continued service in radio, electronic warfare, reconnaissance and navigation training roles until officially retired in 1995. In fact, two Silver Stars remained in service with the Engineering Test Establishment at Cold Lake, Alberta, until July 2005, making the CT-133 the longest serving aircraft in the Canadian Forces. It has over 50 years of service and 2.4 million flight hours."

For further information about this particular plane:
www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMF2Q4_Canadair_T_33_Silverst...