Canada's Largest Air Force Base, CFB Trenton, is Home to the National Air Force Muesum of Canada. (Part 1: The Resurrection of the Halifax Bomber.)

In order for me to take you inside the National Air Force Museum of Canada, we must go onto the Military base itself. It is located within the city of Quinte West, Trenton ward, Ontario Canada. The base is protected by different levels of security, including its own Military police force so we will be respecting all their rules and regulations.

(I don't think that civilians can be court martialed, but I don't want to test my luck.)

  

No stopping outside the air field is permitted. The best I could do was to take a drive-by photo, for you. The base itself sits on over a 1,000 acres and the entire perimeter is fenced and monitored for National Security purposes.

I can, however, take you right into the National Air Force Museum which is located on the base and is a virtual treasure trove of aviation and Military Air Force history.

It is home to the Handley Page Halifax bomber. It's the World's only known surviving bomber of its kind from World War II.

It has been dug out and exhumed, after being buried at the bottom of a lake in Norway called Lake Mjosa, 750+ feet under water.

Painstakingly restored by over a 100 volunteers, many of whom had flown in one during the war, it took 10 years to restore and 350,000 man hours to bring it back to life.

70% of the bomber was intact when it was brought out of the lake after it had been under water for over 50 years.

It is remarkable.

The complete restoration is well documented and there are several videos. 

This particular video was uploaded to YouTube on Mar. 6th, 2009 by Thierrydamilano.

The Halifax Bomber has 4 engines. Each one, once started boast 1700 horse power.

This is a framed newspaper article that was printed by a local paper and now hangs beside the Halifax.

It's a very large plane and often the pilot and crew were flying it in the dark in temperatures reaching -40 degrees F.

It was cold.

 This shows an exhaust pipe which would also provide heat for the cabin.

Giant wheels.

Bomb bay doors open.

Machine guns.

Silk parachute with cords still intact.

Remnants of a self sealing fuel cell.

The expanse of the body of the plane, getting close to the back of the plane. 

The back of the plane with its machine guns.

A closer look at those big guns:

The entire Halifax Bomber from the back:

The entire Halifax Bomber from the front:

It's an absolutely fantastic restoration, worth making the time to see and a labour of love for many.

The Halifax Bomber was mainly flown by Canadians and was a true workhorse of World War II. It's a huge part of our Canadian aviation history.

This is a little Cessna and me. ;)

Thank you for joining me on a tour of the extremely rare, Halifax Bomber.

I welcome your comments and invite you to follow me on my journey.

~ Rebecca Ryan