Key Second World War plane to visit P.E.I. as part of RCAF's 100th anniversary - Action News
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PEI

Key Second World War plane to visit P.E.I. as part of RCAF's 100th anniversary

The plane, one of just 13 remaining Cansos in the world, is a former patrol bomber and submarine hunter.

Former patrol bomber and submarine hunter will visit Charlottetown and Summerside

An orange and green prop plane with the numbers
A restored Canso airplane sits on the tarmac at the Fairview, Alta., airport. One of 13 such remaining planes will be on P.E.I. June 24-26. (Nola Keeler/CBC)

One of the last examples of a Canso, a plane that played a significant rolein the Second World War, will visit P.E.I. as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 100th anniversary celebrations.

"The Canso played a vital role in Canada's history," retired air force sergeant Debbie Reidtold CBC News.

"It was used as a patrol bomber and submarine hunter during the war and it flew over[the] NorthAtlantic."

After the war, the plane was used by theair force forphoto reconnaissance and search and rescue, said Reid, who is also president of the RCAF Association 201 Wing Charlottetown.

The planewas retired in November1962.

About 3,600 Cansoswere built worldwide, fewer than 1,000 of those in Canada. Only 13 remain.

A black and white photo of a risen submarine with crew standing on it. A plane flies overhead.
The German submarine U-889 surrenders off Shelburne, N.S., in May 1945. The aircraft is a Canso from the RCAF's No. 161 Squadron. (National Archives of Canada/The Canadian Press)

The Royal Canadian Air Force was created 100 years ago, formed from two squadrons that flew during the First World War. The RCAF is holding celebrations to mark the anniversary across the country.

Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry and Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown will be at a ceremony at 2 p.m. Monday onthe P.E.I. Flying Associationtarmac off Brackley Point Road. People are asked to be seated by 1:45 p.m., and walkarounds of the plane will be possible afterwarduntil 5 p.m.

A similar ceremony takes place at Summerside's Slemon Park on Wednesday.A fly-past with squadrons from Greenwood begins at 1 p.m., with a lecture following at2 p.m. Aircraft tours will be offered from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

The detailed schedule for this week's events in P.E.I. tied to the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The detailed schedule for this week's events in P.E.I. tied to the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. (CBC)

With files from Laura Chapin