3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, July 23, 2009 Check us out at www.oakvillebeaver.com PHOTO COURTESY WWW.BUFFALO461.CA NEARLY NEW: The restoration of a derelict ex-Sudanese Air Force DHC-5D Buffalo 811 into a replica of Canadian Forces CC-115 Buffalo 461 is nearly completed at the Canadian Warplane heritage Museum in Hamilton thanks to the tireless efforts of a team of volunteers, including Oakville resident Bob Yorke. Tribute to Canadian peacekeepers Continued from page 1 As it turned out, he would need every one of those skills. "It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle," said Yorke. "They had cut it up into five truckloads of parts and pieces so it could be shipped up to the airport there. When I got to it, the basic hull was in two pieces, the wings and the tail section were all outside in pieces...great fun." As the years went by the Buffalo began to take shape. However, many parts were missing, while others had to be replaced. This was not the easiest task for an airplane that dates back several decades. The volunteers had to be resourceful to get the parts they needed. For instance, they salvaged a nose gear wheel from the remnants of a Buffalo at a Newmarket wrecking yard. Other parts came from a variety of other sources. "A lot of the parts we had to make ourselves and a lot of the parts we had to sponge off various people who had bits and pieces of it lying around across the country," said Yorke. "There's still six of these airplanes flying for the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) in Comox. They're used for search and rescue, but the government doesn't want to give us too many parts." Yorke's main reconstruction area was the plane's cockpit. His hard work can be seen on the reconstruction group's website (www.buffalo461.ca) where photos show the cockpit going from a twisted mess of metal and wiring with no floor to a fully restored state where the instruments are in place and appear ready for takeoff. Today, the restoration of the Buffalo is near completion. It is freshly painted in the UN colours Buffalo 461 bore during its final flight. While reconstructing the aircraft may have been a lot of work, Yorke said it's important to shine some light on the nine Canadians who gave their lives in pursuit of peace a world away from home. "When this airplane crashed and all those guys were killed Watergate was going on, and so they got shoved way to the back pages and seem to have been forgotten. It's amazing how many people don't know about this particular incident," said Yorke. "I guess the object of this is to commemorate their memory." The memory of the nine Buffalo peacekeepers and all other Canadian peacekeepers will receive special attention on Aug. 9, during the Peacekeepers' Day services that will take place at the Canadian Warplane Museum. On that day around 1,000 veterans from UN peacekeeping missions, Legion members and others will attend the services, which will also see the dedication of the rebuilt Buffalo. "Every little bit of this plane that you added on certainly gave you a feeling of accomplishment," said Yorke. "It was just a fascinating project to be involved with." For Everyday and Every Occasion Fresh arrangements, fruit baskets, balloons, seasonal items, wicker dish gardens, greenery and so much more. SUMMER SPECIAL! $25 CALL NOW! SPECIAL OFFER 5 SESSIONS OF DANCING NEW STUDENT OFFER By Yourself or with a partner (OVER 21 YEARS OLD) Come see why we've been voted one of Oakville's best florists. · more fun · self confidence · meet people · grace & poise OAKVILLE HAMILTON 461 Brant Street 905.639.7001 www.brantflorist.com email: gifts@brantflorist.com EXPERIENCE THE BEST PATRICK MAGUIRE MANAGER CHADD LOCKWOOD DEALER "The only deal we can't beat y is the one we don't see." oakvilledodge.com VIEW PHOTOS & VIDEO OF OUR ENTIRE INVENTORY ONLINE @ OAKVILLE DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP & 270 Oak Park Blvd. T R A FA L G A R D U N D A S 905-845-4211