Museum Goes Global In Support Of Avro Lancaster KB882 Project

There are just a few days left to go in the Kickstarter campaign to fund the transportation of Lancaster Bomber KB882 from Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the Alberta Aviation Museum, a distance of over 2,500 miles.

Of the 7,377 Lancaster's built during WWII, only 17 complete examples survive.  The Alberta Aviation Museum intends to restore Lancaster KB882 in its RCAF 408 Squadron Cold War era configuration circa 1964, which would make the aircraft "one-of-a-kind".  The aircraft will be disassembled and re-assembled by licensed aircraft maintenance professionals in order to ensure the artifact could fly again after restoration.  The goal is to have KB882 relocated to Edmonton in time for 408 Squadron's 75th Anniversary at the end of June 2016.

The Kickstarter campaign will run until December 9th 2015 with a goal of raising $88,244 (the aircraft number and the year it rolled off the assembly line).  Donors to the campaign will receive commemorative merchandise including artwork, t-shirts, pins and coffee mugs on top of their tax receipt.

"Warbird enthusiasts around the world have been watching and waiting to see what happens with this iconic aircraft," says Troy Kirkby, an Alberta Aviation Museum volunteer who is coordinating the online fund drive. "Many have said they would like to make a contribution to ensure KB882's future."

KB882 is one of 430 Lancaster bombers built at Victory Aircraft Limited in Malton (Toronto), Ontario for the Allied war efforts. It flew twelve operational Group 6 RCAF Bomber Command missions over Occupied Europe in 1945, and was returned to Canada at the war's end. In the 1950's the aircraft was modified and put back into service by the RCAF for the mapping of the Arctic in Operation SHORAN, and Cold War reconnaissance missions including surveillance of Soviet ice stations. The aircraft was operated by 408 "Goose" Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario until 1964 when it was acquired by the City of Edmundston, New Brunswick.  408 Squadron is now based at the Edmonton Garrison flying CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

(Image provided with Alberta Aviation Museum news release)

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