Name/Title
Trail of the Caribou, Wasaga Beach, OntarioEntry/Object ID
2023.804.19Scope and Content
Postcard - Digital CopyContext
Matte finish, black and white photo, slightly yellowed with age, of the "Trail of the Caribou" with the letters "G-ACJM" and a British flag on the tail of the plane. A wooden "BIRCHWOOD" sign on posts is in the background as well as two hydro poles, and "CABINS" and "GROCERIES" signs. A wooden fence is also visible, with trees in the background. Two vehicles and people walking on the beach are seen in the background. Almost the entire back of the card is covered by residual black construction paper - possibly from a photo album. The bottom 1/4" of the back of the postcard is discoloured.
The History of Flight in Wasaga Beach:
The beachfront at Wasaga Beach was originally used as a main roadway and it was also a natural runway for airplanes. In 1933, Captain James Mollison and his wife Amy Johnson attempted to fly their plane, the Seafarer II, from Wasaga Beach to Bagdad, Iraq in an attempt to break the long-distance record. On the day they attempted to take off from the beachfront, high crosswinds made it difficult to take off. On their third attempt, the undercarriage of the plane was damaged preventing any further attempt to take off. The Mollison's sold the Seafarer II to James Ayling and Leonard Reid who restored and renamed the plane “Trail of the Caribou”. Ayling and Reid also planned to attempt to break the record for the longest flight. On the morning of August 8th, 1934, Ayling and Reid took off from Wasaga Beach in the Trail of the Caribou and made it to England. They encountered heavy fog and winds and used more fuel than they had anticipated. Although they did not break the world record, they made the first direct non-stop flight from Canada to England.Acquisition
Accession
2023.804Source or Donor
Deanna AdamsonAcquisition Method
GiftDimensions
Height
3-7/16 inWidth
5-7/16 in
