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Volume 54 Number 6
www.couriernews.ca
February 9, 2021
There is more to Cold Lake Air Force Museum than Exhibits JOY SMITH, REPORTER The Cold Lake Air Force Museum (CLAFM) is a fully accredited Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) museum that interprets the history of 4 Wing Cold Lake from its inception in 1954 to the present. The galleries in the museum portray Squadron histories, technologies, stories, and artifacts. As well, the CLAFM covers the history of 42 Radar Squadron that once inhabited the facility during the Cold War era. Most people do not realize just what happens in a museum on a daily basis. Preserving the past is a big job, it’s not just dusting exhibits and greeting visitors; the purpose of a museum goes much deeper than that. Museums are charged with the task of conserving and preserving the past and to educate visitors about that past. CLAFM Curator, Jennifer Ross and Collections Assistant, Wanda Stacey take that responsibility very seriously and are dedicated to sharing the history of 4 Wing Cold Lake. A museum’s inventory is comprised of three parts: exhibits, archives and collections. Only about 25 to 30 percent of the CLAFM’s inventory is actually on display, most of the museum’s artifacts are kept in a climate-monitored artifact room or sealed cabinets to protect them from dust, pests, excessive fluctuations in temperature and humidity, as well as added security. As well as artifacts the CLAFM also has archives. An archive can contain films, videos, microfiche, newspapers, reference materials, publications, blue prints, slides, photographs, reel to reel recordings and certificates. According to Jennifer Ross, archives are one of the most difficult items to maintain because of their fragile and delicate nature. Newspapers and other publications can deteriorate just by being handled or exposed to light. Archives must be treated with the utmost care. The third important aspect of the museum is their collection. The CLAFM’s collection is comprised of artifacts pertaining to the existence of 4 Wing Cold Lake particularly during the Cold War. The CLAFM has a number of very interesting artifacts in their collection. One of the most recent donations made to the museum is a piece of the Berlin Wall, which ties in perfectly with the Cold War theme. Another interesting artifact is a comic book written in German featuring a superhero who is from 441 Squadron titled “Dat H’ampire H’air Train Plan.” The author wrote an inscription to 441 Squadron on the inside cover of the book. The CLAFM also has a time capsule belonging to 1 AMS which is due to be opened sometime this year. Continued on page 2...
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There are many interesting artifacts at the museum including this comic book written in German featuring a superhero who is from 441 Squadron.
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