The Yukon government is charging two Calgarians for violating heritage law by salvaging a WWII bomber (the “flying prostitute” in question) from a Yukon lake.
“…[the Yukon gov't] fears the Watson Lake Marauder could wind up in an American private collection, much like a P-39 Cobra fighter that was allowed to leave the Yukon and ended up in a private museum in Oregon.” [CBC]
Hmm. Given that the Yukon has let the plane in question rust away in 70ft of water for 67 years so far (it crashed in 1942), their claim that it represents part of their heritage and a potential tourist attraction seems a bit… strident. The Calgarians have stated their intention of restoring the plan for public museum display; why doesn’t the territorial government work with them (instead of charging them!) and by sharing costs or contributing resources, ensure that the plane lands in a Yukon museum?
Fascinating history in the article, by the way.
Many Marauders were part of a lend-lease program that helped arm Russia against the Nazi invasion. In a massive airlift called the Northwest Staging Route, about 7,000 warplanes were flown from Great Falls, Mont., to Fairbanks, Alaska, en route to Siberia. There were stops in Canada to refuel. [CBC]
I was unaware of the North’s aviation history and role in WWII; this bomber seems like an ideal way to share that history and make it engaging for more Canadians. Its a shame that legal wrangling is tying it up.
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This old plane should be called more correctly a Baltimore whore because its pilots quickly noticed it had no visible means of support. Anyway, put it in a museum someplace. bobbie
Baltimore? I don’t get that connection. Agreed – museum, public/private collaboration, done – sans lawsuits and criminal charges.