We decided to try and search for the nose section of Comet VC 5301 and communicated (by email message) with the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa on 8 June, 2001. They replied as follows on 11 June 2001.
We were able to find a few key points in the history of our de Havilland Comet Mk.1 that might be of interest to you. - Manufacturer's number 6017 - Royal Canadian Air Force serial number 5301 - First flight 21 February 1953 - Taken on strength 26 February 1953 - Delivered 18 March 1953 - Modified to Mk.1XB standard May to December 1956 - Withdrawn from use 3 October 1964 - Struck off strength 30 July 1965 - Scrapped 1965. Please note that our Comet nose is located in our tightly-packed storage section. We can not really move it and I'm afraid there is not all that much we can do to obtain a clear picture of it. Still, and if you so desire, we could check how much it would cost to have a few photos done and developed. We hope that this information will be of use to you. Yours sincerely, Renald Fortier Curator, Aviation History Canada Aviation Museum OttawaAnd the story continues
Our thanks to Larry Wilson who also reported on 11 June, 2001, as follows:
I went down to the Canada Aviation Museum this afternoon to see about the Comet. It is there and I got a special tour to see what is left of it. It has not been restored and is way in the back of the hanger jammed in amongst numerous others. There were many parts (wings, tails, struts etc) of at least a dozen aircraft within 3 feet of the Comet, consequently the pictures I took have parts of other aircraft in them. What is left of the Comet is exactly as you said - the nose section and the cockpit. I don't think what remains if more than 8 feet long. As far as any detail goes, the only thing visible was the number 01. In talking to my tour guide (who knew a lot about the planes on display and not too much about those not yet restored) the museum is supposed to be building another hanger but the Comet and others probably won't be on display for another 5 years. Getting back to the photos, I took one from the left side, one from the right and one looking in the cockpit. I didn't know if this is what you wanted or not, but it's the best I could do. I will forward copies of the photos to you as soon as they have been developed.
And the story continues
For many years it appeared as if the only remains of VC-5301 were located in the Canada Aviation Museum located in Ottawa. We eventually were advised that there were a few additional parts from VC-5301 located in the RCAF Memorial Museum in Trenton. It took about a year, but we have finally been able to obtain some photos which depict the Comet "escape hatch" - on display in Trenton.
Our thanks to Roger Cyr who also reported on 20 May, 2005, as follows:
I visited the RCAF Memorial Museum in Trenton this afternoon to see about the Comet. We were advised that there are two remaining pieces of Comet VC-5301 in this museum. An escape hatch, and a pitot tube. I was fortunate to obtain a few photos of the Comet "escape hatch" for our web site.
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Updated: May 20, 2005
