Hi Les,
I have done a search for Lasalle Airport based on the map and coordinates you gave me. I have attached a list of photos that cover the area where the airport should be. I have attached a sample scan of one of the photos from 1930. The only evidence of an airport are the small white airplanes parked in the field. There doesn't look like there is a runway of any sort (although, a flat grassy field often works). Let me know if you're interested in any of the photos.
Regards,
Dan
Dan
15 comments:
Great work by Dan & quick too......................... Thanks Dan.
ps: Click on the Photo to enlarge it............................................Cheers !
Les,
The photo is identified as being the LaSalle Airport. We can see the LaSalle boulevard with the Lachine rapids on the lower right. Unfortunately the photo is not very clear and may be difficult to reprint for our SHGV magazine.. Nevertheless, it is a major find and will be quite a susrprise for those who are unaware of the presence of an airport in the 30s. Your contact says that he has other photos so could you ask him to share them with us.
Guy
Congratulations –So glad you found the missing piece to the puzzle (airport). Wonder what else to discover about Verdun Lasalle ----Pauline
..here is the most recent email
Hi Les,
We can provide only digital scans at the moment. 300 dpi scans are $24.99 and 600 to 1200 dpi scans are $32.49. The photo is 7" x 9" so the scans would be ~7 MB for 300 dpi, ~25 MB for 600 dpi and ~100 MB for 1200 dpi.
Dan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: LesF
Sent: August 29, 2011 2:50 PM
To: NAPL/PNA
Subject: Re: Lasalle Airport
Hi Dan, fantastic work & quick too, I appreciate your efforts . I will now show the scanned photo to our group,& see what more interest it creates. I am guessing we can get copies (if so what is entailed, eg: price , size etc etc) I will relay your info & number to interested parties. Thanks Again & best regards from Canada's Westcoast, ( Les ,Victoria BC)
Les,
I presume they are referring to the posted aerial photo. Do they have other photos of the LaSalle airport ? Will a digital photo be clearer ? I will find out if our society (SHGV) is willing to pay for a digital photo. We have a meeting on thursday the first of september.
Guy
I have added the aerial photo of the LaSalle airport to my alkbum no. 58. I expect an article I wrote on the LaSalle airport to be published soon on the Verdun Messanger site
Guy
I have a few comments about airports. to add. Airports such as LaSalle and Windsor Mills were grass fields with an area graded to provide a smooth area for take offs and landings. There were no paved runways. Yhe grass was kept shorter to provide a reference to the landing and T.O.area of the field. We actually called these areas air fields not air ports.During the war the fighters took off in formation from grass fields.Bombers used runways kw10110
Thanks Ken (kw1010) That's what i thought initially,that these were airfields not really airports. We did though find newspaper articles calling this area the Lasalle Airport,& actually noone I ever met nor asked even heard of this place in Lasalle. I didn't know that keeping the grass shorter was for identifying the strip from the air.......but it does make sense.
If you want to see a modern day guy land his plane in a farmers field,then see if you can find a prohram called "Wings Over Canada" they did a show for a while hilighting private pilots & places all over the country, They did a show on a friend of mine ,showing him landing in a farmers field right beside his house.Neat to watch. I will see if I can find an episode guide ( if they even have this program on TV anymore) he lived up near Comox BC ( Cumberland actually) .....
Anywa y I'm drifting off topic) thanks for your input. Cheers !! HF&RV
It was fun tracking down this airport/airstrip topic... Les
Thanks Ken for your comments. Now we know the difference between an airport and an airfield. I have added your comments to my album no. 58,
Your right Les, this was a fun project wich was of particular interest to you having lived in LaSalle. As usual, you have been instrumental in helping us solve the mystery. It has been a team effort by MVC members. Lets continue our cooperation. Hopefully, more information will turn up in the future that will add to this historical event.
Guy
I have checked my Robert french/english dictionary and the translation for Airfield is terrain d'aviation wich makes sence. I have learned something new today, thanks to Ken.
Guy
I was talking to a friend about this today. He mentionned that when he was a kid that they got into one the sheds and found lights that were all wrapped up and stole one and they also found headgear with microphones on them. There were rumors that the RCMP was in the area lookiing for thieves so they took the stuff and threw it in a swamp in that area. So I guess this information at least shows there was some air force activity in the area.
What else did they expect. A former airfield hangar,and unguarded, the perfect place for us curious and mischievous kids to explore. Nice anecdote to add to the LaSalle airfield saga. Keep them coming.
Guy
Just a bit of trivia. When landing on a wet grass runway , there is not much traction for braking so one had to be extra careful. kw10110
I never thought of that, I guess skidding would be a problem.
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