After pooling their money to purchase a
Fairey Firefly, Dennis Bradley, Peter Matthews, Alan Ness, and John Weir moved the aircraft into Hangar 4 at
Hamilton Airport in 1972. A few years later, the museum purchased a second hangar, Hangar 3, as well. The collection was expanded with the acquisition of additional aircraft – including a B-25 in 1975 and a Lancaster in 1977. However, that same year Alan Ness was killed in the crash of a Fairey Firefly at the
Canadian International Air Show. On February 15, 1993, a fire destroyed most of Hangar #3. Destroyed in the fire were also the
Hawker Hurricane,
General Motors TBM Avenger,
Auster,
Stinson 105 and
Supermarine Spitfire. A new, purpose built hangar was completed in 1996 to replace it. Lancaster VeRA returned to Hamilton on September 29, 2014. == Collection ==