Technology and Tactics at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

During the World War II unit in Grade 10 history, students had to opportunity to choose an area of study to specialize in. On January 16, those students who chose “Technology and Tactics” went to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. There, they learned more about the airplanes and many other technological developments that came to define tactics and strategy in the Second World War.

As they walked through the large hangar that houses the museum, they saw planes dating from the beginning of World War II until today, including those which they have learned about in class. Many of the volunteer guides at the museum have service experience, adding their experience to the first-hand information available from the artifacts.

They got to try on clothing and equipment similar what would have been worn at the time, and even got to sit in the cockpit of a CF-100 fighter jet. They also simulated the Battle of Britain, a pivotal ariel conflict in WWII featuring the Canadian Air Force, learning about the military strategies behind the conflict.

This trip gave students a more thorough understanding of some of the military technologies and tactics that defined conflict in the Second World War.