February 4, 2025
The Royal Aviation Museum’s Connection to Hollywood History
There’s an old song that goes, “You Oughta Be in Pictures.” As it turns out, two of our museum’s aircraft are the same type as those featured in the classic Hollywood film Captains of the Clouds (Warner Bros. 1942), making them pieces of aviation history that also have a touch of cinematic fame.
Captains of the Clouds – A Landmark in Canadian Cinema
If you’ve never heard of it Captains of the Clouds was a groundbreaking film for its time. It was the first full-length Hollywood feature shot entirely in Canada and starred the legendary James Cagney. The film was made at a critical moment in history, as it was shot during the summer of 1941—before the United States had entered World War II—but released in February 1942, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film aimed to showcase the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) and highlight Canada’s role in the war effort. Among these other things, it also highlighted Canadian Bush Pilots, recognized as tough and daring pilots. The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada has a significant collection of Bush planes and has always made a point of preserving this specific aspect of the Canadian legacy of aviation.
Adding to its historical significance, the film featured an appearance by Air Marshal Billy Bishop, one of Canada’s most celebrated fighter aces of World War I. Bishop had a speaking part during a staged Wings Parade, lending an authentic touch to the film’s depiction of R.C.A.F. training.
Studio publicity photo of actor James Cagney
“This picture is respectfully dedicated to the Royal Canadian Air Force…. With sincere appreciation of their cooperation and admiration for their abilities and courage… To those student pilots in this picture who are now in actual combat overseas….
And most particularly is dedicated to the many in the Service who have trailed the shadows of their wings over the vastness of Canada from the forty-ninth parallel to the Arctic Circle…. The Bush PilotsText in opening credits for Captain of the Clouds
A Warner Bros film
Our Aircraft’s Connection to the Film
Among the many aircraft used in the film, two in our collection are the same models as those that appeared on screen:
Fairchild 71C – This classic bush plane type was used in some of the film’s wilderness flying sequences, capturing the rugged and adventurous spirit of early aviation in Canada.
While Captains of the Clouds was a Hollywood production, the Museum’s Fairchild 71C also has a direct wartime connection beyond the silver screen. This aircraft played a role in the Alaska Highway Project, a massive military initiative to construct a roadway linking the U.S. and Canada during World War II. The aircraft served as a transport and utility plane before crashing in the Yukon in 1943.
After listening to Winston Churchill’s “We shall fight on the beaches” speech on the radio, MacLean and the other bush pilots enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force, only to learn they are deemed too old for combat. Reluctantly, they agree to become flight instructors for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Yale NA-64 – This type of aircraft was prominently used as an RCAF trainer in the movie, as was our Yale. The Yale was one of the planes “flown” by James Cagney’s character, helping to depict the rigorous training pilots underwent before heading into combat.
The “Wings Parade” (officially the “Presentation of Wings Ceremony”) was filmed at No. 2 Service Training School at RCAF Uplands during an actual graduation ceremony for 110 RCAF cadets. It became the film’s most complex scene, featuring a salute from over 100 Harvard training aircraft flying overhead.
While the film’s storyline received mixed reviews, its aerial sequences were widely praised. Shot in vibrant Technicolor, the flying scenes were considered some of the best of their time and remain impressive even today. The movie offered audiences a thrilling portrayal of RCAF operations and served as a powerful piece of wartime filmmaking, inspiring many young men to enlist.
Today, our museum is proud to house these two aircraft, each with a story that spans both aviation history and Hollywood lore. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a film buff, or a history lover, visiting these planes offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience a piece of history firsthand.
So next time you visit the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, take a moment to imagine the roar of the engines, the thrill of the aerial stunts, and the legacy of the pilots—both real and fictional, bush pilots and war time pilots—who once soared through the skies in these remarkable aircraft.
View the cinematic trailer on YouTube:
Listen to Winston Churchill’s Stirring Speech on YouTube:
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