Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) June 2, 2005
Progress Report (Number 7)
by KARL KJARSGAARD (Project Manager)
To bring you up to date as we enter the month of June,2005 I will pass this message I have sent to the Nanton Lancaster Society and their Curator Bob Evans.
Some interesting happenings for the Halifax Project the past few weeks which are like "2 steps forward-one step back".
In early May a contact in Houston, one Adam Jackson, passed on to me info that his company Fugro, a deep sea exploration leader in the field, was going to do a deep sea sonar job (in the area of Halifax LW170) for a major oil company. I immediately contacted Fugro Aberdeen , Scotland and in turn, the Oil company to lobby for them to include a sonar survey of the location of LW170 after they finished their scientific work nearby. Both companies were positive in their response to my proposal. The oil company was willing to offer resources and Fugro agreed to use their highest technology, the "HUGIN" underwater sonar submarine, to survey the location of LW170. Fugro's technology is so advanced that they can do in 3 days (with more accuracy) what would take the other companies 6 days. Fugro are not cheap, twice the daily rate of others,but they decided that this project was historic and have quoted us a 50% reduction in daily rates to do the sonar survey for LW170. So the cost will be the same but with more accuracy.
These are the 2 steps forward. The one step back was that as the oil company job schedule was delayed a week, and we have lost our Halifax survey window with Fugro NOW. But they have said they will still offer us the lowest rate they can when they are ready to go thru or near
LW170's location this summer. Therefore, with this step-forward of teeing up Fugro's high tech
talents for the immediate future ( for a wholesale price) we have made progress. We are now promised
and are certain of the best tools available for LW170. The funding is the only and last hurdle remaining.
I am hopefull that the American will be of help as so many of their boys were in the RCAF, as I have told them. We have a core group of supporters in Richmond, Virginia who are influential and powerful. These people are determined to help us find the funding to locate and recover the Halifax. I will be meeting with them soon in Richmond.
Also, thru the Canadian Embassy in Washington I have made an official request to the U.S. Navy to access their databases and underwater technology resources to help us find LW170 in our sonar survey area. Hopefully our American brothers and sisters will be able to help us in our quest as their sons helped us some 60 years ago in the RCAF in winning Victory and Freedom.
We still have not been able to find a corporate, government, or philanthropic sponsor for the $150,000 cost of the Halifax sonar survey ( I still have some hair left - sorry Bob - after many refusals and rejections and I will continue to find a good sponsor!). The legal costs for Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) to become a Registered Charity have now been paid in full with the donations from our membership fees and donations to the Halifax Project. Funding is still required if we are keep up our efforts to promote the Halifax Project and find a good sponsor.
I have been very busy with 2 months of training with Air Canada and have not had the time to apply myself to other activities beyond what I have reported today. I am still in training a while longer.
I apologize for the slow progress of the Project but it is progress. In 1944, did our fathers and grandfathers know that Victory was only a year away in 1945? The only guarantee they gave was they would do their best and never give up. It is wise to emulate them.
Press on Regardless...
Best wishes to you all,
KARL KJARSGAARD
Project Manager
Suite 212 - 2980 Colonial Road
Sarsfield, Ontario
K0A 3E0
email- 57rescuecanada@rogers.com
phone 613 835 1748
P.S. Have included a photos of NA337 from September 1995 with yours truly and March 2005, almost restored. The Official dedication ceremony of Canada's first (but not last) Halifax will be November 5, 2005.
Please pass this news along.