Dr. Lisa M. Daly, PhD

A poster on a white background with black text. The title, in block letters reads: Next meeting of the Ottawa Chapter Canadian Aviation Historical Society. Under that is a colour photo of part of a wrecked airplane tail surrounded by bright green foliage. The visible aluminum of the aircraft is mangled, showing some of the inner parts of the tail. Under the photo reads: Storied Crashes: How Aviation Archaeology, Folklore, and the Documentary Record Tells the Story of Aircraft Incidents. Dr. Lisa M. Daly, PhD Explore the aviation history of Newfoundland and Labrador through three archaeological case studies that reveal the importance of archaeological investigation combined with folklore and the documentary record to find a more complete story of an aircraft crash site. The case studies include Gull Pond which had been rumoured to be the site of an airplane crash possible dating back to a 1927 flight, the crash of RCAF Canso 9807 and the incident records, which shows how the Canadians and the Americans stationed at Gander would work together, and finally, the crash of USN Hudson 03844, which shows how the official record, as well as folklore and archaeology helped paint a more complete picture of how the community of Harbour Buffett forged a relationship with US naval Air Station Argentia after that crash. Join us as Dr. Lisa M. daly, Phd, uses these three examples to show the variety of methods and the documents used to uncover the aviation history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Location: online via zoom meeting login information will be sent to CAHS Ottawa members 48 hours before the meeting. For non-members, email cahsottawa@gmail.com to receive the login information. All are welcome! Date Thursday 26 February 2026 at 1900 hours, with virtual doors opening at 1845. Landing fee, none.

This Thursday I will be giving a free online talk for the Ottawa chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society exploring the research that goes into aviation archaeology through three case studies.
Details in the image below. Please contact cahsottawa@gmail.com to register.

A color image of a white desktop spiral-bound calendar standing on a reflective surface against a deep red background with blurred red and white bokeh lights. The top page shows "December" in gray text, with the large red number "23" centered below it. Handwritten-style red text "Tibb's Eve" is circled in red around the date 23. Below the calendar, large white ornate text reads "TIBB'S EVE" with a subtle reflection beneath it.

Happy Tibb's Eve!
Also known as Tipp's Eve and Tipsy Eve, it is a holiday to honour a fictional saint.
The holiday found its way to Newfoundland from Britain and has slowly spread around Canada.
This is the story!

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Thanks! It can certainly be fun, heading out and searching for aircraft wrecks. I don't get into the field a whole lot, but have been spending time doing historical research. And, like yourself, have been in touch with family members of intetesting people who share amazing stories.

I'm currently reading The Facemaker and Clare's diary with Fitzharris' analysis really brings the atmosphere of the hospital to life, and the comparison to the other hospitals Clare visited says a lot about the challenges of caring for WWI casualties.

Events & Past Lectures › Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society Promoting knowledge and public discussion of the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society has their lectures up on their website. While NQ costs money, issues that are older than 10 years are free online, and the NLHS lectures are free to watch and to attend in-person or online. Find info on the website. www.nlhistory.ca/news/

Two years ago now, fall of 2023. It's an island off the island of Newfoundland, in Placentia Bay, near what was a US Naval Base in Argentia, NL. There's a short report about it available on the Provincial Archaeology Office Annual Review that's free to read.
www.gov.nl.ca/tcar/files/P...

New Membership or Renewal › Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society Promoting knowledge and public discussion of the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador

NQ is available in stores across the province, and, a membership to the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society comes with a subscription to the Newfoundland Quarterly. It won't get you this issue, but makes a great gift for future issues! @nlhistorical.bsky.social

A picture of part of a page from a magazine. At the top is an image of a small boat with two people as shadows, then the title Aspects, subtitle Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society. Above Aspect is a line drawing of a biscuit box house. Under this is a title in pink block letters that reads Harbour Buffett and the US Navy Hudson Bomber, subtitle in black reads The Impact of an Aircraft Crash on a Community. In small letters it reads by Lisa M Daly and Neil M Burgess.

The winter 2025/26 issue of the Newfoundland Quarterly is all about aviation history, including an article by myself and Neil Burgess about our survey of a WWII crash site near Harbour Buffett, NL, as the Aspects article, contributed by the @nlhistorical.bsky.social

A black and white photo of Governor William Lamond Allardyce laying wreath at the Memorial to the Missing. Governor and Lady Allardyce visited Newfoundland Memorial Park in 1926, and laid wreaths at the memorial. Allardyce was governor of Newfoundland (1922 to 1928). The Memorial features large bronze plaques that list the war dead of WWI of Newfoundland and Labrador. The plaques are in a stone wall. Behind the wall is a rocky hill and at the top is a bronze statue of a caribou, the emblem for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. There is a man placing a large Wreath in front of the names of the war dead.

Lest We Forget

Wreath laying at the Newfoundland War Memorial, Beaumont-Hamel Park, July 1, 1926

(In Newfoundland and Labrador, we honour those who served on both Remembrance Day and on July 1st, Memorial Day)
From PANL Item A 11-168

An image of a speaker in a lecture hall. On the screen behind the speaker is a mostly blue screen with yellow and orange images of women along the left side of the screen. Over the images is the title, in blue on a while square, it reads Up She Rises in big letters. In front of the screen, standing at a podium with the Memorial University logo is a woman in a while shirt.

Up She Rises! A public forum presented by @nlhistorical.bsky.social about women and gender in Newfoundland and Labrador Historical is happening this weekend.
A free event in person at @memorialu.bsky.social or online. To attend, visit the NLHS website here: www.nlhistory.ca/program/

I could certainly see this. I won't buy a pair of shoes until I'm sure I can do at least and underarm turn in them. Might even practice some bigger turns if @shannonkgreen.bsky.social is with me.
On that note, registration for Ballroom Dance classes start soon with the City of St. John's, NL.

Their Sturdy Pride: RCAF Torbay History and Aviation Mysteries of NL Their Sturdy Pride: RCAF Torbay History and Aviation Mysteries of NL: Daly PhD, Lisa M, Sherren CD, Nelson J: 9781774781395: Books - Amazon.ca

This clipping from a French publication shows an image of Harmon Field, the airfield in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador.
From L'Evenement Journal, October 11, 1946. PANL GN 51 Box 8 file GN 51.21
The history of this crash is explored in Their Sturdy Pride. a.co/d/gLLwY40

A newspaper clipping of an image of an airfield. There are two hangars on the left side of the image, one behind the other, with domed rooves. On the right side of the image, a number of aircraft are lined up perpendicular to the hangars, noses pointed away from the photographer. In the background are the hills that surround much of Stephenville and the airport. The caption translation is in the post text, and under the image, on the black paper of the scrapbook, L'Evenement Journal Oct. 11/46 is written in silver.

Harmon Field Aerodrome: It is from this location, in Newfoundland, where the airplanes and ground teams left to aid victims of the aviation accident that cost 39 people their lives in Stephenville, Newfoundland, a couple of days ago. Sadly all of the crew and passengers died before help arrived.

Ah, that is interesting. I just assumed it was a distraction, like the JFK files in his first term. Anyway, I hope there's a bit about her two transatlantic flights from Newfoundland so I can get that in the book I'm working on. But I'm guessing the focus will be her round-the-world attempt.

Thank you! And I even talked about little archaeology today!

Love it!

Still reading East to the Dawn (been reading it at work on breaks, so slow going) and maybe these mysterious files will actually just be her letters to the Roosevelts and the plans made with with Navy. Some folks might be disappointed if it's just logistics talk!

That is so neat! And a Bessie Coleman! The map from Newfoundland to Ireland is nice for Earhart. I kind of want one to bring to Trepassey and Harbour Grace!

But what if those files point to exactly where her aircraft crashed? The grifters will have to "discover" some new mystery to sell. 🤦‍♀️

Honestly, I'll enjoy reading the radio logs, and would love to see more aviation history related files digitized for easier research.

This is just too much nonsense

Youth Heritage Report 2025 Released

Young people in Newfoundland and Labrador are seeking greater professional-level employment opportunities in the heritage and cultural industries, according to a newly-released report. The study, co-authored by Heritage NL, the Association of NL Archives, and…

I'm turning this presentation into a paper to be published this winter. Details soon.
The presentation about fire in St John's referenced below can be found in the current issue of NQ (Newfoundland Quarterly) as the @nlhistorical.bsky.social Aspects article. It's a great read.

It's so hard to know. In some cases it seems like she wanted to be the centre of attention and would love the never-ending searches and being one of the most famous aviators ever, and then she writes how she doesn't want to be at the centre of things. Though Putnam pushed the fame aspect a lot.

Looking at their website, they seem to be doing actual archaeology and recording non-famous wrecks. It will be interesting to see if their fourth attempt finds something. Their article on a Greek wreck looks really interesting and has a well-written proposal for archaeology, not wreckchasing.

Happy Amelia Earhart Day!
Today we celebrate her achievements that echo through the generations.
✈️❤️

I have enjoyed some of these "discoveries" like a note in error-riddled French from the Oiseu Blanc that washed up on a beach in the US.
I think so many want these mysteries solved and the aircraft found that conclusions will often be based on a rumour or flimsy evidence. It makes for a good story.

And shout-out to The Rooms and the Provincial Archives staff. I emailed last night after close asking for a while bunch of boxes to be pulled, then showed up just after opening and the boxes were ready and waiting for me. Thanks for making research that much easier!

A copy of a dispatch reading: May 20, 1933. Sir. Referring to Dispatch No. 150 of the 6th May, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, with respect to a report in the London Press of the 27th March, 1933, to the effect that two skeletons and the wreckage of an aeroplane had been found in the woods in a remote part of Newfoundland, I have the honor to enclose, in duplicate, copy of an item published in the column of the Evening Telegram, St. John's, on the 27th March, 1933, setting forth that there was no foundation whatever to the rumour which had recieved such wide circulation. I have the honour to be, sir, your excellency's obedient servant, Secretary of State.

I did find a report from 1933 that investigated stories of the remains of an aircraft and aviators found, and seemed to have no credence whatsoever. It was a rumour published by the international press. I'll have to look up the Press articles next to see what they said.

Their Sturdy Pride: RCAF Torbay History and Aviation Mysteries of NL Their Sturdy Pride: RCAF Torbay History and Aviation Mysteries of NL eBook : Daly, Lisa, Sherren, Nelson: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store

Many of these communities no longer exist, but with this seach the only stories they found were those recorded in Harbour Grace.
This map is not in mine and Nelson Sherren's book, Their Sturdy Pride, but there is a lot more about the search for the Oiseau blanc (the White Bird).
a.co/d/508xMNh

A map of the island of Newfoundland from 1927. Along the coast, from Notre Dame Bay and all along the coast moving east, then south, and west along the south coast to Port aux Basque, there are colored lines indicating the ports of call for various ships who stopped at many of the communities along the coast asking about the missing aviators, Nungesser and Coli and the Oiseau Blanc.

I found some writings regarding the Oiseau blanc and the search for Nungesser and Coli in Newfoundland. This map shows the ships that were asked to ask at every coastal stop about any sightings or information about the missing aviators (routes are the coloured markings).