Ed Zaruk's Archives

When Pete Lazarenko phoned Rollie Hammerstdt at OCA’s Redditt hangar and mentioned he had some Norseman stuff for sale, Rollie said he wasn’t interested as they had a yard full of Norseman spares.  Pete persisted and Rollie agreed to buy the lot for $6000.  Barney figured he could do better and, in bargaining with his old nemesis,  ended up paying $10,000.  Included in the deal was CF-OBE, all in pieces.

After KVB, with its metal belly and sides was in service, the carcass of OBE was dragged into the hangar and work started on rebuilding it.  By now Barney had acquired CF-UUD. (See article below)  Rollie and Ed Hanratty found some issues with this airplane and decided to keep only the wings and stabiliser, incorporating them in a full metalization of OBE. 

With the experience gained in sheeting both SAN, and KVB, Sid Green took on the task of covering the compound curvature of the fuselage.  OBE also benefited from the narrow pilot’s doors and light one-piece cargo doors, which were beginning to become industry standard.  When complete, the only wood remaining in the fuselage was the birch plywood floor.  After the metal wings and stabilizer were installed, all the control surfaces, as well as the vertical stabilizer were installed and covered with new fabric.  Before the interior could be finished, Barney had shut down the Redditt operation because of mercury pollution in the English River, and the airplane was ferried to Gimli, Manitoba to be completed.

It remained in service with OCA, operating out of Red Lake until it was bought by Green Airways in 1986. It was the end of a dream, but not the last of the breed as at least two more Norseman were to be skinned with aluminium.  OBE, however, remained the only Norseman to have metal wings.

(Just a note- OBE never, ever had the big door installed.  The installation was only done on CF-UUD by Charlie Ursell in Texas when he skinned UUD and built the metal wings.)