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Old 26 April 2002, 10:16 AM   #78 (permalink)
Hugh_A._Halliday
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It was my privilege to know Phil Markham for many years. When anyone writes of the founding of the National Aviation Museum (now the Canada Air Museum) he is counted among the top five or six "founding fathers".

One of his most notable pieces of research concerned the VC action of R.H. "Hammy" Gray and his work in that field was intensive - no matter how many dead ends he struck (particularly in determining the markings of Gray's Corsair) he kept right on plugging ahead, looking for new or alternative sources.

You may be assured that his first goal, with respect to the Bishop matter, was to vindicate Bishop, and an early piece he wrote (for publication and distribution by the Canadian War Museum) leaned towards Bishop - even though he had begun to have doubts. The OVER THE FRONT article reflected his later conclusions, drawn (I might add) reluctantly but sincerely.

Phil was an avid skier, and died of a massive heart attack at the end of a day on the slopes trying out new equipment. The only man who ever had a "better" death may have been Bing Crosby, dying in Spain on a golf course at the conclusion of a good round.