Lot #48: Vintage Robert Banks Collectible "Canadian Pacific Air Lines" Banks Aircraft Prints

Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CPA)Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CPA)"Starting in 1942 by amalgamating ten small bush flying operations, Canadian Pacific Air Lines provided scheduled and charter service, and operated eight BCATP stations during the Second World War. In 45 years of flying and growth, the airline carried passengers and cargo throughout Canada and to destinations on five continents."Canadian Pacific Air Lines, Limited was officially formed on May l6, 1942 as a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. Previously, in 1939 work began for the formation of Canadian Pacific Air Lines with purchase of privately-owned airline operations whose bush pilots had developed northern air routes serving isolated communities not linked by rail service. The federal government approved the purchase by CPR of ten small regional air services to amalgamate them and form Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CPA).The ten companies that combined to become CPA were Ginger Coote Airways, Vancouver; Yukon Southern Air Transport, Vancouver and Edmonton; Canadian Airways, Winnipeg; Wings Ltd., Winnipeg; Prairie Airways, Moose Jaw; Mackenzie Air Services, Edmonton; Arrow Airways, The Pas, Manitoba; Starratt Airways, Hudson, Ontario; Quebec Airways and Dominion Skyways, both of Montreal.On July 1, 1942, only six weeks after its formation, CPA began operations. For the next seven years the new company operated simply as a regional carrier in six provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. During the Second World War, Canadian Pacific ensured air service which was previously provided by regional carriers to communities in northern Canada. During the war, support was provided by CPA for wartime construction of the Alaska Highway, and in five provinces the airline operated seven Air Observer Schools, one Elementary Flying Training School and five Aircraft Repair Depots for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan