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Above: The Project Y mock-up at Malton. via Bill Rose Above right: This is the only known colour photograph of the Project Y mock-up at Avro Canada’s Malton facility. via Bill Rose Right: Inside the Special Projects Group building at Malton, Avro Canada’s Project Y mock-up is seen during engineering development trials. via Bill Rose in the cafeteria during the 1950s and late one night, while taking a different route home, she accidentally caught a glimpse of a flying saucer in an open hangar. The aircraft was about 30ft (9.1m) in diameter and L P was surprised to see an armed American guard by the hangar door. Unfortunately, the exact date of this incident remains unknown, but the witness thought it was about 1954. Whether this was the mock-up of Project Y shown to Field Marshal Montgomery or (as seems more likely) the mock-up or prototype of a more advanced Y2 design remains complete the programme (several billion in Donald Quarles followed this with an unknown, but the story appears to be quite today’s money!). Some American correspon- announcement that negotiations were under genuine. dents believed that Avro Canada was still way to start full-scale production of a revolu- That same year, Avro Canada’s saucer developing a long-range disc-shaped inter- _ tionary disc-shaped combat aircraft designed became a hot domestic issue and the Cana- ceptor, primarily funded by the Pentagon, by John Frost. The US and Canadian press dian Government unexpectedly admitted and they continued to suggest this in print. gave full coverage to the Avro flying saucer that a disc-shaped combat aircraft had been Then, on 13th June 1955, the USAF issueda story, while the USAF subtly suggested that under development at Avro Canada, but all brief press release that acknowledged the some aspects of the arrangement had been work had now ceased due to spiralling costs. existence of a contract (Ref: AF33 (600) intentionally leaked to the media in an It seemed that $100 million was needed to 30161) with Avro Canada. USAF Secretary attempt to discredit Canada’s Defence Pro- Above right: This is the only known colour photograph of the Project Y mock-up at Avro Canada’s Malton facility. via Bill Rose Right: Inside the Special Projects Group building at Malton, Avro Canada’s Project Y mock-up is seen during engineering development trials. via Bill Rose 63 Above: The Project Y mock-up at Malton. via Bill Rose Canada’s Cold War Saucers