The Camp-X Museum
Housed in the Robert Stuart Aeronautical collection

Canada's Spy Museum!

The largest collection of Camp-X artifacts in the world!
 

The museum is currently operated by Lois and Deirdre Stuart
 
 
 

The Camp-X Museum
 

Robert Stuart - founder of the Camp-X Museum

To arrange a visit, please call the
Museum at  905-436-6325 - groups are welcome or at the web site:  http://www.camp-x.com
 
 

Open to the public

Admission:
Children: 5 and under free
age 6-11 $3.00,
12 and over $5.00 per person
$4.00 per person for a tour group

 

An 11,000 sq. ft. display of aeronautical exhibits as well as  1,000 sq. ft. display of authentic Camp-X artifacts is just  part of this fascinating exhibit of the Robert Stuart Aeronautical Collection at the Oshawa Airport.
 
 

2008 Season

We will be opening the museum this year, starting Sunday, May 11th. From that point on, the Museum will be open every Sunday through September 28th.11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Closed Saturdays other than noted below.)

As well, the Museum will be open for 'Oshawa Doors Open', Saturday, Sept. 20, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 21, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Open through the week by appointment only.

 
 

Call (905)-436-6325 for appointments during the week days.

 

You will see:

• Agents' weapons
• Agents' 'toys'
• Authentic agents' uniforms from Camp-X
• Never before published photographs
• Spy cameras
• Deadly weapons
• Radios from Camp-X and 'Hydra'
• An agent's 'suitcase radio'
• Battle of Britain
• #20 ETFS
• #416 Oshawa Squadron
• WWI artifacts
• Airplane engines
• Uniforms
• Model planes
• And much more

This is the largest collection of Camp-X artifacts in the world!
 

Now Opened!

Hydra treasures put on display

The largest exhibit of ‘Hydra’ artifacts went on display September 21, 2002 with the opening of the William Hardcastle collection.
 
 

 William Hardcastle VE Day
William Hardcastle passed away on May 2, 2002.
Camp-X, 1942 - 1969

The ribbon cutting took place at 2:00 p.m. sharp with Mayor Nancy Diamond from the City of Oshawa, and Bill’s sister, Muriel Hardcastle, doing the honours.  Estimates of between three and five hundred enthusiastic fans of Camp-X came through the turnstiles once the exhibit was open to the public.  And it couldn’t have been a more perfect day for the event; the sky was blue and it was a balmy 80 degrees, which is unusual for September.

Before I go too far, I should remind the readers of what ‘Hydra’ was and its significance to the successful outcome of World War II.  The codename ‘Hydra’ was given to the wireless communications installation at Camp-X Canada because it was like the mythical beast of the same name, a ‘many headed’, triple diversity creature which would communicate continuously with England’s Aspidistra during the war years.
 
 
 

Artifacts on display include:

- Rare books from the 1940’s dealing with transistors and another, ‘Mathematics Essential to Radios' and more.

- An early testing receiver built by Bill Hardcastle

- Bill’s 45 record player and here is the story to go with it.

One day the Camp Commandant came to Bill and asked him if he had any records at home.  Bill said, “Yes, sure, I’ve got all kinds.”  The Commandant asked Bill if he would mind bringing them in tomorrow.

The next day, Bill was told to play his records all day which of course Bill enjoyed doing.  Later Bill was informed that his record collection was being broadcast over Radio Free Europe in order to jam Russian propaganda signals that were being aired in Russian occupied countries.

- An assortment of radio tubes used in the ‘Hydra’ radio station

- Directional finding equipment

- A wave meter used to check transmit frequencies to ensure that the transmitters were on the right frequency. (1943)

- The personal drafting set belonging to Bill

- Resistance decade box used for testing and designing electronic equipment inside ‘Hydra’.

- One of the first fax machines ever manufactured

- A sextant

- Radio Receivers

- Oscilloscope used to check signal quality coming from England

- And finally, many personal effects belonging to William Hardcastle

 

Visit: The Robert Stuart Aeronautical Collection & Camp-X Exhibit

http://www.aeronautical-museum.ca/
 
 

Directions

Coming from the 401, take the Thickson Road (412) exit and drive straight north to Rossland Road (approx. 3 mi.). Then turn right, (east) and drive to Stevenson Road (approx. 2 mi.). Turn left (north) and you will drive straight into the south field of Oshawa Airport (approx. 1/2 mi.). The museum is on the left hand side in the old Ontario Regiment building. The buildings themselves are World War II vintage.

Come out and support the community and learn about Camp-X.