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Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A in Morhiban Lake

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
11076
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moncton – Keflavik
MSN:
CV-401
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failure forced the captain to attempt an emergency landing on the icy Morhiban Lake. On touchdown, the seaplane went out of control and crashed in flames. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers 28-5MC Canso ito the Saanich Inlet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
9701
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
CV-282
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While landing in the Saanich Inlet, the seaplane hit the water surface, ground looped and sank. Four crew members were killed while four others were rescued.
Probable cause:
The accident was blamed on glassy water conditions, and sun angle on the water.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III near Irvinestown: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NJ183
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Castle Archdale - Castle Archdale
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from RAF Castle Archdale, while climbing, an engine caught fire. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a pasture located three miles east of Irvinestown. All 9 crew members were killed. They were engaged in a patrol mission.
Crew (423rd Squadron):
F/O James Robert Seeger, pilot,
F/O Terence Ramsay Hailstone, copilot,
F/Lt John David Ross, navigator,
F/O John Alexander McLennan, pilot,
F/O Charles Edward Cruickshank, flight engineer,
Sgt Philip Woollatt, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Edward Frederick Knibbs, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Morley Wilbee, air gunner,
Sgt Jack Gingrich, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Tofino

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
11007
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tofino – Vancouver
MSN:
CV-285
Country:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tofino, the seaplane lost height and crashed 5 km east of Tofino. All 12 crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson II in Bassano: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1945 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8627
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
During a navigation exercise, while cruising at a height of about 25 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit a ferry cable and crashed in an icy river located near Bassano. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (15th SFTS):
P/O Kenneth Leslie Sutton, pilot,
LAC Ian Robert Vidler, pilot,
F/Sgt Leslie John Tame, wireless operator.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator off Bell Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
KH173
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
1329
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew left RCAF Abbotsford in the day for a training mission over the Vancouver Island. En route, the aircraft went into a cloudy area and eventually crashed into the sea off Bell Island. Only few debris and personal effects were recovered but not trace of the aircraft nor the 11 crew members was ever found.
Crew (5th OTU):
P/O Thomas Henry Bastable,
P/O Robert Henry Burr,
Sgt Frank Cocksey,
Sgt James Brown Cuthbertson,
F/O Cyril Irwin Mitchell,
Sgt William David Newton Morgans,
Sgt Alan Simpson,
Sgt George Arthur Snelling,
F/Lt Kenneth Edmund Spence,
Sgt Peter Stead,
P/O James Francis Trickey.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VII in Stürzelberg: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
NP781
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to Germany to bomb the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport. The aircraft left RAF Linton-on-Ouse with 60 others bombers. En route, while cruising south of Düsseldorf, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field. Five crew members were killed.
Crew (408th Squadron):
F/O David Garfield Kellar, †
F/Lt W. L. Friker, †
F/O W. H. Dunwoodie.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-VE Flying Fortress IIIA into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
9203
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6397
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a mail flight from Morocco to the Azores Islands with three passengers on board, a crew of five and mail bags, on behalf of the 168th Heavy Transport Command. As the aircraft never arrived at destination, SAR operations were conducted but suspended after few days as no trace was found. Few mail bags were discovered later.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Clayoquot: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
11086
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
CV-421
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a maritime patrol mission when it crashed into the sea off Clayoquot, in the region of Tofino, Vancouver Island. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found and all rescue operations were suspended after few days. The wreckage was eventually spotted on July 1945.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III in Trory: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1944 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W6028
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight in the region of Enniskillen. While cruising at low altitude, the seaplane hit power cables, lost speed, stalled and crashed in an open field. Nine crew members were injured while the tenth occupant was killed. A day later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.
Crew (422nd Squadron):
Sgt Les Hebenton, †
Sgt Reginald Bodsworth. †