Country
Canada

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Prince Rupert

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
3539
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Alliford Bay – Prince Rupert
MSN:
90
YOM:
1942
Location:
Prince Rupert
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on an island located 27 miles southwest of Prince Rupert. All six occupants, among them pilot F/O R. A. Kirkwood, were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-1-FO Liberator VIII near Bamfield: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1945 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
11121
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Patricia Bay – Comox – Tofino – Patricia Bay
MSN:
3986
Location:
Bamfield (Vancouver Island)
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Tofino Airport, while flying at an altitude of 2,800 feet in low visibility due to clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 7 miles east southeast of Bamfield, in the Somerset Range. The wreckage was found for days later (July 17) in an isolated area and all 14 occupants were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O W. E. Davies, pilot,
F/O R. J. Martello,
F/O N. M. Popovich,
F/O H. A. Lowe,
W/O V. C. Crosson,
W/O J. B. Presse,
F/Sgt D. W. Hope.
Passengers:
Sgt Bennett,
Cpl N. W. Johnson,
Cpl W. Hrysko,
Cpl N. Johnston,
LAC R. B. Kitely,
LAC L. H. Tull,
LAW M. Mann.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator in Abbotsford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1945 at 2335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KG880
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
976
Location:
Abbotsford
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission and was authorized to line up on runway 18. For unknown reason, the captain lined up on runway 12 and started the takeoff roll despite the fact he did not receive any permission. Another RCAF Consolidated B-24J Liberator (registered KG880 and carrying a crew of four) was taxiing on runway 12 to reach its parking place. The Liberator KH107 collided with KG880 while taking off. Both aircraft exploded and were totally destroyed. On board KG880, a crew member survived while three others were killed. On board KH107, six crewmen were killed while five others were seriously injured.
Crew killed in KH107 were:
P/O T. Batley, pilot,
P/O A. K. Allen, copilot,
F/O G. W. Morris, navigator,
Sgt A. C. Suggate, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O P. F. Gunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt R. H. Avery, wireless operator and air gunner.
Crew killed in KG880 were:
F/Lt J. A. Sinclair, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Thomas, copilot,
Sgt J. W. Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, crew of KH107 lined up on the wrong runway and started the takeoff procedure without authorization.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator in Abbotsford: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1945 at 2335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KH107
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
1263
Location:
Abbotsford
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission and was authorized to line up on runway 18. For unknown reason, the captain lined up on runway 12 and started the takeoff roll despite the fact he did not receive any permission. Another RCAF Consolidated B-24J Liberator (registered KG880 and carrying a crew of four) was taxiing on runway 12 to reach its parking place. The Liberator KH107 collided with KG880 while taking off. Both aircraft exploded and were totally destroyed. On board KG880, a crew member survived while three others were killed. On board KH107, six crewmen were killed while five others were seriously injured.
Crew killed in KH107 were:
P/O T. Batley, pilot,
P/O A. K. Allen, copilot,
F/O G. W. Morris, navigator,
Sgt A. C. Suggate, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O P. F. Gunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt R. H. Avery, wireless operator and air gunner.
Crew killed in KG880 were:
F/Lt J. A. Sinclair, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Thomas, copilot,
Sgt J. W. Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, crew of KH107 lined up on the wrong runway and started the takeoff procedure without authorization.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator on Welch Peak: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1945 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KK241
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
1607
Location:
Mt Welch
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew departed Abbotsford Airport at 0906LT on a local training mission. Thirty-four minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 in marginal weather conditions, the crew proceeded to a fix point when the aircraft hit the slope of Welch Peak located east of Chilliwack. The wreckage was spotted on June 16 but first rescuers arrived on the scene four days later, on June 20. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (5th OTU):
Sgt Stanley Aldridge,
Sgt Albert Eric Broadbent,
Sgt John Randall Dale,
Sgt William Peter Watt Drummond,
Sgt Isaac Gibbons,
Sgt James Leonard Gordon Hammond,
F/O Arthur William David Hill,
Sgt David Robertson Langlands,
P/O Gilbert Ewart Ellis Long,
Sgt Graham Murray,
Sgt William Thomas Swatton.
Source:
http://www.bansteadhistory.com/Memorial/2_H_KK241 Liberator Crew.html
Probable cause:
Three possible causes which appeared as most probable to the Investigating Officer were as follows:
(1) failure of pilot to climb at a rate which would assure adequate clearance over the mountains.
(2) inability of pilot to climb over the mountains due to some mechanical failure in aircraft which cannot be determined at this time.
(3) that the briefing instructions which required the crew to set course at 4000 feet, and climb on track through cloud and over the mountains, did not allow a sufficient safety margin.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
9701
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
CV-282
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saanich Inlet
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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 Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Tofino

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
11007
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tofino – Vancouver
MSN:
CV-285
Location:
Tofino
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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 a Consolidated B-24J Liberator off Bell Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KH173
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
1329
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bell Island
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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 Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Clayoquot: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
11086
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
CV-421
Location:
Tofino
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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 Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Tofino: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
11017
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
CV-295
Location:
Tofino
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Tofino. Despite intense search, no trace of the seaplane nor the ten crew members was found.
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