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Lachaine, Joseph Bernard Marcel (Corporal)

Killed in Flying Accident 1952-04-25

Birth Date: 1923-08-08 (age 28)

Born: Montreal, Quebec

Son of Leonard and Rose Kelly Lachaine.

Husband of Lucille Lachaine. Father of Denise, Roger, Jean-Louis and Gilles Lachaine. Brother of Patrick and Fernand Lachaine and Dorothy Krill.

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Enlistment: Montreal, Quebec

Enlistment Date: 1942-11-24

Service
RCAF
Unit
1 (OT) ANS- Air Navigation School
Base
RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Rank
Corporal
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Service Numbers
24550

Lancaster Mk.X KB893

Operational 1952-April-25 to 1952-April-25

1 Air Navigation School Lancaster aircraft KB 893 departed RCAF Goose Bay, Labrador on a return flight to RCAF Station Summerside, Prince Edward Island. On landing at Summerside the aircraft bounced badly and the pilot attempted to go around for another try. The aircraft climbed steeply stalled and crashed. and burned. Investigation showed the crash was due to the Center of Gravity being beyond the aft limit because 5 of the 12 aboard were in the back of the fuselage

Four air crew were killed, five seriously injured and three slightly injured The list of those aboard is incomplete to date

Flight Lieutenant K E Lussier DFC (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant W J Burnett DFC (RCAF), Flying Officer K R Carter (RCAF) and Corporal J B Lachaine (RCAF) were killed in this flying accident

Leading Aircraftman J L Tupper (RCAF), Sergeant W Trimbee (RCAF) and Corporal J R Chaisson (RCAF) survived but were severely injured

Leading Aircraftman M C Harris (RCAF), Flying Officer D W Beaton (RCAF) and civilian J C Evans (Meteorological Division, Transport Department) were slightly injured in the crash

During the rescue operation, Aircraftman J P Doiron (RCAF) was injured on the ground

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General Aviation Safety Network

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

Crew on Lancaster Mk.X KB893

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)
last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.X KB893

With 1 Air Navigation School when it crashed at RCAF Station Summerside, PEI on 25 April 1952. Flight Lieutenant W.J.N. Burnett, Flying Officer K.R. Carter, and Flying Officer K.E. Lussier killed.

supplied by Richard Rowntree:

Flown to England to Woodford for tests on 23.2.45; Returned to Canada with #434 Sqdrn. on 8.6.45 as spare in Tiger Force at Dartmouth, N.S.; Converted to Mk.10MP; Post-war KB893 initially served with the Central Flying School at R.C.A.F. Station Trenton, Ontario. It was then transferred to No. 1 Air Navigation School at Summerside, P.E.I. It was carrying out a test flight on the 25th of April, 1952 at Summerside when it bounced on the runway after attempting an overshoot. The pilot retracted the undercarriage while in a very steep climb. The Lanc stalled and crashed. It was subsequently consumed in the ensuing fire. Those killed aboard the Lancaster were as follows: Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Edward Lussier DFC, Flight Lieutenant Walter James Burnett DFC, Flying Officer Kenneth Roland Carter, and Cpl. Joseph Bernard Lachaine SOC 8.5.52

My grandfather was the pilot when this one crashed.


1945-07-06 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1945-12-31 Accept from other Air Force Received from RAF 2019-08-20
1952-04-25 Accident Crash 1 ANS Summerside PE CA It was carrying out a test flight on the 25th of April, 1952 at Summerside when it bounced on the runway after attempting an overshoot. The pilot retracted the undercarriage while in a very steep climb. The Lanc stalled and crashed. It was subsequently consumed in the ensuing fire. Those killed aboard the Lancaster were as follows: F/L Kenneth Edward Lussier DFC, F/L Walter James Burnett DFC, F/O Kenneth Roland Carter, and Cpl. Joseph Bernard Lachaine SOC 8.5.52 2020-11-24
1952-05-08 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

1 (OT) ANS- Air Navigation School (1 Air Navigation School)

Nos. 1 & 2 Air Navigation Schools offered four-week courses in astronavigation and were the last step for Air Observers.

The RAF schools, Nos. 31, 32, and 33, provided the same training as Air Observer Schools.

NO1 ANS Ansons Rivers MB
  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Trenton ON

  • NO1 ANS moved to Rivers Manitoba 23 November 1940
  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Rivers MB

  • NO 1 ANS was redesignated Central Navigation School after an amalgamation with NO 2 ANS from Pennfield Ridge, NB May 11 1942

  • Museum Manitoba Historical Society - 1 ANS History

  • 1940-02-01 Primary Location Trenton ON Canada Current site of CFB Trenton CYTR
    1940-11-23 Primary Location Rivers MB Canada Current site of Wheatland Spuds Plain Airport CRS5

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