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Paquin, Joseph Alphonse Camille Adelard (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-10-07

Male Head

Birth Date: 1916-08-23 (age 27)

Son of Adelard and Claire Ida Paquin, of Montreal, Province of Quebec.

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Service
RCAF
Unit
6 BGS- Bombing & Gunnery School
Base
Mountain View, Ontario, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
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
Air Gunner
Service Numbers
R/189579
6 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario. Two Bolingbroke aircraft collided.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10084
  2. Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10015

All the aircraft in the above list are in this report.

Leading Aircraftman Joseph Alphonse Camille Adelard Paquin has no known grave.

Crew on Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10084

Crew on Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10015

Bristol Bolingbroke

(Umeyou Photo)
Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk. IV, RCAF (Serial No. 9118), coded BK-V, No. 115 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron, Patricia Bay, British Columbia, 1942.

The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke was a maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Built by Fairchild-Canada, it was a license-built version of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber.

In 1935, the British Air Ministry issued Specification G.24/35 to procure a coastal reconnaissance/light bomber to replace the Avro Anson. Bristol proposed the Type 149, based on its Blenheim Mk I, with Bristol Aquila engines to give greater range. While the Air Ministry rejected this proposal, a Blenheim Mk I, retaining its Mercury VIII engines, was converted as a Type 149 (Blenheim Mk III) for the general reconnaissance role.The nose was lengthened to provide more room for the bombardier, with the upper left surface of the nose being scooped out to maintain pilot visibility during takeoff and landing.

The longer range also fulfilled a Canadian requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft. Consequently, Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) of Quebec started production of the Blenheim Mk IV as the Bolingbroke (the originally intended name for the Blenheim IV). This type was nicknamed the "Bolly". After a small run of aircraft constructed to British specifications, as the Bolingbroke Mk I, Fairchild switched production to the Bolingbroke Mk IV with Canadian and American instruments and equipment. These versions also included anti-icing boots and a dinghy. One of the early Mk IV variants was the Bolingbroke Mk IVW which was powered by two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney SB4G Twin Wasp Junior engines. Incapable of maintaining altitude on one engine, the normal bomb load was reduced to 500 pounds on these aircraft to compensate for the low engine power. The most-produced variant was the Bolingbroke Mk IVT trainer, of which 457 were completed. A total of 626 Bolingbrokes were produced. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Bolingbroke Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Bolingbroke Bomber WWII

Kestrek Publications Bolingbroke - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (626), RCAF 400 Squadron (3), Canadian Aircraft Losses (43)
last update: 2021-12-29 16:53:49

Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10084

Delivered to stored reserve with No. 1 TC, issued on 25 Mar 1943. With No. 6 B&GS at RCAF Stn Mountain View, ON in mid-1943. Cat "A" crash at Mountain View. On 7 Oct 1943, the a/c collided when flying as No 2 with No 3, #10015, flying in formation off Nicholson's Island, having misunderstood a signal from the leader in No 1 to abort the gunnery exercise. The crew, Pilot Officer D. Porter and LAC trainees L. Shields, J. Gagnon, and J. Paquin all perished. Wreckage to No. 6 RD at Trenton on 22 Oct 1943, for write off.
1943-02-02 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-October-07 Accident: RCAF STN Loc: Gunnery Range Off Nicholson's Is Names: Gagnon | Lussier | Paquin | Porter | Prete | Riopel | Shields | Smith
1943-11-19 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20


Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10015

With No. 6 B&GS at Mountain View, ON as of mid-1943. On 7 Oct 1943, this a/c collided as the No 3 with No 2 in the formation, #10084, while practicing formation flying off Nicholson's Island during an aborted gunnery exercise. The crew, Flight Sergeant L. Prete and LAC trainees J. Lussier, J. Riopel, and L. Smith, were all killed. Allocated to No. 6 RD on 22 Oct 1943 for write off action.

Canada Primary Source RCAF - Accident Investigation File


1942-11-06 Taken on Strength No. 1 Training Command 2019-08-20
1942-December-19 Accident: RCAF STN Loc: Aerodrome Names: Dunkerly | Edwardsen | Exon | Ussells
1943-October-07 Accident: RCAF STN Loc: Gunnery Range Off Nicholson's Is Names: Gagnon | Lussier | Paquin | Porter | Prete | Riopel | Shields | Smith
1943-11-19 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20


6 BGS- Bombing & Gunnery School (6 Bomb and Gunnery School)

The Bombing and Gunnery School (B&GS) offered instruction in the techniques of bomb aiming and aerial machine gunnery to Air Observers, Bomb Aimers, and Wireless Air Gunners. These schools required large areas to accommodate their bombing and gunnery ranges, and were often located near water. The Avro Anson, Fairey Battle, Bristol Bolingbroke, and Westland Lysander were the standard aircraft used at B&GS schools.
NO6 BGS Mountainview On
  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Mountainview Ontario

  • General NO6 BGS Blog History

  • 1941-06-23 Primary Location Mountainview ON Canada Current site of Trenton/Mountainview DND CPZ3

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