Hudson BW620 Mk. III - Reconnaissance - 1943-03-23 to 1943-03-23
Squadron: 113 (BR) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-03-23
Completion Date: 1943-03-23
Mission: Reconnaissance
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: RCAF Station Yarmouth
Take Off Time:
Squadron Code:
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Canada
Crash Specifics: aerodrome at RCAF Station Yarmouth
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable

113 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron RCAF, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Hudson III aircraft BW 620 was taking off for an operational patrol when it crashed, caught fire and exploded at the aerodrome at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Aircrew, Warrant Officer Class 2 Mervin Elwood Tarrant (RCAF), Flying Officer Charles LeroyTripp (RCAF),Warrant Officer Robert Franklin Cavers (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Alexander John Baillie (RCAF) and two of the five ground crew that tried to rescue the aircrew, Leading Aircraftman Lloyd Edward Briggs (RCAF) and Aircraftman Class 1 Frank Hallek (RCAF) were all killed in action when the depth charges aboard the aircraft suddenly exploded

The other ground crew, Aircraftman Class 1 William Gordon Ryan (RCAF), Corporal Leo Alexander MacDonald (RCAF) suffered moderate/serious injuries and Leading Aircraftman James Russell (RCAF) less severe injury but all three survived

The accident investigation found that the aircraft may not have been properly trimmed for take-off with a heavy load and that in future, all crash crews have more advanced training

Quietus Last Flight, Accident Proneness in WWII, Wartime Aviation Stories on the Canadian Home front by Anne Gafiuk, Chapter 4

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