Baird, William
Killed in Flying Accident 1942-10-30
Birth Date: unkown date
Born:
James Baird & Frances Murdock
Home: Brooks, Alberta (Parents)
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
RCAF Stn. Patricia Bay, British Columbia
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Sergeant
Service Numbers
R/131545
First Burial
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario
Canadian Virtual War MemorialAnson Mk. I L7056
BCATP Training 1942-October-30 to 1942-October-30
(OT) OTU (RCAF) Patricia Bay B.C
To Western Air Command on 5 November 1941, for use at No. 32 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC. Went missing on 30 October 1942, during a routine navigation exercise (Pat Bay, Port San Juan (today Port Renfrew), Cape Beale, Pachena Point Pat Bay).Court of Inquiry concluded aircraft most likely lost at sea and wreckage was never found. Still not located when struck off, all 4 crew missing. Wreckage located near Port Renfrew on southern Vancouver Island in October 2013. Remains of all four crewmen identified by June 2014, given full military funeral and burial at Royal Oak Cemetery north of Victoria on 10 November 2014.
Edits: Robert M Stitt,
YOUTUBE TRAILERS - SEVENTY-ONE YEARS - THE LOSS AND DISCOVERY OF AVRO ANSON L7056
This incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. I Serial: L7056
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Anson L7056
Avro Anson
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Museum's Anson Mk. V was built by MacDonald Brothers in Winnipeg in 1944. It flew with No. 7 Photographic Wing and No. 414 Squadron in Ottawa on photo survey work until the late 1940s. In 1956, it was purchased by INCO and used for mineral surveying until 1980, when it was donated to the Museum. The exterior is painted in the yellow colour common to all BCATP trainers and is in its same wartime RCAF markings.
The Avro Anson was known by a number of nicknames including "Faithful Annie" or "Flying Greenhouse". It was the first aircraft to be flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force to have a retractable undercarriage, which was a comparative novelty in 1936. In 1940, a Canadian government owned company, Federal Aircraft Limited, was created in Montreal to manufacture the Anson for Canadian use. Nearly 3,000 Anson aircraft were produced and, in the early days of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the Anson was the standard trainer for many pilots, observers (navigators), wireless operators and bomb aimers. More than 20,000 aircrew received training on the Anson. In Canadian service, the aircraft was substantially re-designed with the substitution of North American engines and many other airframe and equipment changes.Harold Skaarup web pages
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 32 OTU (32 Operational Training Unit)
The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour.
More information on the RCAF Station at Patricia Bay, British Columbia can be found at:
Project 44 BCATP
BC Aviation Museum Video On History Of Pat Bay Anson L7056
Anson Mk. I L7056
To Western Air Command on 5 November 1941, for use at No. 32 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC. Went missing on 30 October 1942, during a routine navigation exercise (Pat Bay, Port San Juan (today Port Renfrew), Cape Beale, Pachena Point Pat Bay).Court of Inquiry concluded aircraft most likely lost at sea and wreckage was never found. Still not located when struck off, all 4 crew missing. Wreckage located near Port Renfrew on southern Vancouver Island in October 2013. Remains of all four crewmen identified by June 2014, given full military funeral and burial at Royal Oak Cemetery north of Victoria on 10 November 2014.
Edits: Robert M Stitt,
1941-06-25 Taken on Strength Aircraft Repair 2019-08-20
1942-October-30 Accident: 32 Operational Train Loc: Vancouver Is Names: Baird | Fox | Lawrence | Luckock
1942-12-01 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Anson L7056 Mk. I - BCATP Training - 1942-10-30 to 1942-10-30
6 Group Unavailable
To Western Air Command on 5 November 1941, for use at No. 32 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC. Went missing on 30 October 1942, during a routine navigation exercise (Pat Bay, Port San Juan (today Port Renfrew), Cape Beale, Pachena Point Pat Bay).Court of Inquiry concluded aircraft most likely lost at sea and wreckage was never found. Still not located when struck off, all 4 crew missing. Wreckage located near Port Renfrew on southern Vancouver Island in October 2013. Remains of all four crewmen identified by June 2014, given full military funeral and burial at Royal Oak Cemetery north of Victoria on 10 November 2014.
Edits: Robert M Stitt,
YOUTUBE TRAILERS - SEVENTY-ONE YEARS - THE LOSS AND DISCOVERY OF AVRO ANSON L7056