Bastable, Thomas Henry (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1945-January-09

Pilot Officer Thomas Henry Bastable RAF

Birth Date: 1924

Born:

Parents: Son of Thomas Reginald and Sarah Bastable, of Worsley, Lancashire, England.

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

5 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

RCAF Stn. Abbotsford, British Columbia

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Service Numbers

166362

Memorial Location

Ottawa War Memorial
Panel 4 Column 1

5 Operational Training Unit - Detachment, Abbotsford, B.C. Liberator KH 173 (coded AZ173) failed to return from a training flight on 9 January 1945. Later found to have crashed at sea off Bell Island (about 10 miles north of Port Hardy, on Vancouver Island). All 11 crew missing, presumed killed. Those missing are listed below.

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Crew or Other Personnel

Liberator KH173

Pilot Officer Thomas Henry Bastable RAF

Pilot Officer Bastable, Thomas Henry (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer Robert Henry Burr RAFVR

Pilot Officer Burr, Robert Henry (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Frank Cocksey RAFVR

Sergeant Cocksey, Frank (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant James Brown Cuthbertson RAFVR

Sergeant Cuthbertson, James Brown (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flying Officer Cyril Irwin Mitchell RAFVR

Flying Officer Mitchell, Cyril Irwin (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant William David Newton Morgans RAF

Sergeant Morgans, William David Newton (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Alan Simpson RAFVR

Sergeant Simpson, Alan (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant George Arthur Snelling RAFVR

Sergeant Snelling, George Arthur (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Edmund Spence RAF

Flight Lieutenant Spence, Kenneth Edmund (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Peter Stead RAFVR

Sergeant Stead, Peter (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer James Francis Trickey RAFVR

Pilot Officer Trickey, James Francis (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Accident Card - Consolidated Liberator B. Mk. VI serial:KH173

This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1945-January-09. Liberator s/n KH173.

This accident involved 11 people. Burr RH, Bustable TH, Cecksey F, Cuthbertsen JB, Mergans WDN, Mitchell CI, Simpson A, Snelling GA, Spence KE, Stead P, Trickey JF

This accident had 11 fatalities. Sergeant George Arthur Snelling RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1868102 Liberator KH173, Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Edmund Spence RAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:44784 Liberator KH173, Sergeant Peter Stead RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1597287 Liberator KH173, Sergeant William David Newton Morgans RAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:1836991 Liberator KH173, Flying Officer Cyril Irwin Mitchell RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:153712 Liberator KH173, Sergeant Alan Simpson RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:3012303 Liberator KH173, Sergeant Frank Cocksey RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1671860 Liberator KH173, Pilot Officer James Francis Trickey RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:179019 Liberator KH173, Sergeant James Brown Cuthbertson RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1369063 Liberator KH173, Pilot Officer Robert Henry Burr RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:166407 Liberator KH173, Pilot Officer Thomas Henry Bastable RAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:166362 Liberator KH173

Unit Desciption

5 OTU (5 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.

NO5 OTU Boundary Bay

5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP