Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Click on CASPIR logo to go to the entire CASPIR system.

Use the panel to:

  • select Optional Sections
  • Remove Page Breaks, that is, return to the non-print formatted document.
  • Click on the ⇩ to go directly to that section.

Blenkiron, Joseph Lambert (Civilian)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-April-12

Male Head

Birth Date: 1919 (age 25)

Service
Unit
32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
Patricia Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Rank
Civilian
Position
Service Numbers
Expeditor From California Beechcraft ( HB124) aircraft, which had taken flight from its Patricia Bay RCAF base, in British Columbia, on an operational exercise, crashed at Whidbey Island, Washington, USA. Whidbey Island is home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The accident claimed the lives of three Canadian airmen and one civilian crew member.

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

Civilian Joseph Lambert Blenkiron was cremated.

Crew on Expeditor Mk. 3T HB124

Beechcraft Expeditor

(RCAF Photo) (Source Harold A Skaarup web page)
Beechcraft CT-128 Expeditor Mk. 3TM (Serial No. A-734), (Serial No. CA-134), RCAF (Serial No. 1534), coded AO-N, Air Transport Command.

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft.

During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service"”as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation, and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones"”including Royal Canadian Airforce (RCAF), United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators and pilots trained in these aircraft.

In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner". Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish stocking, dry-ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air-mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft. Wikipedia




YouTube Expeditor

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Expeditor

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (415), Canadian Aircraft Losses (21), RCN On Strength (1)
last update: 2021-10-16 20:08:00

Expeditor Mk. 3T HB124

Used by No. 32 Operational Training Unit, RCAF Stations Patricia Bay or Comox, BC. Crashed inverted into trees near NAS Whitby Island, Washington while attempting to land in bad weather on 12 April 1944. All 4 occupants killed, including one civilian.
1944-01-06 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1944-April-12 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Whitby Island Usa Names: Blenkiron | Hemphill | Ruocco | Walls
1944-10-16 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF) (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

  • RAF Roundel RCAF.info - Patricia Bay, British Columbia

  • Museum BC Aviation Museum Video On History Of Pat Bay

    • 1941-08-22 Primary Location Patricia Bay BC Canada

    © Canadian Warplane Heritage 2024

    To search on any page:
    PC — Ctrl-F
    Mac — ⌘-F
    Mobile — or …