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Drake, Robert William (Captain)

Killed in Flying Accident 1985-March-29

Birth Date: 1951-March-29 (age 34)

Born: New Westminister, British Columbia

Son of William and Dulcie Drake of Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Husband of Judith Anne Drake and father of Whitney and Lindsay of Edmonton, Alberta.

Home: New Westminister, British Columbia

Enlistment: Edmonton, Alberta

Enlistment Date: 1974-08-12

Service
RCAF
Unit
435 Sqn- Squadron
Certi Provehendi Detemined on delivery
Rank
Captain
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
Pilot
Service Numbers
H60511807

Hercules CC-130H 130331

Ferry Flight 1985-March-29 to 1985-March-29

() (RCAF)

Two Lockheed CC-130H Hercules transport planes were destroyed in an accident following a mid-air collision over Edmonton-Namao Field, AB (YED), Canada. All five crew members aboard each plane were killed.

The aircraft were part of the three-ship formation taking part in a fly-past to mark the 61st anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

General Two Lockheed CC-130H Hercules collide

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Home
Google MapNew Westminister, British Columbia
Burial
Google MapMemorial Gardens Cemetery
St No 83 Niche 192

Hercules 130331

Lockheed C-130 Hercules CC-130

CC-130H Hercules
(Source RCAF Web Page)
The CC-130H Hercules is primarily used for search and rescue operations. While it also carries out transport missions, its main focus is saving lives through the Canadian Armed Forces' search and rescue mandate. It has a range of more than 7,200 kilometres and can transport approximately 80 passengers, operate on short unpaved runways and fly in severe weather conditions. These capabilities make the CC-130H an excellent aircraft for search and rescue operations over the vast span of Canada's central and northern regions. RCAF Web Page

YouTube Hercules

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hercules

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications CC-130 Hercules - Kestrel Publications

last update: 2021-10-26 23:25:58

Hercules CC-130H 130331

USAF serial 73-1593 issued for book keeping, no record of it actually being marked externally (does appear on serial plate). Destroyed in mid air with 130330, near CFB Namao, Alberta on 29 March 1985. With 435 Squadron at this time. 4 fatalities on this aircraft, including Capt. I.D. Mahaffey and Capt. J.D. Thornton, both of 429 (T) Squadron, and Warrant Officer W.I. Oness, CD and Capt. R.W. Drake; and Capt. D.A.J. Whalen; of 435 Squadron.

General Aviation Safety.net



1974-11-19 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1986-01-14 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, see comments. 2019-08-20

435 Sqn Certi Provehendi ("Chinthe")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Dakota III, IV)

No. 435 was the 34th RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the 3rd transport squadron and the second formed in India. It was inaugurated on November 1 1944 at Gujrat, Punjab, India . Based in Tulihal, Manipur, India from 18 December 1944, it flew Dakota aircraft in support of the British 14th Army in northern Burma. After cessation of hostilities in the Far East, the squadron relocated to Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, UK , where it provided transport services in Britain and Europe for Canadian units. It was finally disbanded at Down Ampney on April 1, 1946.

Overall, in Burma the squadron flew 15,681 sorties, airlifted 27,460 tons of freight, 14,000 passengers and 851 casualties. An additional 1018 sorties were flown in England. Casualties were 3 aircraft, 9 aircrew and 6 passengers killed, 2 aircrew and 13 passengers injured. Awards gained by the squadron were 1 MBE, 1 DFC, 1 AFCs and 1 MiD. Battle Honour was Burma 1944-45Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin

Maps for Movements of 435 Squadron 1944-46

MAP 1: 435 Squadron Movements 1944-46 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)

435 Squadron History Summary 1944-46

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Dakota, Boxcar, Hercules)

No. 164 (Transport) Squadron was created on 23 January 1943 at Moncton, New Brunswick . The squadron flew Lodestar and Dakota aircraft on East Coast transport duty. It was the RCAF’s premier transport squadron and the cornerstone of the peacetime Air Transport Command. It provided trained aircrew as the nuclei of other transport units. On 1 August 1946 it was divided into two units, one at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and one at Edmonton, Alberta . The Dartmouth squadron become No. 426 (T) Squadron and the Edmonton detachment was re-designated 435 (Transport) Squadron. It flew Douglas Dakota IV aircraft until 1952, then re-equipped with the Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar. The squadron relocated a few miles north to RCAF Station Namao in 1955. From 1960, it flew Lockheed Hercules C-130B, and from 1966 the Hercules C-130-E. Due to the Chrétien government's budget cuts and the resultant closure of the airfield at CFB Edmonton, the squadron was moved to 17 Wing Winnipeg in 1994. It was re-designated '435 Transport and Rescue Squadron' on 1 May 1995. The squadron is now based at 19 Wing, Comox, British Columbia . 435 Squadron is the only Air Force squadron equipped and trained to conduct air-to-air refuelling of fighter aircraft in support of operational and training activities at home and abroad. The CC-130 Hercules tanker is a key asset for the Canadian NORAD Region in its mission to defend Canada and the United States against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace. The Squadron has been operating the tankers in support of fighter operations since 1992.

For additional details see

General RCAF Government website

.

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