Esselmont, Richard Donald
Killed in Flying Accident 1943-07-27
Birth Date: 1921-November-04
Born:
Son of Robert John and Armentice Angaline Esselmont, of Revelstoke, British Columbia.
Home: Kamloops, British Columbia
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
7 BGS- Bombing & Gunnery School
Base
Paulson, Manitoba, Canada
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot Officer
Service Numbers
J/25347
First Burial
Pleasant Street Cemetery, Kamloops, Britishcolumbia
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Bolingbroke Mk. IVT Serial: 9944
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Bolingbroke 9944
Bristol Bolingbroke
Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk. IV, RCAF (Serial No. 9118), coded BK-V, No. 115 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron, Patricia Bay, British Columbia, 1942.
The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke was a maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Built by Fairchild-Canada, it was a license-built version of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber.
In 1935, the British Air Ministry issued Specification G.24/35 to procure a coastal reconnaissance/light bomber to replace the Avro Anson. Bristol proposed the Type 149, based on its Blenheim Mk I, with Bristol Aquila engines to give greater range. While the Air Ministry rejected this proposal, a Blenheim Mk I, retaining its Mercury VIII engines, was converted as a Type 149 (Blenheim Mk III) for the general reconnaissance role.The nose was lengthened to provide more room for the bombardier, with the upper left surface of the nose being scooped out to maintain pilot visibility during takeoff and landing.
The longer range also fulfilled a Canadian requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft. Consequently, Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) of Quebec started production of the Blenheim Mk IV as the Bolingbroke (the originally intended name for the Blenheim IV). This type was nicknamed the "Bolly". After a small run of aircraft constructed to British specifications, as the Bolingbroke Mk I, Fairchild switched production to the Bolingbroke Mk IV with Canadian and American instruments and equipment. These versions also included anti-icing boots and a dinghy. One of the early Mk IV variants was the Bolingbroke Mk IVW which was powered by two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney SB4G Twin Wasp Junior engines. Incapable of maintaining altitude on one engine, the normal bomb load was reduced to 500 pounds on these aircraft to compensate for the low engine power. The most-produced variant was the Bolingbroke Mk IVT trainer, of which 457 were completed. A total of 626 Bolingbrokes were produced.Wikipedia
Wikipedia Bolingbroke Bomber 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Bolingbroke Bomber WWII
Bolingbroke - Kestrel Publications
7 BGS (7 Bomb and Gunnery School)
The Bombing and Gunnery School (B&GS) offered instruction in the techniques of bomb aiming and aerial machine gunnery to Air Observers, Bomb Aimers, and Wireless Air Gunners. These schools required large areas to accommodate their bombing and gunnery ranges, and were often located near water. The Avro Anson, Fairey Battle, Bristol Bolingbroke, and Westland Lysander were the standard aircraft used at B&GS schools.
RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Paulson Manitoba
Manitoba Historical Society - Paulson Airport Bolingbroke 9944
Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 9944
Assigned to 7 B&G School, Paulson, MB. On 27 Jul 1943, the a/c dived vertically into the ground from a steep turn; possibly as the Pilot and Bombing Instructor (a 'washed out' trainee pilot) were changing places in air; the crew, Warrant Officer Class 2 R. Mathers (Pilot), Pilot Officer R. Esselmont (BI), and trainees, Leading Aircraftman P Trudel and Leading Aircraftman (RNZAF) N. Glenday were all killed.1942-08-13 Taken on Strength 2022-01-01
1943-July-27 Accident: 7 Bomb & Gunnery School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Esselmont | Glenday | Mathers | Trudel
1943-08-20 Struck off Strength Cat “A†write-off; reduced to spares and produce 2022-01-01
