Sheffield Mills, Pope's Harbor, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Killed in the crash of Lysander - 2332. The a/c took off on a routine target towing mission and suddenly dove into Lake Erie. Sergeant R.O. Gray and Cpl R.H. Hilchie were both killed. The cause of the crash was "obscure". An elevator trim problem was later suspected.
Hilchie, Ralph Howard (Corporal)
Killed in Flying Accident 1942-November-23
Birth Date: 1914
Born:
Parents: Son of Angus H. Hilchie and Etta M. Hilchie, of Pope's Harbour, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia.
Spouse:
Home: Sheffield Mills, Pope's Harbor, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
4 BGS- Bombing & Gunnery School
Base
Fingal, Ontario, Canada
Rank
Corporal
Position
Service Numbers
R/76059
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)
Accident Card - Westland Lysander Mk. IIIA TT serial:2332
This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1942-November-23. Lysander s/n 2332.
This accident involved 2 people. Gray RO, Hilchie RH
This accident had 2 fatalities. Pilot Officer Richard Owen Gray RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:137255 Lysander 2332, Corporal Ralph Howard Hilchie RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/76059 Lysander 2332
Unit Desciption
4 BGS (4 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.
NO4 BGS Fingal Ontario
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Fingal Ontario
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum - 4 BGS History
RCAF Fingal Blog
YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy