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Howlett, Wilfred (Warrant Officer 1)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-October-20

Birth Date: 1921-July-12 (age 22)

Born: Galahad, Wainwright Census Division, Alberta, Canada

Son of Henry William and Donalda Howlett of Galahad, Alberta.

Home: Galahad, Alberta

Service
RCAF
Unit
10 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Base
RCAF Stn. Gander, Newfoundland
Rank
Warrant Officer 1
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
R/113408

Liberator B-24D / Mk. V 3701

Transport 1943-October-20 to 1943-October-20

10 (BR) Sqn (RCAF) RCAF Station Gander

10 North Atlantic (BR) Squadron, Gander, Newfoundland. Liberator V aircraft 3701 H flying from Gander, Newfoundland to Mont Joli, Quebec was redirected to Dorval, Quebec due to poor weather conditions at Mont Joli. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft before it crashed and burned on the west side of the 2,500 foot foothill of Black Mountain, Quebec. A search at the time of the crash failed to find the crash site. The wreckage of the aircraft and remains of the 24 casualties was not located until 1946-06-20. A Memorial Cairn was erected on the Black Mountain crash site in memory of those who lost their lives there

Flight Crew: Sergeant WG MacNaughton MiD (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant JA Poirier (RCAF), Flying Officer SA Sanderson AFM (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 JA Barabonoff (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 J Silverstein MiD (RCAF), Pilot Officer RW MacDonald MiD (RCAF)

Passengers: Flight Lieutenant RF Fisher MiD (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 W Howlett (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 FE Jenkins (RCAF), Cpl HD Beattie (RCAF), Cpl RD Marr (RCAF), Cpl HK Hambly (RCAF), Cpl AC Johnston (RCAF), Pilot Officer J Lamont MiD (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman CL Dynes (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman GR Patterson (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman AJ Radcliffe (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman EW Read (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant FH Elliott (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant EM Finn (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman JAJP Veilleux (RCAF), FS RF Ware (RCAF), Sergeant SA Wood (RCAF) and Flying Officer JS Johnston MiD (RCAF) were all killed in this flying accident

All were buried at the crash site where the cairn stands in their honour until 1985, when the crews remains were exhumed and moved to a cemetery St. Donat, Quebec due to vandalism at the crash site. Detail provided by C Lambert

The Liberator in Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Service by James D Oughton page 263

General 19/20.1943. No.10 RCAF Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron B-24...

General Liberator RCAF 3701 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image]...

Cenotaph: Consolidated Liberator Harry Cemetery, Saint-Donat, Quebec

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

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

Warrant Officer 1 Wilfred Howlett was exhumed and reburied.

Home
Google MapGalahad, Alberta
First Burial
Google MapAn isolated grave at crash site on Black Mountain, Quebec
Re-Burial
Google MapMontagne Noire
Collective Grave Lot GE 34

Liberator 3701

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