Niemi, Harold John

Killed in Flying Accident 1945-02-04

Birth Date: 1920

Born:

Son of Esa and Albertina Niemi. of Malartic.

Home: Malartic, Quebec

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

5 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Sergeant

Service Numbers

R/117196

5 Operational Training Unit - Detachment, Abbotsford, British Columbia. Liberator aircraft EW 210 crashed into a mountain side three miles north-west of Whonnock, British Columbia. All 7 occupants of the aircraft were killed, please see below for links to the occupants.

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Liberator B. Mk. VI Serial: EW134

All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

Consolidated Liberator B-24 / F-7

(DND Photos via James Craik) (Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Consolidated Liberator G.R. Mk. VIII, RCAF (Serial No. 11130) ex-USAAF Consolidated (Vultee) B-24L Liberator USAAF (44-50154)
ex-RAF (Serial No. 5009), ex-Indian Air Force (Serial No. HE773).
Currently preserved in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum Ottawa Ontario.
60f987eeff518ec6f9866f66_Consolidated-B-24-Liberator--RCAF--1968--James-Craik.jpeg image not found

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber flown by the RCAF during the Second Word War. It was designed with a shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing which gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. In comparison with its contemporaries the B-24 was relatively difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance; it also had a lower ceiling compared with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Of the roughly 18,500 B-24s built in the USA during the war, 148 were flown by the RCAF on long range anti-submarine patrols, with the B-24 serving an instrumental role in closing the Mid-Atlantic gap in the Battle of the Atlantic. The RCAF also flew a few B-24s post war as transports.

Roughly half of all (RAF) Liberator crews in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre were Canadian by the end of the war. John Muir of Vancouver flew the longest mission of the war: 24hrs, 10mins from Ceylon to Burma and back. (Kyle Hood) Harold Skaarup web page


YouTube Liberator bomber

Wikipedia Wikipedia Liberator bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

5 OTU (5 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.
5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

Canada Primary Source RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

Canada Primary Source RCAF.Info

Project 44 BCATP

General Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy


Liberator EW134

Liberator B. Mk. VI EW134

Ex USAAF B-24J-20-CF, serial number 42-99820. With No. 5 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Stations Boundary Bay and/or Abbotsford, BC. Coded "G". Category A crash on Thorn Hill, near Whonnock, BC (12 miles north-west of Abbotsford, on the Fraser River) on 4 February 1945. 7 fatalities. To No. 3 Repair Depot on 8 February 1945 for write off.

1944-04-13 Taken on Strength Western Air Command 2019-08-20
1945-February-04 Accident: 5 Operational Training Unit Loc: Whennock British Columbia Names: Beveson | Carscadden | Maynard | Niemi | Schneeberger | Therien | Weiss
1945-03-14 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20