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32 Operational Training Unit, Patricia Bay, BC. Hampden I aircraft AN 132 attempting to take off for a training exercise, ran into rough ground and had the landing gear collapse. The crew all survived, safe

Sgt JF Reid (RCAF), Sgt RR Johnson (RCAF), Sgt RS Cordingley (RAFVR) and Sgt E Vevers (RAFVR)

The investigation indicated that the cause of the crash was poor airmanship, engine oiling from a long period of idling as well as poor adjustment of cowl flaps and propeller pitch

Sgt Reid, Sgt Cordingley and Sgt Vevers would later be killed during a training exercise 1943-04-18 in 1 Torpedo Training Unit, RAF Hampden AT 125 over the Firth of Clyde, Scotland

Others on the Aircraft

1943-10-16 RAFVR Sergeant Ronald Frank Allcorn KIFA 2023-02-08

1942-12-08 RAFVR Sergeant Ronald Stott Cordingley Survived 2024-04-17

1943-10-16 RAFVR Sergeant Peter Francis Hornbrook KIFA 2023-02-12

1942-12-08 RCAF Sergeant RR Johnson Survived 2023-02-05

1943-10-16 RAAF Pilot Officer Raymond Robert George Porter KIFA 2023-02-15

1943-10-16 RAAF Sergeant Mervyn Charles Bruce Smith KIFA 2023-02-16

1942-12-08 RAFVR Sergeant Eric Vevers Survived 2022-01-10

Handley Page Hampden

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Handley Page Hampden (Serial No. P5428), of No. 32 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Patricia Bay, British Columbia, in the torpedo-bomber training role between May 1942 and February 1944.

Handley Page developed a modern stressed-skin mid-wing monoplane, powered by Bristol Pegasus radial air cooled engines, with its first flight in 1936. It had the most advanced wings available at the time, giving it a remarkably low landing speed of 73 mph for an aircraft of its size, with a top speed of 265 mph. The Hampden had a short, narrow but tall main fuselage with a very slender tail unit. This configuration led to the nicknames "Flying Panhandle" and "Flying Suitcase". At the end of the war, no complete or partial Hampden aircraft were retained for museum display.

The Hampden served in the early stages of the war, bearing the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and in the first 1000-bomber raid on Cologne. In Canada, Hampdens were built by six companies that formed Associated Aircraft. There were three in Ontario and three in Quebec, hence they were identified as the Ontario Group and Quebec Group. They supplied all the the components to the two assembly plants. The Ontario Group's assembly plant was at the Malton Airport, while the Quebec group's assembly plant was at the St. Hubert Airport. Canadian Museum of Flight and Harold A Skaarup web page

Handley Page Hampden in Flight

Wikipedia Hampden Bomber

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hampden - Kestrel Publications

Hampden Mk. I / T.B.I AT125