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Sowerby, Ernest (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-January-16

Birth Date: 1914 (age 30)

Son of Alfred Ernest and Hannah Sowerby, of Langley, British Columbia.

Home: Langley, British Columbia

Service
RCAF
Unit
32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
Patricia Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Rank
Flying Officer
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
Wireless Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/36500
32 Operational Training Unit, Patricia Bay, British Columbia. Beechcraft aircraft HB 100 crashed.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

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

Flying Officer Ernest Sowerby has no known grave.

Crew on Expeditor Mk. II HB100

Beechcraft Expeditor

(RCAF Photo) (Source Harold A Skaarup web page)
Beechcraft CT-128 Expeditor Mk. 3TM (Serial No. A-734), (Serial No. CA-134), RCAF (Serial No. 1534), coded AO-N, Air Transport Command.

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft.

During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service"”as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation, and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones"”including Royal Canadian Airforce (RCAF), United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators and pilots trained in these aircraft.

In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner". Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish stocking, dry-ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air-mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft. Wikipedia




YouTube Expeditor

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Expeditor

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (415), Canadian Aircraft Losses (21), RCN On Strength (1)
last update: 2021-10-16 20:08:00

Expeditor Mk. II HB100

Ex USAAF UC-45B serial number 43-35463, ex RAF HB100. Assigned to No. 32 Operational Training Unit, RCAF Stations Patricia Bay or Comox, BC. Went missing over BC lower mainland on ferry flight from Rockcliffe, 16 January 1944. Ownership transferred to No. 3 Repair Depot on 5 September 1944 for write off. 4 fatalities. Wreckage still not located in 2011.
1943-12-02 Taken on Strength No. 3 Training Command 2019-08-20
1944-January-16 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Names: Donkersley | Flaherty | Pringle | Sowerby
1944-12-06 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF) (32 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. More information on the RCAF Station at Patricia Bay, British Columbia can be found at

  • RAF Roundel RCAF.info - Patricia Bay, British Columbia

  • Museum BC Aviation Museum Video On History Of Pat Bay

    • 1941-08-22 Primary Location Patricia Bay BC Canada

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