Svendsen, Humphrey
Killed in Action 1943-05-08
Birth Date: 1906
Born:
Son of Alice Constance Svendsen of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Home: Vancouver, British Columbia
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
164 Sqn- Squadron
Base
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot Officer
Service Numbers
C/27773
First Burial
Gander Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland
164 Canadian Squadron. The crew of Lodestar aircraft 557 were engaged in transporting express when their aircraft crashed two miles from the aerodrome at Gander, Newfoundland. Warrant Officer C.N. Allan and Leading Aircraftman A.G. Sewell were also killed.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Lodestar Serial: 557
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Lodestar 557
Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar C-56 C-57 C-60 R5O
(RCAF Photo via the Shearwater Aviation Museum)
Lockheed Lodestar, RCAF (Serial No. 567).
Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Lockheed Lodestar, RCAF (Serial No. 567).
Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page
The Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the World War II era.Wikipedia
Lodestar Transport
Wikipedia Lodestar Transport 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Lodestar - Kestrel PublicationsLodestar 557
Lodestar 557
Ex-USAAF C-60A-5-LO, serial number 42-55940. To USAAF on 01 Mar 1943. To RCAF and operated by No. 164 (T) Squadron at RCAF Station Moncton, NB as of 30 Apr 1943. #557 departed Moncton, NB, at 23:45 hrs on 7 May 1943 on a cargo flight to Gander, NF. At 0313 hrs on 08 May, the a/c contacted the Aerodrome Control Officer at Gander to request landing clearance. The aircraft was given landing clearance by the aerodrome control officer, and was told to check their wheels down. The messages were acknowledged by 557. At this time the ceiling was practically unlimited. The a/c was heard to pass over the airfield shortly thereafter, but the ceiling had unexpectedly fallen to 700 feet. This fly over was apparently done on instruments. #557 radioed to indicate they had missed the field and were trying again. The a/c then acknowledged being given the ceiling height and barometric pressure by the station. The a/c broke through the 600 ft. ceiling, and was advised to circle and approach runway #27. The a/c approached, but seemed to be lined up with the wrong runway and was advised to circle again and attempt runway 27. On the second attempt, the a/c still did not turn enough and was again told to attempt again. The a/c was instructed to make a right turn over the field, but, at this point, #557 was in a steep bank and went into a stall, losing altitude until it crashed and exploded in flames. It crashed approximately two miles east of RCAF Station Gander at 0340 hrs on 8 May 1943. Fire trucks and ambulances were dispatched to the scene but all of the crew onboard were killed. The 164 Sqn pilot crew for this flight were WO2's H. Svendsen and C.H. Allen and the wireless operator was Leading Aircraftman A.G. Sewell.1943-03-05 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-May-08 Accident: 164 Squadron Loc: Aerodrome Names: Allan | Sevendsen | Sewell
1944-03-27 Struck off Strength Written off after crash, see comments. 2019-08-20