Reid, John Bertram

Survived 1942-12-08

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Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

32 (OT) OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)

Base

Patricia Bay BC

Rank

Flight Sergeant

Position

Sergeant

Service Numbers

R/114641

First Burial
Google MapRunnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England

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

Sergeant JF Reid (RCAF), Sergeant RR Johnson (RCAF), Sergeant RS Cordingley (RAFVR) and Sergeant 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

Sergeant Reid, Sergeant Cordingley and Sergeant 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

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Hampden Mk. I Serial: AN132

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

Hampden AN132

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Sergeant Cordingley, Ronald Stott (RAFVR)
Pilot
Survived
1942-December-08
Holbeck Cemetery, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK

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Sergeant Johnson, RR (RCAF)
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Survived
1942-December-08
cemetery unknown

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Flight Sergeant Reid, John Bertram (RCAF)
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Survived
1942-December-08
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

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Sergeant Vevers, Eric (RAFVR)
Navigator
Survived
1942-December-08
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

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.
60f996f359e4fd46b048f0cf_Handley-Page-Hampden--Serial-No--P5428---No--32-Operational-Training-Unit-at-RCAF-Patricia-Bay-in-the-torpedo-bomber-training-role.jpeg image not found

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

YouTube Handley Page Hampden in Flight

Wikipedia Wikipedia Hampden Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications Hampden - Kestrel Publications

32 (OT) OTU (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:

Museum BC Aviation Museum Video On History Of Pat Bay

Project 44 BCATP

General Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy

Hampden AN132

Hampden Mk. I AN132

With No. 32 OTU at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC. Cat "B" accident when a/c ran off end of runway on attempted takeoff at Patricia Bay on 8 December 1942, collapsing landing gear. Later hit a hill and crashed near Maggie Lake close to Ucluelet, BC on a night navigation exercise on 16 October 1943. All 4 crew killed; Flight Sergeant R. Allcorn, Flight Sergeant P. Hornbrook, Flight Sergeant R. Porter and Flight Sergeant (RAAF) M. Smith. The wreckage was not located until 6 July 1945, and was then left on site. Wreckage
recovered post war, and pieces used to restore #P5436, now on display at Canadian Museum of Flight, Langley, BC.

1942-01-06 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1942-December-08 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Patricia Bay Names: Cordingley | Johnson | Reid | Vevers
1943-October-16 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Names: Allcorn | Hornbrook | Porter | Smith
1943-11-25 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20