Chow-Leong, Charles (Flying Officer)

First Chinese Canadian to be trained as a pilot in the RCAF.

Just before 11:30 Expeditor 1478 took off from No. 2 Air Navigation School at RCAF Stn Winnipeg. At the controls was 29-year-old Flight Officer Charles Chow-Leong, a decorated veteran or World War II with 6,000 flying hours. Also aboard were two RAF student pilots from England, Acting Pilot Officer Peter Harvey and Acting Pilot Officer Edward Scanlan.

The 540 foot high radio mast at Carman, Manitoba was a regular landmark for anyone flying in the area. During the flight the winds picked up and fog rolled in such that the cloud ceiling was as little as 50 feet.

In these conditions Chow-Leong struck one of the tower guy wires at about the 400 foot level, and crashed to the ground, killing all aboard the aircraft. Subsequently, the tower later collapsed.