435 Transport and Rescue Squadron (Certe Provehendi) CFB Edmonton. Hercules C-130E-LM aircraft 10322 struck high ground and crashed on approach to Canadian Forces Station Alert, Ellesmere Island NWT during the semi-annual "Operation Boxtop" supply airlift to the station. At 508 miles from the geographic North Pole, CFS Alert is the furthest north permanent human settlement on our planet
Boxtop 22 was the 22nd flight of the second airlift of 1991. Crewed by Aircraft Commander Capt JP Couch, First Officer Lt J Bales, Lt M Moore, Navigator; Sergeant Paul West, Flight Engineer and MCpl Roland Pitre, Loadmaster/Traffic Technician
There were thirteen passengers aboard the aircraft, a mix of military and civilian personnel flying in for duty or to attend to various services for the staff at Alert
For the first time on one of these flights, the Hercules was also carrying an internal bulk fuel tank containing 3,400 litres of diesel fuel for use at CFS Alert. When the aircraft crashed, it broke into three pieces, causing the internal fuel tank to burst open and catch fire
The remote location and weather made any rescue response extremely difficult and hazardous but a massive rescue operation was undertaken involving 24 Canadian and US military aircraft as well as 2 Canadian civilian aircraft
Hundreds of dedicated air and ground search and rescue personnel, persevering despite the most extreme weather conditions and rugged landscape were involved in the recovery
The rescue involved aircraft and personnel from Canadian Military: 103 RU, Gander, 405 Squadron, Greenwood, 408 Squadron, Edmonton, 412 Squadron, Ottawa, 413 Squadron, Greenwood, 415 Squadron, Greenwood, 424 Squadron, Trenton, 429 Squadron, Trenton, 435 Squadron, Edmonton, 436 Squadron, Trenton, 440 Squadron, Edmonton, 442 Squadron, Comox.
Canadian Civilian: Greenland Charter Air Services and Bradley Air Services
US Military: 11th Air Force, Elemendorf, 22nd Air Force, Travis AFB, 56th Air Rescue, Kleflavik, Iceland
MCpl R Pitre CD (CAF), Captain JA Trepanier CD (CAF), MWO T Jardine CD SSM (CAF) andWarrant Officer R Grimsley CD (CAF) were killed in this accident
Capt JP Couch (CAF) survived initially and helped other survivors after the crash but died of hypothermia before rescuers arrived
There were thirteen survivors among those aboard: Civilian R Thomson, Civilian S Hillier, Lt J Bales (CAF), Sergeant P West (CAF), Lt M Moore (CAF), Capt R Dumoulin (CAF), Capt W de Groot (CAF), MWO M Tremblay (CAF), MCpl T Cobden (CAF), MCpl D Meace (CAF), MCpl M Ellefsen (CAF), MS D Montgomery (CAF) and Pvt B Vance (CAF)
The CC-130H Hercules is primarily used for search and rescue operations. While it also carries out transport missions, its main focus is saving lives through the Canadian Armed Forces' search and rescue mandate.
It has a range of more than 7,200 kilometres and can transport approximately 80 passengers, operate on short unpaved runways and fly in severe weather conditions. These capabilities make the CC-130H an excellent aircraft for search and rescue operations over the vast span of Canada's central and northern regions.
RCAF Web Page
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Dakota III, IV)
No. 435 was the 34th RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the 3rd transport squadron and the second formed in India. It was inaugurated on November 1 1944 at Gujrat, Punjab, India . Based in Tulihal, Manipur, India from 18 December 1944, it flew Dakota aircraft in support of the British 14th Army in northern Burma. After cessation of hostilities in the Far East, the squadron relocated to Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, UK , where it provided transport services in Britain and Europe for Canadian units. It was finally disbanded at Down Ampney on April 1, 1946.
Overall, in Burma the squadron flew 15,681 sorties, airlifted 27,460 tons of freight, 14,000 passengers and 851 casualties. An additional 1018 sorties were flown in England. Casualties were 3 aircraft, 9 aircrew and 6 passengers killed, 2 aircrew and 13 passengers injured. Awards gained by the squadron were 1 MBE, 1 DFC, 1 AFCs and 1 MiD. Battle Honour was Burma 1944-45Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin
Maps for Movements of 435 Squadron 1944-46
MAP 1: 435 Squadron Movements 1944-46 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
435 Squadron History Summary 1944-46
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Dakota, Boxcar, Hercules)
St Albert, Alberta
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Operation Boxtop
Hercules
Wikipedia Hercules
CC-130 Hercules - Kestrel Publications
