Crawford, Allan Bruce (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1945-February-12

Pilot Officer Allan Bruce Crawford RCAF

Birth Date: 1925

Born:

Duncan & Edith May Crawford

Home: Flint, Michigan, USA (parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

3 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

RCAF Stn. Patricia Bay, British Columbia

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/44021

Home

Flint, Michigan, USA (parents)

Final Burial

Grace Lawn Cemetery
Sec G Lot 25 Grave 2

3 Operational Training Unit, Patricia Bay, British Columbia. Canso aircraft 9701 crashed on landing at Saanich Inlet, BC after a bombing exercise

The wreckage of Canso 9701 was found at Saanich Inlet, Patricia Bay BC by an ROV on 2005-07-17. This is the grave of Sergeant Fred Boalch.

Killed includes Crawford: Pilot Officer Rupert Brook Fraser RCAF pilot, initially survived but died the next day from his injuries. KIFA Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, BC, Sec. D. Plot 22. Grave 12. Pilot Officer Gordon Thomas Kingswood RCAF KIFA body in life vest at surface, Greenwood Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario. Sergeant Fred Boalch RCAF KIFA, body entombed in wreckage of aircraft in Saanich Inlet BC.

Survivors: Sergeant Lloyd Desjardine RCAF serious head injuries from crash, diminished capacity Sergeant Albert Lorne Maclean RCAF 2 broken legs burn and facial lacerations Sergeant Henry Edward Golis RCAF broken leg and burns, 6 mo. in hospital Sergeant William Bertram Harris RCAF burns and broken limb.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew or Other Personnel

Canso 9701

Sergeant Frederick Ernest Boalch RCAF

Sergeant Boalch, Frederick Ernest (RCAF)
Flight Engineer
Killed in Flying Accident
1945-February-12
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer Allan Bruce Crawford RCAF

Pilot Officer Crawford, Allan Bruce (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1945-February-12
Grace Lawn Cemetery, Flint, Michigan, USA

Pilot Officer Rupert Brooke Fraser RCAF

Pilot Officer Fraser, Rupert Brooke (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1945-February-12
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Pilot Officer Gordon Thomas Kingswood RCAF

Pilot Officer Kingswood, Gordon Thomas (RCAF)
Navigator
Killed in Flying Accident
1945-February-12
Greenwood Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Canso serial: 9701

RCAF Canso A (Serial No. 9754), No. 162 Squadron, F/L David Ernest Hornell aircraft.

The Consolidated Catalina and Canso were close cousins. The Canso was the true amphibious version of the design and therefore included a conventional undercarriage to allow for either water or land use. The Canso provided more than two decades of valuable service to the RCAF. The Catalina variant came first and was produced beginning in 1935 for the United States Navy. The amphibious version, designated PBY-5A, came in service early in 1941 and the RCAF began using the aircraft on anti-submarine patrols that same year. After the Second World War, the RCAF used Cansos for search and rescue, Arctic survey missions and various transport operations. RCAF

YouTube Canso PBY

Wikipedia Canso PBY

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Aircraft Images

Canso 9701

Ordered by RCAF as a Catalina, equivalent to PBY-5, on 23 November 1940 (batch of 50 ordered at that time as direct purchase). Diverted to RAF before delivery, serial VA701 assigned but never marked. Returned to RCAF shortly after completion, for use on "North West River flights". (This was probably transport duties in support of the construction of Goose Bay airport in Labrador.) Renamed Canso on 22 December 1941. First delivered to No. 116 (BR) Squadron on the east coast. With No. 117 (BR) Squadron in Nova Scotia and/or Quebec, 1942 and 1943, coded "N". Overhauled on 1 December 1943. To No. 4 (BR) Squadron at Ucluelet, BC on 12 January 1944. To No. 3 Repair Depot on 17 July 1944 for engine change, modification, and repairs. To No. 3 (OTU) Squadron at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC on 5 January 1945, to No. 3 RD for repairs same day. Crashed in Saanich Inlet, BC on approach for landing after a bombing exercise on 12 February 1945. Blamed on glassy water conditions, and sun angle on the water. 8 on board, 4 fatalities. Wreckage located by a privately owned submersible vehicle being towed by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship John P. Tully, on maintenance test, summer of 2005. The remotely operated vehicle was operated by the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility.

1941-08-25 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-March-18 Accident: 117 Squadron Loc: Apron Of U Hangar Names: Coffey | Fogarty | Hext | Hope | Komarzyca | Lyons | Selby
1944-April-19 Accident: 4 Squadron Loc: Ucluelet Names: Braid | Downton | Kendall | Kirkland | Lynch | Starrett
1945-February-10 Accident: 3 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names: Brooker | Clapperton | Conlin | Craig | Davidson | Edworthy | Harbord | Rose | Webber
1945-February-12 Accident: 3 Operational Training Unit Loc: Patricia Bay British Columbia Names: Boalch | Crawford | Desjardine | Fraser | Golis | Harris | Kingswood | Maclean
1945-04-30 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, see notes 2019-08-20

Unit Desciption

3 OTU (3 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.