Forth, Roy Kitchener

116 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron, Gander, Newfoundland. Sergeants Forth, P.E. Sloan, W.A. Gillen, W/O(s) E.S. Moon. J.G. Boothe, P.R. Starr, Flight Sergeant J.A. Skilleter, and Flying Officer W.E. McNicholl were all killed when Canso aircraft 971 went down in the sea off Newfoundland. Addendum: - The crew list shows Sgt. W.A. Gillen as a crew member, this is not correct. Sergeant W.A. Gillen was a member of a different crew, Sgt. W.H. Gillatt was a member of this crew. Sergeant Jack McIntosh of Fairview Alberta was flying a Canso aircraft of the 116 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron out of Gander and reported the following. Orders came to look for a missing aircraft from their squadron. It was February 6, 1944 and the weather was not good. The flying boat was found. It had crashed into an ice fields Supplies were dropped but it was impossible to land as there were pieces of ice for miles. They notified squadron headquarters and on their return were told that the Royal Canadian Navy had been notified of the incident. The navy said they would send a frigate, corvette or destroyer to rescue the 8 stranded airmen. Jack had taken a picture of the downed aircraft and the crew members. The navy said their rescue ship broke down. All 8 airmen perished. Detail provided by L. Allison, Roland ManitobaNote: A/C identified as RCAF 971 on www.rafcommands.com