Johnson, Harold Chester (Flight Sergeant)
Killed in Action 1943-February-24
Birth Date: 1922-June-11
Born: Weldon, Prince Albert Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada
Parents: Son of Henry Oliver Johnson and Carrie Marie (nee Hansen) Johnson, of Weldon, Saskatchewan.
Spouse:
Home: Weldon, Saskatchewan
Enlistment: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Enlistment Date: 1941-May-10
Service
RCAF
Unit
11 (BR) Sqn- Squadron
Base
RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/98944
Weldon, Saskatchewan
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Hudson BW453
Accident Card - Lockheed Hudson Mk. III serial:BW453
This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1943-February-24. Hudson III s/n BW453.
This accident involved 4 people. Johnson HC, Macmillan E, Rhea DR, Rowe MM
This accident had 4 fatalities. Warrant Officer 2nd Class David Ronald Rhea RCAF Killed in Action service no:R/91216 Hudson BW453, Flight Sergeant Harold Chester Johnson RCAF Killed in Action service no:R/98944 Hudson BW453, Sergeant Edgar Macmillan RCAF Killed in Action service no:R/125154 Hudson BW453, Flight Sergeant Maurice Medcalf Rowe RCAF Killed in Action service no:R/99614 Hudson BW453
Mission
Hudson Mk. III BW453
Reconnaissance 1943-February-24 to 1943-February-24
11 (BR) Sqn (RCAF) RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
11 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron, RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The crew of Hudson aircraft BW 453 OY-J was part of a four aircraft anti-submarine patrol, returning to base in very poor weather conditions with blowing snow and fog. Two of the aircraft became lost and ran low on fuel. While attempting to land, the Hudson crashed and exploded on impact six miles east of #4 runway at RCAF Station, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with the loss of the entire crew
Flight Sergeant Maurice Metcalf Rowe (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Harold Chester Johnson (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Edgar MacMillan (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant David Ronald Rhea (RCAF) were all killed in action
A second Hudson, BW 653 was abandoned due to being lost and low on fuel but the crew baled safely and were rescued. The third and fourth Hudson's on the patrol both returned to base with their crews, safe
Quietus Last Flight, Accident Proneness in WWII, Wartime Aviation Stories in the Canadian Home front by Anne Gafiuk, Chapter 17
Hudson serial: BW453
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.
Hudson
Wikipedia Hudson
Hudon - Kestrel PublicationsAircraft Images
Hudson BW453
Hudson Mk. III BW453
With No. 31 Operational Training Unit at Debert, NS when taken on RCAF books. Noted on 12 February 1942 as one of 55 Hudsons released off a British Lend Lease contract. Loaned to Home War Establishment in February 1942, for use by No. 11 (BR) Squadron, RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS, coded "L". Category C1 damage at Dartmouth aerodrome at 19:00 on 16 March 1942. Not clear if aircraft was still with No. 31 OTU, or No. 11 Squadron. Category A crash while with No. 11 Squadron, at Dartmouth aerodrome at 23:20 on 24 February 1943. Crashed and exploded after attempting to land in bad weather after returning from anti-submarine patrol, and then diverting to Debert. Exploded on impact, 6 miles east of Runway #4 at Dartmouth. Pilot A/Flight Sergeant H.C. Johnson and 3 other crew killed. Ownership to No. 4 Repair Depot on 26 February 1943 for write off.1942-02-05 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1942-March-16 Accident: 31 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names: Alston | Fleming | Pilcher | Wishart
1943-February-24 Accident: 11 Squadron Loc: Dartmouth Names: Johnson | Macmillan | Rhea | Rowe
1943-04-26 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Unit Desciption
11 (BR) Sqn ()
Hudson BW453 Mk. III - Reconnaissance - 1943-02-24 to 1943-02-24
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
11 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron, RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The crew of Hudson aircraft BW 453 OY-J was part of a four aircraft anti-submarine patrol, returning to base in very poor weather conditions with blowing snow and fog. Two of the aircraft became lost and ran low on fuel. While attempting to land, the Hudson crashed and exploded on impact six miles east of #4 runway at RCAF Station, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with the loss of the entire crew
Flight Sergeant Maurice Metcalf Rowe (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Harold Chester Johnson (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Edgar MacMillan (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant David Ronald Rhea (RCAF) were all killed in action
A second Hudson, BW 653 was abandoned due to being lost and low on fuel but the crew baled safely and were rescued. The third and fourth Hudson's on the patrol both returned to base with their crews, safe
Quietus Last Flight, Accident Proneness in WWII, Wartime Aviation Stories in the Canadian Home front by Anne Gafiuk, Chapter 17
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
