McMichael, Edward Kitchener (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-March-26

Leading Aircraftman Edward Kitchener McMichael RCAF

Birth Date: 1915-October-03

Born:

Parents: Son of Garfield and Louise McMichael; husband of Hazel A. McMichael, of Goderich, Ontario.

Spouse: Husband of Hazel A. McMichael, of Goderich, Ontario.

Home: Goderich, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

115 (BR) Sqn- Squadron
Beware

Base

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Aero Engine Mechanic

Service Numbers

R/78654


Accident Card - Noorduyn Norseman Mk. IV serial:2481

This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1943-March-26. Norseman IV s/n 2481.

This accident involved 7 people. Stapleford EB, Gloeckner MM, Street C, Curry FB, Mcmichael EK, Dowling IM, Kaiser AJ

This accident had 7 fatalities. Flight Lieutenant Ian Macmillan Dowling RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:C/3240 Norseman 2481, Flight Lieutenant Ernest Bunting Stapleford RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:C/3386 Norseman 2481, Squadron Leader Fred Burpee Curry RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:C/993 Norseman 2481, Leading Aircraftman Edward Kitchener McMichael RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/78654 Norseman 2481, Civilian Adelaide J Kaiser USO Killed in Flying Accident service no: Norseman 2481, Civilian Christine Street USO Killed in Flying Accident service no: Norseman 2481, Civilian Maxine Gloeckner USO Killed in Flying Accident service no: Norseman 2481

Mission

Norseman Mk. IV 2481

Transport 1943-March-26 to 1943-March-26

115 (BR) Sqn (RCAF) Ketchikan, Alaska

115 Lynx Squadron RCAF Annette Island, Alaska. Noordyne Norseman IV aircraft 2481 took-off Ketchikan, Alaska but encountered a sudden snow squall while attempting to land (on pontoons) at Metlakatla Harbour on Annette Island, Alaska. The Norseman crashed into the sea six miles north-west of Annette Island near Warburton Island, Alaska. The pilot and six passengers (3 United Service Organizations (USO) performers and 3 RCAF members) were all killed in this flying accident

Pilot, Squadron Leader Fred Burpee Curry (RCAF) and passengers Leading Aircraftman Edward Kitchener McMichael (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant Ian Macmillan Dowling (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant Ernest Bunting Stapleford (RCAF) and the three civilian USO performers, Maxine Gretchen Gloeckner, Adelaide Marie Kaiser and Christine Street were all killed in this flying accident

115 Squadron flew on communications, artillery co- operation and rescue operations under Western Air Command

Tragically, two days later, when the bodies of the three USO performers were being returned to the US mainland aboard a Dakota C-47 aircraft, one of the escorting 118 Squadron RCAF Kittyhawk aircraft AK 821 crashed, killing the pilot, Arthur Jarred (RCAF)(USA)

Quietus Last Flight, Accident Proneness in WWII, Wartime Aviation Stories on the Canadian Home Front by Anne Gafiuk, Chapters 5, 7

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Unvetted Source Noordyne Norseman I Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives