Merrill, Harry
Killed in Flying Accident 1944-05-19
Birth Date: 1921
Born:
Son of Thomas and Dorothy Merrill, of Bethesda, Caernarvonshire, Wales.
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RAF
Unit
32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
Patricia Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Flying Officer
Service Numbers
129346
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)This incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Expeditor Mk. IIIT Serial: HB129
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Expeditor HB129
Beechcraft Expeditor
Beechcraft CT-128 Expeditor Mk. 3TM (Serial No. A-734), (Serial No. CA-134), RCAF (Serial No. 1534), coded AO-N, Air Transport Command.
The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft.
During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service – as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation, and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones – including Royal Canadian Airforce (RCAF), United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators and pilots trained in these aircraft.
In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner". Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish stocking, dry-ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air-mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft.Wikipedia
Expeditor
Wikipedia Expeditor 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 32 OTU (32 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.
More information on the RCAF Station at Patricia Bay, British Columbia can be found at:
Project 44 BCATP
BC Aviation Museum Video On History Of Pat Bay Expeditor HB129
Expeditor Mk. IIIT HB129
Ferried from Toronto to Montreal on 21 October 1943, by No. 124 (F) Squadron. Probably still on RAF books at that time. Used by No. 32 Operational Training Unit, RCAF Stations Patricia Bay or Comox, BC. Missing from night navigational exercise on 19 May 1944. Belived to be missing along east coast of Vancouver Island, also reported as lost over centre of island, between Tofino and Port Hardy. All 3 crew members (2 RAF and one RAAF) never found.1944-02-18 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1944-May-19 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Names: Fraser | Machell | Merrill
1948-08-31 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07