Alexander, Edmund Walker (Acting Sub-Lieutenant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1954-October-11

Birth Date: 1929-May-07

Born: Hamilton, Ontario

Parents: Son of Edmund Walker and Jeanette McDougald (ne Breadner) Alexander of Toronto, Ontario.

Spouse: Husband of Lorna Delma (ne Bolduc) Alexander of Vancouver, British Columbia. Brother of Jocelyn H., Nancy J., L

Home: Hamilton, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCN

Unit

(RCN)

Base

HMCS NIOBE (on exchange)

Rank

Acting Sub-Lieutenant

Position

Service Numbers

01484

Home
Google MapHamilton, Ontario
Fairey Firefly crash. Written off (damaged beyond repair) 11/10/1954: Collided with Firefly PP653 during formation change shortly after takeoff from HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall. Aircraft dived into the ground on marshland on the Penrose Estate east of Porthleven in Helston, Cornwall. Pilot was attempting to make a forced emergency landing on a football field at Porthleven near RNAS Culdrose. The pilot of both Firefles were killed: Sub Lieutenant Edward W Alexander, Royal Canadian Navy (pilot of Firefly DK542) - killed on active service 10/11/1954 Sub Lieutenant Ian Robertson, Royal Canadian Navy (pilot of Firefly PP653) - died on injuries sustained next day (11/11/1954) **Editorial Note – the dates provided may not be accurate. Accident Fairey Firefly FR Mk 1 DK542, 11 Oct 1954 (aviation-safety.net) CVWM lists Burial at sea Sailors Memorial Pt Pleasant

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Firefly (Fairey) serial: DK542

Fairey Firefly Mk. VI
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Firefly was designed by Fairey Aviation, UK, in 1940 to meet a British Admiralty requirement for a carrier borne, fighter reconnaissance aircraft. The Firefly prototype first flew in December 1941 from Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, (now Heathrow Airport). Successful flight trials were completed by the end of 1942 and the first production aircraft, Mk. Is were delivered to the Royal Navy in March 1943.

Fireflies went into squadron service in October 1943 and later saw action in July 1944 against the German battleship Tirpitz, in Norway, when flying from HMS Indefatigable. From January 1945 onwards, the main area of operations for the Firefly was the Far East. Flying from HMS Indefatigable and HMS Implacable, they fought against the Japanese in Sumatra, the Caroline Islands and in the waters surrounding Japan. Later, Fairey Fireflies served with the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, during the Korean War.

A total of 64 Fairey Fireflies served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), between 1946 and 1952. Based at Dartmouth, NS, they were flown from the aircraft carriers HMCS Warrior and HMCS Magnificent by No. 825 and 826 Squadrons. The Mk. V anti submarine version was ordered in 1949 to meet a NATO role for the RCN in anti submarine warfare. Firefly Mk. Vs operated in this role until late 1950, when they were replaced by Grumman Avengers.

Manufacture of the Fairey Firefly ceased in April 1956, after 1,702 aircraft had been produced. About 20 Fireflies survive. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

YouTube Firefly

unvetted Source CWHM Flightlines

unvetted Source Harold Skaarup Web Page