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Mitchell, Cyril Irwin (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1945-January-09

Birth Date: unkown date (age unknown)

Service
RAFVR
Unit
5 OTU- Operational Training Unit
Base
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Service Numbers
153712
5 Operational Training Unit - Detachment, Abbotsford, B.C. Liberator KH 173 (coded AZ173) failed to return from a training flight on 9 January 1945. Later found to have crashed at sea off Bell Island (about 10 miles north of Port Hardy, on Vancouver Island). All 11 crew missing, presumed killed. Those missing are listed below.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Burial
Google MapOttawa War Memorial
Panel 4 Column 1

Liberator KH173

Pilot Officer Bastable, Thomas Henry (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer Burr, Robert Henry (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Cocksey, Frank (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Cuthbertson, James Brown (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flying Officer Mitchell, Cyril Irwin (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Morgans, William David Newton (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Simpson, Alan (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Snelling, George Arthur (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flight Lieutenant Spence, Kenneth Edmund (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Stead, Peter (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer Trickey, James Francis (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1945-January-09
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Consolidated Liberator B-24 / F-7

(DND Photos via James Craik) (Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Consolidated Liberator G.R. Mk. VIII, RCAF (Serial No. 11130) ex-USAAF Consolidated (Vultee) B-24L Liberator USAAF (44-50154)
ex-RAF (Serial No. 5009), ex-Indian Air Force (Serial No. HE773).
Currently preserved in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum Ottawa Ontario.

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber flown by the RCAF during the Second Word War. It was designed with a shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing which gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. In comparison with its contemporaries the B-24 was relatively difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance; it also had a lower ceiling compared with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Of the roughly 18,500 B-24s built in the USA during the war, 148 were flown by the RCAF on long range anti-submarine patrols, with the B-24 serving an instrumental role in closing the Mid-Atlantic gap in the Battle of the Atlantic. The RCAF also flew a few B-24s post war as transports.

Roughly half of all (RAF) Liberator crews in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre were Canadian by the end of the war. John Muir of Vancouver flew the longest mission of the war: 24hrs, 10mins from Ceylon to Burma and back. (Kyle Hood) Harold Skaarup web page


YouTube Liberator bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Liberator bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF Owned (148) RCAF 400 Squadrons (19) Canadian Crewed (149)
last update: 2021-09-18 19:06:22

Liberator B. Mk. VI KH173

Supplied by RAF for use at No. 5 Operational Training Unit, Boundary Bay, BC. Coded "AZ". Failed to return from training flight on 9 January 1945. Later found to have crashed at sea off Bell Island (about 10 miles north of Port Hardy, on Vancouver Island). All 11 crew missing, presumed killed.

1944-09-06 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1945-January-09 Accident: 5 Operational Training Unit Loc: Port Hardy British Columbia Names: Burr | Bustable | Cecksey | Cuthbertsen | Mergans | Mitchell | Simpson | Snelling | Spence | Stead | Trickey
1945-02-14 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

5 OTU (5 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. 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info

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