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Date: | Saturday 23 December 1944 |
Time: | 15:08 |
Type: | North American B-25D Mitchell Mk II |
Owner/operator: | 5 OTU RCAF |
Registration: | HD315 |
MSN: | 100-24109 |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4 |
Other fatalities: | 0 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Location: | RCAF Boundary Bay, British Columbia -
Canada
|
Phase: | Take off |
Nature: | Test |
Departure airport: | RCAF Boundary Bay, BC |
Destination airport: | RCAF Boundary Bay |
Narrative:On December 23, 1944, F/Lt Clothier was piloting B-25D Mitchell II HD315 of No. 5 Operational Training Unit RCAF Boundary Bay, BC, when the port engine lost power on takeoff. The Mitchell settled to the ground and swung to the port and finally crashed into a deep ditch some 250 yards off of the end of Runway 25. The aircraft burst into flames killing three of the crew. F/L Clothier was the only survivor, but was severely injured with a broken back. He testified at a court of inquiry that he had not put on his safety harness. This may have saved his life as he was thrown through the front windscreen clear of the burning aircraft. He was not sure if the other members were properly harnessed during the take-off. The investigators stated this may have been the reason for their fatal injuries.
Crew:
F/Lt (J/15680) R.A. CLOTHIER (pilot) RCAF injured
F/O (J/39963) Thomas Leslie WALMSLEY (Nav.) RCAF killed
F/O (J/38724) George Raymond SPENCER (Nav.) RCAF killed
Cpl (R/152979) Robert Edward DUTTON (Administ.) RCAF killed
Sources:
Scramble
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,robertclothier.html http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/485/Relic-The-Hero-behind-the-Villain.aspx http://www.nationalpost.com/m/pete+mcmartin+robert+clothier+path+from+courageous/9163030/story.html Joe Baugher: B-25D USAAF 43-03783, RAF/RCAF Mitchell II HD315
CWGC
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
31-Dec-2017 15:26 |
TB |
Added |
31-Dec-2017 15:29 |
TB |
Updated [Location] |
19-Aug-2018 20:13 |
yukonjack |
Updated [Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
01-Jul-2024 16:43 |
Nepa |
Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Operator] |
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