Patricia Bay

The Sound Flight DHC-2 float-equipped Beaver aircraft, N340KA, flew from Patricia Bay to Dodger Channel where the pilot planned to land. He set up an approach to land to the south in Dodger Channel, into the wind. On short final, the pilot noticed a shoal so he decided to overshoot, make a circuit, and land beyond the shoal. He applied power, established a climb and began a left turn. As the aircraft turned, it came into the lee of Diana Island. The aircraft encountered subsiding air and began to descend. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent. The aircraft struck the water and sank. All six occupants escaped without any injury but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane was dispatched in a SAR mission under callsign Service 21, searching for a missing Stinson 108. The crew departed Sandspit Airport at 1026LT with a routing via Terrace, Prince Rupert, Hazleton and Smithers before returning to Patricia Bay. At the end of the afternoon, while cruising in marginal weather conditions in a valley, the airplane contacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located near the Telkwa Pass, southwest of the city of Telkwa. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt L. T. Schaufele, pilot,
Cpt E. R. Bade, copilot,
Cpl J. R. J. Scammel,
Sgt S. W. Pye.

The aircraft was carrying a passenger and a pilot on behalf of the British Columbia Department of Public Works who should make a view of a bridge located at Sooke before returning to Patricia Bay. Shortly after takeoff the aircraft climbed steeply to about 50 feet slowly veering and rolling to the left in a nose high attitude until it stalled and crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed. It is believed the pilot was inexperienced.

The airplane departed Tofino at 1643LT on the last leg of routine cross country exercise with an ETA in Patricia Bay at 17h41. On board were seven passengers and seven crew members. The last recorded communication with the crew was at 1655LT. While cruising at an altitude of 2,800 feet in limited visibility due to clouds, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a dense wooded and hilly terrain some 12 km east southeast of Bamfield, in the Somerset Range. The wreckage was found for days later, on July 17, in an isolated area. All 14 occupants were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O William Edward Davies, pilot,
F/O Robert Joseph Martello, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald William Hope, flight engineer,
F/O Nicholas Maxwell Popovich, navigator,
F/O Harry Alexander Lowe, wireless operator,
W/O Victor Gilbert Crosson, wireless operator,
W/O Joseph Bertrand Presse, wireless operator,
Passengers:
Sgt Pamela Gladys Bennett,
Cpl Norman Marshall Johnson,
Cpl William Hrysko,
Cpl Nora Johnston,
Lac Rraymond Vallentine Kitely,
Lac L. H. Tull,
Law Margaret Mann.

The crew was completing a training sortie from Patricia Bay on behalf of the 32nd OTU. En route, the right engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft about 250 km southwest of Vancouver (48°10'00.0"N 126°09'00.0"W). All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

The crew departed Patricia Bay at 0930LT to take part to a SAR operation after another Anson registered N9560 was missing since the previous day. In unknown circumstances, it crashed into the sea off Saltspring Island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Norman A. Bastick, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth J. Bowler, navigator,
Sgt Robert A. Maun, navigator,
Sgt Alphonse M. Bellotte, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Sidney J. Conlon, wireless operator and air gunner.

The twin engine airplane departed Patricia Bay AFB at 0932LT on a navigation training exercise. While cruising west of Nanaimo, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Flying too low in limited visibility, the airplane collided with trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located west of Nanoose Bay. As the airplane failed to return to base, SAR operations were initiated but the wreckage was found on 30 March 1943 only. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O David Jack Robertson, pilot,
P/O William Ward Harris, navigator,
P/O Percival Frederick Biggs, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Andrew Joseph Doherty, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O James Roderick Vosburgh, wireless operator and air gunner.

The twin engine airplane departed Patricia Bay Airport in the early morning to perform a navigation exercise over the Vancouver Island. The calculated route was Patricia Bay - Port San Juan - Cape Beale - Pachena Point and return. En route, the crew encountered poor visibility and the airplane failed to return to base. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended on November 3 as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. On 25 October 2013, almost 71 years later, hikers found the wreckage in a hilly and wooded area located near Mesachie Lake.
Crew (32nd OTU):
Sgt Robert Ernest Luckock, pilot,
Sgt William Baird, wireless operator,
P/O Charles George Fox, navigator,
P/O Anthony William Lawrence, navigator.

The crew departed Patricia Bay on a w/t training exercise. En route, the pilot got lost due to foggy conditions. He attempted an emergency landing when the airplane collided with trees and crashed near the Vancouver University. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt R. L. Lewis, pilot,
P/O G. Nathan, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew departed Patricia Bay on a w/t training exercise. While cruising off Nelson Island, the port engine failed. The pilot ditched the airplane in the Agamemnon Channel. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt D. P. R. Sherwood, pilot,
P/O W. G. Lake, observer,
Sgt D. F. Stewart, wireless operator,
Sgt B. J. Tucker, wireless operator.
Passenger:
Cpt K. S. MacPherson.