From the Family Photo Album

[atpl53]

Ventura 3.jpeg (545.3 KiB) Viewed 6634 times

Ventura 2.jpeg (389.02 KiB) Viewed 6634 times

Ventura 1.jpeg (164.19 KiB) Viewed 6634 times

RCAF photos circa 1944. 145 Squadron

[atpl53]

PV-1 Ventura

[CamAero]

Great pictures. Where was he stationed?

CA

[Moose47]

G'day atpl53

Please keep the photos coming if you have any more.

This Lockheed Hudson Mk. III. s/n BW621, was taken on strength with the R.C.A.F.'s Eastern Air Command on the 10th of February, 1942 after being released by the Royal Air Force to Canada's Home War Establishment. It was transferred to No. 31 Operational Training Unit at Debert, Nova Scotia. The role of this O.T.U. was to train Hudson crews for Ferry Command and Coastal Command.

It was then used by No. 145 (BR) Squadron based at R.C.A.F. Station Torbay, Newfoundland between May, 1942 and June, 1943 when the at that time, the squadron had just converted to the Lockheed-Vega Ventura G.R. Mk. V (*G.R. - General Reconnaissance).. The squadron moved to R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on the 30th of October, 1943. It later maintained detachments of six Venturas at R.C.A.F. Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and R.C.A.F. Station Torbay, Newfoundland until early June, 1945.

Hudson BW621 was transferred to No. 167 (Communications) Squadron at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It was subsequently written off after it ground looped and caught fire while attempting to take off from Dartmouth on the 20th of October, 1944.

The second aircraft photo shows a Lockheed-Vega Ventura G.R. Mk. V. When the aircraft were received from United States Navy, they were initially referred to as the PV-1 but that was only short-lived. I could not find a serial number on the aircraft. This means to me that the aircraft is new to the R.C.A.F. When they did receive R.C.A.F. serial numbers of the Ventura G.R. (General Reconnaissance) Mk. V were 2141 to 2277. Another 47 that were taken on strength with the R.C.A.F. retained their R.A.F. serial numbers FN967, FN971 to FN983 and FP542 to FP547.

Cheers...Chris

[atpl53]

All photos are labeled and bear the following stamp

[atpl53]

More....

[atpl53]

More.....

[atpl53]

Alf Mitchell was stationed at Halifax and was a member of the Accident Investigation wing. Many of the photos are those of the accidents which he investigated.

[atpl53]

Many pages of these..........

[beech 18]

May 13, 2014

atpl53 - All those photos are beauties.
Very nice.

[Moose47]

G'day atpl53

J9246 Pilot Officer L. T. Ross was involved in a ground accident while taxiing Lockheed Hudson Mk. III s/n BW621 (your first photo posted) out to the runway for a patrol. At 09:45 hours, he ran into parked Lockheed Hudson Mk. I s/n BW781 from same squadron, while parked on the taxi strip at R.C.A.F. Station Torbay, Newfoundland on the16th of September, 1942. There were no injuries and the aircraft was later repaired.

Pilot Officer L. T. Ross had his logbook endorsed “Error in Judgement”.

The crew of BW621 were.

Pilot - J9246 Pilot Officer L. T. Ross
Navigator – R100725 Sergeant M. D. Buchanan
Navigator – 798711 Sergeant W. G. Butler
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – R95661 Sergeant R. A. Hallinger
At the time of the accident, Pilot Officer Ross's flying hours were:

Instrument – 33
Night – 25
Dual on Type (Hudson) – 18
Solo on Type (Hudson)- 142
Total Dual – 88
Total Solo – 204

Cheers...Chris

[atpl53]

Accident Investigations

[atpl53]

This page reads as follows

Funeral Services for F/O J.C. Tanner and crew
Killed July 2nd, 1944

[atpl53]

Ventura G.R.V Checklist

[atpl53]

Ventura G.R.V Checklist

[atpl53]

Ventura G.R.V Checklist

[atpl53]

Ventura G.R.V Operating Limits

[Moose47]

G'day

On the 6th of July, 1944, Pilot Officer J. C. Tanner along with four other crew members and six passengers, were killed in Ventura G.R. Mk. V s/n 2171 (radio call letter 'Y') from No. 145 (BR) Squadron. They were returning home from a cross-country flight to Goose Bay. At 17:37 hours, it took off, stalled and then cartwheeled to starboard after the centre of balance shifted due to improper loading at Goose Bay, Labrador. I have visited the grave sites a number of times at the Joint Services Cemetery while at 5 Wing Goose Bay.

Yale s/n 3414 shown crumpled on the snow after having a mid-air collision during formation flying with Yale s/n 3386 near Cookstown, Ontario on the 26th of February, 1941. The two aircraft were from No. 1 Service Flying Training School at R.C.A.F. Station Camp Borden, Ontario. Both student pilots successfully bailed out.

The photo of the tail area is Ventura G.R. Mk. V from No. 145 (BR) Squadron at R.C.A.F. Station Torbay, Newfoundland. The accident happened at 22:57 hours on the 20th of July, 1943. The crew of three were doing night circuits when the aircraft blew main starboard while causing the aircraft to leave the runway and hit a pile of stones. The tail section, flaps and starboard landing gear were damaged.

More detail about the other photos to follow tomorrow.

Cheers...Chris

[atpl53]

Chris........

Are these photos also part of the RCAF archives?

Dan

[atpl53]

Inspection by Group Capt. H. M. Carscallen

[atpl53]

This page is titled
Sinking Of Enemy U-Boat
44 57N 03 24W

[atpl53]

Mortally Wounded

[atpl53]

Navigation Plates

[M.Braddock]

I am wondering if anyone knows the identities of the aircrew admiring the nose art on the Hudson aircraft in the photograph with the file name ..Alf 01
It looks very much like Flying Officer E.L.Robinson and his crew who were responsible for Canada's second U-boat sinking (U-658) on October 30 1942.
Any information on this photo or the crew would be much appreciated. Thanks