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A view of Avro Anson K8758 as seen from Anson K6260. K6260 was equipped with the experimental AI radar, while K8758 was used as a target aircraft. This image was taken while AI research was still being carried out, but before the Fairy Battles replaced the Ansons in that role. This places the photograph some time in 1937
http://www.dos4ever.com/EF50/EF50.html, originally from “Radar Days” by BowenSub Heading 2
- Small Plane
- Lake St. Francis
- Cornwall Ontario
- St. Lawrence River
6554 Avro built in UK Anson Mk. I 652A
first date: 12 May 1941 – Taken on strength at de Havilland of Canada
Ex RAF W2298. To No. 1 Training Command on 6 June 1941. To No. 3 Training Command later in 1941, for use by No. 8 Air Observers School at Ancienne Lorette, PQ. Crashed into the St. Lawrence River at Lake St. Francis near Cornwall, Ontario on 15 September 1942. All 3 occupants killed. Records state pilot misjudged height and settled into the water, suggesting probably unauthorized low flying.
last date: 23 December 1942 – Struck off Mostly Recovered?
On 15th September 1942, while Victor was officially on leave from No.9 Air Observer School, St Johns, Quebec, he took himself and three fellow trainee airmen on what can only be described as a “silly jaunt” in Avro Anson 6554 over the St Lawrence River. Perhaps
predictably an accident then occurred. This is a classic example of misbehaving in an aeroplane and of not doing as you are told ……and is a still current and stark warning from the past that if you clown about in an aircraft it will
invariably bite you! He flew the Avro Anson aircraft down to an extremely low altitude in a clear attempt to impress a party of people who were sailing in a cabin boat on the lake. The weather conditions were extremely calm with the result that at low altitude with a compromised horizon the surface of the water was not
immediately obvious from the cockpit. While clearly still in the decent, the aircraft struck the water and was damaged. An emergency opening of the throttles was then probably made in an unsuccessful attempt to become fully airborne, but due to the damage, the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude and plunged into the water, nosed under killing three of the four occupants, including Victor De Havilland. The death report gives death by drowning with
fractures to both legs and head injuries. At the time of death he had 176 hrs duel and 290 hrs solo flying
time.
The other two fatalities were:
GB.1318392. LAC. W.H. SMALE.
AUS. 413484. W/O T.P.W. FRASER (A.G.) The third passenger, AUS.414469. LAC S.D.R. COOKwas slightly wounded and survived to give evidence to the board of enquiry, along with a Mr J.R. JONES & Mr G. WHITWELL of the St Lawrence Transport Co.Ltd who were clearly on the boat at the
time of the crash. The accident took place 300 yards North-West of Canal Island – 1.5miles up river from Summerstown, which is near Cornwall,
Ontario, (Lake St Francis). The sortie was officially described as a “routine navigation training flight” !!…but as Victor was officially ‘off duty’ at the time
of the accident, Mrs De Havilland’s application for a service
pension was refused
External Links or Sources #
- http://www.dos4ever.com/EF50/EF50.html, Photo from originally from “Radar Days” by Bowen
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson
- https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-avro-652-anson-i-near-cornwall-3-killed
- https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/144973
- https://caspir.warplane.com/crashcards_pdf/0020/00000096.pdf
- https://www.medalsofengland.com/medals.php?id=165&medalid=1940
