Shotline Diving

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3126 NA Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB

Explore the wreck of the Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB, a WWII training aircraft that crashed into Lake Erie during a training mission in 1943.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB
  • Type: Aircraft
  • Builder: Noorduyn Aviation Limited
  • Dimensions:
  • Location: Lake Erie, near the southern coast of Ontario
  • Official Number: 3126
  • Original Owners: Royal Canadian Air Force

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Aircraft Type: Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB

Description

The Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB was a Canadian-built variant of the North American T-6 Texan, a renowned advanced trainer used by Allied air forces during World War II. It was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane designed for pilot training, including advanced flight maneuvers, instrument flying, and navigation.

The aircraft was part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), a large-scale program to train Allied aircrews in Canada, far from the threat of Axis forces. No. 14 SFTS at RCAF Station Aylmer was a key training facility under this program, specializing in advanced flight training.

History

Service Timeline:

  • 4 November 1941: Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB Serial 3126 was delivered to the RCAF and assigned to No. 14 SFTS in Aylmer, Ontario.
  • Service Period: The aircraft was part of the training fleet, used to prepare pilots for operational roles in combat or transport aviation. It participated in advanced flight exercises under the BCATP.
  • 23 July 1943: The aircraft crashed into Lake Erie during a training mission. The incident resulted in the aircraft being abandoned and written off.
  • 23 August 1943: The aircraft’s service records were officially closed, marking its final disposition as “abandoned.”

Significant Incidents

The Crash:

  • Date of Incident: 23 July 1943
  • Location: Lake Erie, near the southern coast of Ontario
  • Cause: Specific details of the crash are not well-documented, but wartime training accidents were often caused by mechanical failure, pilot error, or adverse weather conditions.
  • Outcome: The aircraft was abandoned. The pilot likely survived, as no fatality is recorded with the incident.

Final Disposition

The crash of Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB Serial 3126 is a reminder of the intense training efforts and sacrifices made under the BCATP during World War II. While the incident did not involve combat, it underscores the dangers faced by pilots even during training, as they prepared for missions critical to the Allied war effort. The aircraft’s service record was officially closed on August 23, 1943.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no publicly available information indicating that salvage operations were conducted for Harvard Mk.IIB 3126 after its crash into Lake Erie. Given the wartime context and the abundance of training aircraft, it is likely that the aircraft was left in situ.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

Specific memorials dedicated solely to Harvard Mk.IIB 3126 have not been documented. However, the broader contributions of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) and the personnel involved are commemorated at various sites, including the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Manitoba, and the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario.