RCAF Stranraer 935 Memorial

RCAF Stranraer 935

Crashed Valentine’s Day (February 14) 1943

935 Crew List
P/O DS MacLennen (J13672) Pilot (Captain), Montreal, Que
P/O LG Thompson (J13697) Second Pilot, Chance Harbour, NB
P/O FW McConkey (J13153) WAG, Calgary, Alta
Sgt JO Gilmour (R50322) AFM Crewman, Vancouver, BC
Cpl JP Sperling (R64622) AEM Crewman, Chamberlain, Sask
F/L CWT Field (C3378) Passenger (Accounts Officer), Edmonton, Alta

P/Os MacLennan and Thompson were scheduled for a training flight to practice takeoffs and landings with a loaded and armed aircraft in the RCAF Alliford Bay landing area which is approximately 1 ½ miles to the west of this cairn. At 1553hrs 935 was given take-off clearance. The aircraft took off and at 1625hrs requested permission to land. Landing clearance was given and the aircraft made a normal landing. The aircraft took off and at approximately 1635hrs 935 again requested permission to land. Permission was granted and while attempting to land 935 made five bounces with the last bounce throwing the aircraft approximately 80 feet in the air. The aircraft then swerved sharply to port and dropped the port wing. After the aircraft hit the water it appeared that both the port upper and lower mainplanes broke off downwards from the wing roots. After the aircraft came to rest it started to sink immediately and within two minutes it was completely out of sight. Approximately two minutes after the aircraft sank a large volume of water rose to height of 8-10 feet. Almost immediately smoke and flame appeared on the surface of the water, the smoke rising nearly 1000 feet and the flames to a height of approximately twenty feet. The four 250 lb depth charges had detonated. Only the wing float was found and P/O McLennan’s body was eventually recovered.

Reqiescat en Pace Fratres

November 18, 2011