British Columbia

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Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald

This picnic area is dedicated to the memory of Lt. Ian MacDonald (1920 – 1944) Canadian-Scottish Regiment.

Ian was born in Vernon, British Columbia in 1920. Like many young men and women of his day, Ian was quick to enlist when Canada entered the war against Hitler’s Germany in 1939. On September the 14^th 1939, he became a Private in the Canadian Scottish Regiment at Courtenay.

After extensive training, Ian rose to the rank of Lieutenant. On June 2^nd 1944, he and those under his command became part of the Allied D-Day invasion force to Normandy. On June 10^th, he was killed in action.

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Cabledu, wrote of Lt. MacDonald, “His drive and daring were an inspiration to his men and to the rest of his Battalion… We mourn his loss but cherish his memory”.

Lt. Ian Philip MacDonald now rests in the Canadian War Cemetery Bretteville-sur-Laize, France, Plot 5, Row C, Grave 14.

The Fanny Bay-Bowser Memorial Fund Committee

At the conclusion of hostilities, residents of the Fanny Bay-Bowser area established the “The Fanny Bay-Bowser Memorial Fund Committee” to perpetuate the memory of the men who served their country in the armed forces. In July 1946, the committee petitioned the Minister of Lands and Forests to establish a park and picnic ground in honour of Lt. Ian MacDonald.

Rosewall Creek Provincial Park was established in 1956 but remained “undeveloped”. Interested in reactivating the original community proposal, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 211 Bowser, the MacDonald family and friends have been instrumental in the development and dedication of the Lieutenant Ian Philip MacDonald Picnic Area.

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Crash location

50° 35' 35.53" N 127° 38' 27.08" W

Mitchell HD 319

Crashed July 14, 1944

Flight Crew of HD 319

F/O LR Hannah (RAFVR 159853) Pilot, Chatham, Kent

P/O JWC Reeve (RAFVR 165334) Navigator, Hale, Cheshire

P/O D Johnston, (RAFVR 165320) Bomb Aimer, Aberdeen, Scotland

Sgt EG Waters, (RAFVR 1387364) WOp/AG, Romford, Essex

At 0930hrs on the 14 July, 1944, seven RAF crews undergoing operational training at 5 OTU at RCAF Station Boundary Bay were briefed on Cross Country Navigation exercise 108D. The route was from Boundary Bay to a point 160 nms west of Vancouver Island, then to Port Hardy, further onwards to a bomb run near Pat Bay, and then home for a total of 4.5 hours. HD 319 took off at 1046. They entered cloud on the second leg and at 1312 hrs reported being twenty-three minutes out of Port Hardy. They were never heard from again and an eleven-day search failed to find them. The remaining six crews were able to complete the mission with no problems. In September 1960 a prospector discovered the wreckage, on course, 30 nms from Port Hardy. The aircraft appeared to have hit the side of the hill with debris scattered along a three quarters mile long path. The crew were likely thrown out by the impact as no bodies were ever found.

REQIESCAT EN PACE FRATRES

CF-18 HORNET 188773

Crashed • 5 April 1988

DECEASED: CAPTAIN (LIEF) MICHAEL ERICKSON

In the early morning hours of April 5, 1988 Captain Michael (Lief) Erickson, from 441 Squadron, volunteered to assist a fishing vessel in distress. The vessel was anchored near Bunsby Island but was uncertain of its location and needed a course to steer to open water. High winds and poor weather at the time precluded search and rescue aircraft from assisting. Lief had been a commercial fisherman and understood the vessel captain's concern and offered to help. During the mission Lief crashed into the mountain just above this shelter and died on impact. The fishing vessel was able to weather the storm.

REQIESCAT EN PACE FRATRE

101 (NORTH ISLAND) SQUADRON, A.F.A.C.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

U.S. NAVY VENTURA PV-128736
CRASHED 26TH DECEMBER, 1943

LT Joseph Robert Cranny – Grinelle, Iowa, pilot
ENS Charles H. Schoenfelder – Wathena, Kansas, copilot
AOM3c Joseph H. Anderson – Ogden, Utah, ordnanceman
ARM3c Robert Louis Maguet – Postsmouth, Ohio, radio operator
AOM3c Joseph I Winslow Jr. – Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, ordnanceman
AMM2c Ernest L. Morgan – Rockville, Virginia, aviation mechanic

While on a routine patrol from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island the aircraft
encountered deteriorating weather and attempted to land on a deceptively smooth expanse of Lawn Point. Some of the crew survived the ensuing crash and for nearly six months awaited a rescue that never came. The Ventura was finally discovered on June 16^th, 1944 by an RCAF patrol aircraft out of Coal Harbour. Five of the crewmen’s remains were recovered from the site but Joseph Anderson was never found.

LANCASTER
KB 940

Crashed 24 November 1952

SURVIVORS: FLYING OFFICER RF (RUFF) JOHNSON - PILOT SPRINGHILL, NS
FLYING OFFICER MJ (MONTE) WRIGHT - CO-PILOT VANCOUVER, BC

DECEASED: FLYING OFFICER JOSEPH FREDERICK DOUCETTE - NAVIGATOR - ST. LOUIS, PEI
CORPORAL GEORGE STANLEY FLETCHER - FLIGHT ENGINEER - EDMONTON, ALBERTA
FLIGHT SERGEANT JOSEPH LEO LAURIER MAYNARD, MONTREAL, QUEBEC
CORPORAL FREEMAN ARCHIBALD MCKAY, DAUPHIN, MANITOBA
AIRCRAFTSMAN 2ND CLASS VERNON JOSEPH MCINTYRE, GLACE BAY, NS
AIRCRAFTSMAN 2ND CLASS WAYNE FREDERICK SMITH, LUNENBURG, NS
AIRCRAFTSMAN 2ND CLASS ROY HOWARD WALSH, LIBERTY, SASK.
CIVILIAN METEROROLOGIST MALCOM G MACLEOD, CHILLIWACK, BC

On November 24, 1952, Lancaster KB 940 from 407 Maritime
Reconnaissance Squadron returning to RCAF Station Comox from
a practice instrument training flight, at dusk in marginal weather
conditions. The aircraft crashed in a swampy area adjacent to the
airfield perimeter not far from this location. There were ten persons on
board, eight perished in the crash and ensuing fire. Two civilians;
Robert Waters and Albert DeCuyper, were awarded the George Medal
for their valiant rescue efforts.

REQIESCAT EN PACE FRATRES

(crests of 888 Wing, RCAF, 407 Squadron and 101 Squadron/écussons de la 888^e Escadre, ARC, 407^e Escadron et 101^e Escadron)

1 JUNE 2008

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IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
SEPTEMBER 3, 1939 - MAY 8, 1945

AS WE STAND HERE, SAFE AND FREE
WE WONDER WHY T'WAS MEANT TO BE
THAT MEN SHOULD DIE FOR YOU AND ME
ON ALL THE OCEANS WHITE CAPS FLOW
WE DO NOT HAVE CROSSES ROW ON ROW
BUT WE WHO SLEEP BENEATH THE SEA
REST IN PEACE BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY IS FREE

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

COMOX VALLEY BRANCH
ROYAL CANADIAN NAVAL ASSOCIATION