Mitchell HD319 Plaque

This stainless steel plaque is mounted in the cockpit of the wreckage of the Mitchell HD319. The Plaque is dedicated to the crew of the Mitchell HD 319, and was unveiled Juin 23rd 2012 by the 101st Squadron of the RCAF

Inscription

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

La plaque d’acier inoxydable est apposée dans le poste de pilotage de l’épave du Mitchell HD319. Elle est dédiée à l’équipage du Mitchell HD 319, et elle a été dévoilée le 23 juin 2012 par le 101e Escadron de l’AARC.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.