The Wing has appropriated 101 Squadron’s initiative to erect memorials at previously unmarked military crash sites on Northern Vancouver Island and on 1 June will dedicate a cairn memorializing the loss of Lancaster KB 940 here at Comox on 24 November 1952. This project is a cooperative effort involving 19 Wing, 407 Squadron, the Demon Association, the Museum, Triple 8 Wing and 386 RCACS.

In the accident the pilots were saved by two civilians who were subsequently awarded the George Medal for their heroic actions. 888 Wing facilitated the acquisition of Bobby Waters’ GM which is now on permanent display at the Comox Air Force Museum. On Sunday 1 June, a stainless steel cairn in the form of an obelisk will be erected in the Air Park to honour the crew of KB 940. All those who perished in the crash will be represented at the ceremony in most cases by family members and former service buddies coming from across Canada. Those honoured on this occasion include the Co-Pilot F/O Wright who survived the crash but passed away in 1996; the Navigator, F/O Fred Doucette; the Flight Engineer, Cpl George Fletcher, F/Sgt Leo Maynard the A/SWO and NCO i/c of the Station Maintenance workshops; Cpl “Tiny” McKay a highly respected 407 Squadron technician with extensive WW II service; Aircraftsmen “Bo” McIntyre, Wayne Smith and Roy Walsh, young techs who had joined 407 Squadron just two weeks prior and; civilian meteorologist Malcolm MacLeod who was employed in the station weather office. The pilot, F/O “Ruff” Johnson, now the sole survivor of the crash will be in attendance.

Wing members who know of individuals that may have served with these men or were in the area at the time of the accident are asked to inform them of the details and invite them to attend the ceremony.

We anticipate about 50 relatives of the passengers & crew will participate in the activities which will begin with a meet & greet at the Wing from 7 – 9 PM on Saturday 31 May. They will then assemble at the Wing between 11 and 12:30 on Sunday 1 June before proceeding to the Air Park. Guests are asked to be seated by 1245 and the proceedings will commence at 1 PM.

The cairn ceremony will be held in conjunction with the museum’s annual heritage stone dedication event which will conclude with light refreshments on site. Those participating in the cairn ceremony and Wing members in attendance may then proceed to the Wing where a no-host reception will be held until 5 PM. We will be offering some solid sustenance to our out of town guests but will not be able to feed the multitude and trust all those who attend will understand the limitations of our catering capability.

We have a foul weather programme but hope we won’t have to use it.

Wing Dress with medals if you have it, appropriate attire if you don’t.