On 26 May 1953, RCAF Lancaster KB995 (407 Squadron) crashed into the east side of Iron Mountain, near North Bend, Oregon, USA; all ten Canadian airmen aboard were killed instantly. The aircraft had taken off from Comox, British Columbia, Canada, heading to San Diego, California; it was transporting some parts needed for repairing another 407 Squadron airplane which had been participating in a military exercise. It is thought that KB995 ran into some bad weather conditions as it flew southwards over the Rocky Mountains, and the heavy rainfall greatly reduced visibility.
On 30 May a search party located the wreckage of downed Lancaster KB995.
A cairn, funded by local Oregon citizens, was erected near the crash site to remember and to honour the air crew of Lancaster KB995.
The casualties were:
Flying Officer Joseph Yvon Elias Aurele BOURGEOIS,
Flying Officer John William BROWNIE,
Flying Officer Robert James CALDER,
Flying Officer David Fair ELLIS,
Flying Officer Kenneth Edgar ELSDEN,
Leading Aircaftman John HARALDSON,
Flying Officer Harry Charles MADDICK,
Corporal Donald Gordon SPENCE,
Leading Aircraftman William Henry WALDRON, and
Flying Officer Cyril Jerome WILLIAMS.
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Corporal
Trade: Flight Engineer
Service Number: 23985
Age: 29
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 407 (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron
Citation: Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Date and Place of Enlistment: May 22, 1952 Galt, Ontario, Canada.
Son of Gordon and Gertrude (née Sampson) Spence of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; husband of Elsie (née Reid).
Corporal Donald Gordon Spence is commemorated on Page 34 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
The casualties of this aircraft accident are also remembered and honoured in the VP International Book Of Remembrance which is maintained at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada.
On 30 May a search party located the wreckage of downed Lancaster KB995.
A cairn, funded by local Oregon citizens, was erected near the crash site to remember and to honour the air crew of Lancaster KB995.
The casualties were:
Flying Officer Joseph Yvon Elias Aurele BOURGEOIS,
Flying Officer John William BROWNIE,
Flying Officer Robert James CALDER,
Flying Officer David Fair ELLIS,
Flying Officer Kenneth Edgar ELSDEN,
Leading Aircaftman John HARALDSON,
Flying Officer Harry Charles MADDICK,
Corporal Donald Gordon SPENCE,
Leading Aircraftman William Henry WALDRON, and
Flying Officer Cyril Jerome WILLIAMS.
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Corporal
Trade: Flight Engineer
Service Number: 23985
Age: 29
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 407 (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron
Citation: Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Date and Place of Enlistment: May 22, 1952 Galt, Ontario, Canada.
Son of Gordon and Gertrude (née Sampson) Spence of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; husband of Elsie (née Reid).
Corporal Donald Gordon Spence is commemorated on Page 34 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
The casualties of this aircraft accident are also remembered and honoured in the VP International Book Of Remembrance which is maintained at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada.
On 26 May 1953, RCAF Lancaster KB995 (407 Squadron) crashed into the east side of Iron Mountain, near North Bend, Oregon, USA; all ten Canadian airmen aboard were killed instantly. The aircraft had taken off from Comox, British Columbia, Canada, heading to San Diego, California; it was transporting some parts needed for repairing another 407 Squadron airplane which had been participating in a military exercise. It is thought that KB995 ran into some bad weather conditions as it flew southwards over the Rocky Mountains, and the heavy rainfall greatly reduced visibility.
On 30 May a search party located the wreckage of downed Lancaster KB995.
A cairn, funded by local Oregon citizens, was erected near the crash site to remember and to honour the air crew of Lancaster KB995.
The casualties were:
Flying Officer Joseph Yvon Elias Aurele BOURGEOIS,
Flying Officer John William BROWNIE,
Flying Officer Robert James CALDER,
Flying Officer David Fair ELLIS,
Flying Officer Kenneth Edgar ELSDEN,
Leading Aircaftman John HARALDSON,
Flying Officer Harry Charles MADDICK,
Corporal Donald Gordon SPENCE,
Leading Aircraftman William Henry WALDRON, and
Flying Officer Cyril Jerome WILLIAMS.
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Corporal
Trade: Flight Engineer
Service Number: 23985
Age: 29
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 407 (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron
Citation: Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Date and Place of Enlistment: May 22, 1952 Galt, Ontario, Canada.
Son of Gordon and Gertrude (née Sampson) Spence of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; husband of Elsie (née Reid).
Corporal Donald Gordon Spence is commemorated on Page 34 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
The casualties of this aircraft accident are also remembered and honoured in the VP International Book Of Remembrance which is maintained at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada.
On 30 May a search party located the wreckage of downed Lancaster KB995.
A cairn, funded by local Oregon citizens, was erected near the crash site to remember and to honour the air crew of Lancaster KB995.
The casualties were:
Flying Officer Joseph Yvon Elias Aurele BOURGEOIS,
Flying Officer John William BROWNIE,
Flying Officer Robert James CALDER,
Flying Officer David Fair ELLIS,
Flying Officer Kenneth Edgar ELSDEN,
Leading Aircaftman John HARALDSON,
Flying Officer Harry Charles MADDICK,
Corporal Donald Gordon SPENCE,
Leading Aircraftman William Henry WALDRON, and
Flying Officer Cyril Jerome WILLIAMS.
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Corporal
Trade: Flight Engineer
Service Number: 23985
Age: 29
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 407 (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron
Citation: Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Date and Place of Enlistment: May 22, 1952 Galt, Ontario, Canada.
Son of Gordon and Gertrude (née Sampson) Spence of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; husband of Elsie (née Reid).
Corporal Donald Gordon Spence is commemorated on Page 34 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
The casualties of this aircraft accident are also remembered and honoured in the VP International Book Of Remembrance which is maintained at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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