Wartime Heritage ASSOCIATION

While on a low level bombing training mission from RCAF Station Yarmouth, the Hudson bomber [MK III #BW 447] crashed approximately five miles west of RCAF Station, Yarmouth at 5:35 pm on January 8, 1943. The cause of the crash was obscure. The plane appeared to have come to rest with much more vertical speed that Horisonal speed . The plane dived or spun out of control into a clump of trees on the Yarmouth Bar [Markland]. The plane came to rest, pancaked, right side up. A subsequent explosion did not materially change the position of the major components with the exception of the tail assembly which came over and forward, landing upside-down on an angle to port. A twenty-five foot tree which sheared off the outer eight feet of the starboard wing was stripped of branches for the first four feet of impact and thereafter badly scarred in a downward motion to its base, a distance of eight feet. The starboard engine was only embedded in the frozen ground the length of a prop boss in the small embankment which it hit. The trees to the stean of the aircraft were not cut in a swath made by an aircraft in forward flight. All five members of the crew were killed. Vogelsang, Edward Walter [Pilot Officer, J.10495] Pilot on the flight May, David Merriman [Flight Sergeant, R.108433] Observer on the flight Thomas, Leslie Edmund [Sergeant, R.104036] Wireless Air Gunner on the flight MacRae, William David [Sergeant, R.104026] Wireless Air Gunner on the flight Dale, William [Leading Aircraftman, R.141193] Armourer on the flight Edward Walter Vogelsang Date of Death: January 8, 1943 Age At Death: 22 Cemetery: Saskatoon (Woodlawn) Cemetery, Saskatchewan, Canada Grave Reference: Block J. Lot 99. Grave 11156 Additional Information on Edward Walter Vogelsang David Merriman May Born September 26, 1916, David Merriman May was the son of John V. May and Edith May, of Coaticock and husband of Margaret E. May, of St. Johns, Quebec. David May married Margaret Elizabeth Allenby at St. Johns, Quebec on May 5, 1942. He enlisted at the age of 24 on July 7, 1941 at Montreal, Quebec. He was assigned to 113 Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth on June 2, 1942 Age at Death: 26 Cemetery: Coaticook Mount Forest Cemetery, Quebec Grave Reference: Lot 23. Commemorated on Page 188 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on the April 17 Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Veterans Affairs Canada Leslie Edmund Thomas, Born on July 2, 1921, Leslie Edmund Thomas was the son of Edmund N. Thomas and Violet Grace Thomas, of Lower Sackville, NS. He joined the Air Force in June 1941. He was stationed in Yarmouth in July of 1942 and was assigned to #113 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron after initial training courses in St. Thomas, Ontario and Jarvis, Ontario. In 1975 Sackville, Nova Scotia honoured Thomas by naming a school after him, Leslie Thomas Junior High. Date of Death: January 8, 1943 Age at Death: 21 Cemetery: Sackville (St. John’s) Cemetery Commemorated on Page 219 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 10 Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Veterans Affairs Canada William David MacRae Born on December 5, 1919, William David MacRae was the son of David Archie and Flora M. MacRae, of West Middle River, Victoria Co., Nova Scotia. He enlisted and completed basic training at New Glasgow on April 17, 1941. He was discharged from the Army on June 6, 1941 when he enlisted with the RCAF. He was stationed at RCAF Yarmouth with 113 Squadron on October 30, 1942. Date of Death: January 8, 1943 Age at Death: 23 Cemetery: Middle River Presbyterian Cemetery West Middle River, Nova Scotia Commemorated on Page 186 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 16 Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Veterans Affairs Canada William Dale Born on April 4, 1921 William Dale was the son of Albert and Kathleen Dale, of Toronto. He enlisted with the RCAF at Toronto on November 10, 1941 He was assigned to 113 Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth on March 1, 1942. Date of Death: January 8, 1943 Age at Death: 21 Cemetery: Toronto Prospect Cemetery Grave Reference: Sec. 15. Lot 147. Listed on the Western Technical School Memorial, Toronto Commemorated on Page 150 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 29 Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Veterans Affairs Canada findagrave.com

RCAF Station Yarmouth West Camp 113 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron Aircraft: Lockheed Hudson MK III #BW 447 Crashed at Markland, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia

January 8, 1943