RCAF Station Yarmouth #34 Operational Training Unit On the afternoon of March 13, 1943 , Flight Lieutenant D. C. Lacey, Flight Commander Armament Flight authorized P. C. Coor as pilot, P. Q. Lalor observer and Sergeant Cannon, wireless operator/air gunner to take off at 17:45 hours in Ventura AJ173 for the purpose of Carrying out bombing and gunnery exercises. The bombing was to undertaken at the Pubnico Range and the gunnery at Port Maitland and the crew were given strict instructions to land at 1800 hours. This was he first exercise of this type to be carried out by this particular crew. They were briefed before take off by the Gunnery Officer and they signed the Air Firing Range orders as having read and understood. The last signal received from the aircraft informed the base that bombing had been completed and that it was proceeding to the gunnery range. At 1845 hours, when the aircraft had not returned, the Flight Commander Armament Flight requested that overdue action to taken. The following morning an intensive search by air and sea was organized without result. On March 15, some lobster boats found wreckage (wheel and tire) and aircraft dinghy which were identified as belonging to this particular aircraft. The RCAF crash boat cruised in the area for three hours after this discovery without finding and further evidence. On March 16 several other pieces were picked up on a beach south of Port Maitland harbour, these including a sleeping bag and a box marked “Tail Drift Sight”. From these marks it was evident that the aircraft had broken up with great violence. On the day of the accident, the aircraft had been flown by another pilot for one hour and thirty minutes. During this flight it behaved in a normal manner; there was also evidence to prove that the aircraft had been refuelled prior to taking off on the fatal trip. Ordinary Seaman, R. E. Faulkner as passenger was unexplained. Leading Aircraftman, J. H. Aitkinson who assisted the pilot in starting the engine comfirmed the presence of R. E. Falkner in the aircraft prior to take off. The cause of the accident remained obscure. An explosion appears to have occurred but whether in the air or on impact was undetermined. F/S D.A. Cannon, P/O T.A. Corr and P/O F.H. Lalor were attached to No.34 Operational Training Unit at Yarmouth, NS at the time of the crash. Course No. 8, of which they were members began classes at Pennfield Ridge on January 9, 1943 and was detached to Yarmouth, NS on March 10, 1943.

Name: Ronald Herbert Faulkner Service Number: D/JX 366668 Rank: Ordinary Seaman Service: Royal Navy (HMS St. Vincent) RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS East Camp: Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy Year of Birth: 1923 Date of Death: March 13, 1943 Age at Death: 20 Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 80, Column 2 Son of Herbert and Kate Faulkner, of Brighton, Sussex Ronald Faulkner was a passenger on the flight.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name: David Armstrong Cannon Service Number: R/103962 Rank: Flight Sergeant Service: Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS 34 Operational Training Unit Date of Enlistment: June 12, 1941 Year of Birth: February 9, 1923 Place of Birth: Drumheller, Alberta Date of Death: March 13, 1943 Age at Death: 20 Memorial: Ottawa Memorial Panel 2. Column 4. Commemorated on Page 143 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 26 Son of William Cannon (d. 1923), and of Grace Armstrong Cannon, of Albert Park, Alberta. Flight Sergeant Cannon was the wireless operator/air gunner on the flight.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Name: Thomas Anthony Corr Service Number: 138491 Rank: Pilot Officer Service: Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS 34 Operational Training Unit Date of Birth: April 1912 Place of Birth: Bolton, Lancashire, UK Date of Death: March 13, 1943 Age at Death: 30 Memorial: Ottawa Memorial Panel 2. Column 4. Son of Patrick Corr (1875-1926) and Anne Mary (Stalberger) Corr (1886-1975) and husband of Gladys M. Corr, of Upper Holloway, London, England. Pilot Officer Corr was the pilot of the aircraft.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name: Fintan Howard Lalor Service Number: J/22229 Rank: Pilot Officer Service: Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS 34 Operational Training Unit Date of Enlistment: November 21, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba Date of Birth: November 16, 1921 Place of Birth: Welwyn, Sask. Date of Death: March 13, 1943 Age at Death: 21 Memorial: Ottawa Memorial Panel 2. Column 4. Commemorated on Page 179 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 13 Son of Patrick Michael Lalor and Myrtle Edna Lalor, of Pine Falls, Manitoba. Prior to enlistment he was a Pre- Med student at Manitoba University. Pilot Officer Lalor was the observer on the aircraft.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial