Part I
While searching for Harvard aircraft used in the BCATP during WW II this photo popped from The Memory Project.
The photo suggests a serious crash but I was surprised to discover the result.
Quoting from Walker, this was a Harvard Mk II, assigned to No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Upland, (Ottawa), Ontario. It was involved in the death of Squadron Leader (Major) Charles E. Wilmot, AFC, age 49, Service Number: C/741 of Brantford, Ontario.
S/L Wilmot was the examining officer for No. 2 S.F.T.S. He was the former mayor of Bellville, Ontario, and a pioneer aviator who had been awarded the Air Force Cross. The AFC was “… for service while flying though not in active operations against the enemy”.
His wife, Katherine Isabelle Cockshutt Wilmot, was living in Brantford, Ontario at the time of the accident.
A further investigation showed a horrifying accident. The Squadron Leader’s death was avoidable and the result of some sort of distraction. He was walking toward the flight line where the Harvard he intended to ‘take-up’ was sitting and may have been running through a ‘mental check list’ of what he had to do when the accident happened.
Tragically, S/L Wilmot, “…was killed when he walked into the path of a taxiing plane and was struck by the propeller…”.
The photo shows extensive damage to Harvard s/n 2556. It is very difficult to see forward from inside the Harvard on the ground. There is no information explaining the extensive damage to the aircraft and one must assume when the Harvard struck Wilmot the pilot was shocked and over-reacted, crashing into another aircraft.
A summary of the news story that appeared in the old Toronto Telegram newspaper (CVWM):
“As he walked from a flight office toward a plane which he intended to fly he walked directly into the path of a taxiing plane…”
Wilmot had private pilot’s licence #71, one of the first issued in Canada. “During the First Great War he was a Canadian flying instructor in Texas and also served at flying camps overseas…”.
“After the war he was chief pilot in charge of the Handley-Page flying mission to the Argentine in 1919 …”
He was a reserve flying officer after 1932 and returned to active service in 1940. “…his widow … Isabelle – is the daughter of Honourable Harry Cockshutt …”.
Yes, that Cockshutt family. (Research never ends – it just stops)
From The International Cockshutt Club Inc. “James Cockshutt opened up his little shop, called The Brantford Plow Works, in 1877, producing stoves, scufflers, and walking plows.”
“The J.G.C. Riding Plow, was so popular that it became known as the plow that opened the west.”
Part II
Walking into a spinning propeller was not uncommon.
RCAF Leading Aircraftman Kenneth Edgar Heal, Service # R/97211, Armourer, was killed on November 9, 1941 when he walked into the propeller of Fairey Battle Target Tug 1898. The accident occurred at 8:03 AM at No. 7 Bombing ad Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, near Dauphin. He was just 25 years-old.
The news reported:
“An RCAF official said the accident when Ken, servicing an aircraft, apparently walked into the aircrew of a battle plane taxing down a line on schedule to target practice. The armourer was killed instantly.” (CVWM)
LAC Heal was the son of George Edgar and Maybelle Heal, of Toronto. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
A review of the Walker records for Fariey Battle 1898 shows it continued in service. On November 7, 1942 it was converted for gunnery practice and a turret was added. It was SOS (struck off strength) August 9, 1944 and one assumes, was scraped. (Walker)
Note, a Turret has been added.
