Transcribed report

				
             Report of Squadron Leader L.A.Harling
                ? Crash Crane 1A FJ214 9?/7/42		

1.                  On the evening of July 8, flying was 
scheduled for 1700 hours to 2100 hours. Flying was begun
on time and all flights ? were authorized to carry
out local flying at the Main Aerodrome and at the two
Relief fields. Cross-country flights were not authorised 
in view of the weather report which indicated thunder
storms.

2.                  I stayed the early part of the evening
on the aerodrome observing flying operations. I had been on
the field about two hours when, at a very view minutes before
1900 hours, I observed the sky was very dark, indicating the
approach of a storm. I proceeded by car to the Control Tower
and arrived just as a signal was made for ?washing out flying.
Realising that this was not an ordinary storm approaching,
and that a wind shift was likely to occur, I obtained smoke
generators, and ignited some on the aerodrome in three
different places. The storm broke suddenly and it was with
great difficulty that the aircraft in the circuit managed
to land safely. During the heavy rain which fell with winds
40-50 miles per hour, one aircraft flown by two pupils
appeared over the aerodrome and several times attempted to
land, obviously the student pilot was frightened and confused.
He eventually landed considerably ? wind, and in so doing,
damaged the undercarriage of the aircraft, but both occupants
escaped injury. During all this, the ambulance and crash
tender and a complete ground crew was standing by.

3.                 When all the local aircraft were on the
ground, I proceeded to the Control Tower to collect reports
by telephone from the relief fields. Upon checking up, it
was found that a number of aircraft were still unaccounted
for. These later reported in by telephone from various 
widely separated distances - two in Aberdeen, in a field;
two at Lac Vert, in a field; four at Prince Albert aerodrome;
five at ?. These had all landed safely. The one 
remaining aircraft unaccounted for was reported to be 
abandoned and had crashed near Warman. The occupants, 
P/O Small and LAC Burrowes, had made a successful parachute
descents. These two were taken by car to Osler Relief Field
considerably shaken by their experience, neither had 
suffered injury.

4.                The worst of the storm was over in about
45 minutes, and when the wind had subsided, aircraft were
recalled from the relief aerodrome, and those in out-
lying districts, instructed to remain over night.

5.                  In my experience at this unit which
date from October, 1940, I have never witnessed such a
storm, nor have I ever seen one approach as suddenly and
without warning, from an almost clear sky. This incident
has been an object lesson of great value to all pilots
here, and is being made the subject of a general lecture
to all pupil and trainee pilots.


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6.                  It is thought that one of the factors
which contributed largely in P/O Small's decision to
abandon aircraft was the fact that the flight instruments
are mainly on the left side of the instrument panel, and
from his position in the right-hand seat, he was unable
to do instrument flying after the gyro horizon apparently
became ?unviewable. P/O Small makes some mention of
being unable to move the controls, but it is noted that
his speed at this time was about 250 M.P.H. Such a high
speed might account for him thinking that they had jammed.

7.                   It would appear that it was impossible
to carry out parachute drill as outlined in the C.A.F 100? for
Crane aircraft, due to the jolting of the aircraft. When
the pupil attempted this procedure, he was held against 
the door jamb by the force of the slipstream. Both pilots
seem to think that a head-first plunge from the aircraft
would make a better exit. So far as they know, the tail plane
missed them by a comfortable margin, even though the 
speed was high.

8                     When interviewed. tje witnesses, made
mention of in the Engineering Officer's report, could give
very little information of value, except that the aeroplane
remained intact until striking the ground. A ? of the 
area ? confirmed this observation. A remarkable aspect
of this crash was that the engines were not buried, but
were broken up so completely, that any part of them could 
be picked up in one hand.


                             (L.A. Harling) Squadron Leader,
                              Commanding Officer,
                              No. 4 S.F.T.S., R.C.A.F.,
                              Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.