Operation: Transit Flight

Date: 15th January 1947 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 6 Communications Flight RCAF

Type: Beechcraft Expeditor II (C-45)

Serial: 1394

MSN: 7831

Base: RCAF base Whitehorse, Yukon

Location: Marsh Lake, Whitehorse, Yukon

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Richard Lewis Curtin J/27357 (R/75988) RCAF Age 27. Killed

Mech: LAC. Charles Curtis Brooking R/71202 RCAF Age 33. Killed

Passengers:

Sq/Ldr. Robert Andrew Buckham DFC and bar. DFC(US) J/15246 (R/74833) RCAF Age 32. Killed

F/O. Alfred Henry Hartviksen C/48974 (R/162230) RCAF Age 37. Killed

Fl/Sgt. Joe Milner R/160630 RCAF Age 50, Killed

Mr. Roy Othen Porter Civilian electrician attached to RCAF

REASON FOR LOSS:

Whilst with 416 squadron. On the 03rd June 1942 P/O. Buckham was landing Spitfire Vb R7224 when it touched down at 15:45 hrs the port oleo sheared off. He then took off again, retracted the other leg and made a belly landing at RAF Dyce in Aberdeenshire. The cause was a heart landing whilst the aircraft was drifting.

En-route to Teslin, Yukon when the aircraft flew into a heavy snowstorm when the pilot made an error in selecting fuel switches. Investigation suggests he attempted to land with wheels up but aircraft flipped over and exploded on striking the ground at 11:30 hrs. Five crew and one civilian were on board returning from a fire investigation, all lost their lives.

Burial and further personal details:

Fl/Lt. Richard Lewis Curtin. Fonthill Cemetery. Plot 234A. Born on the 15th December 1919 in Hamilton, Ontario. Educated at Welland High School. Employed as an apprentice gardener for Niagara Falls Commission. Enlisted on the 11th December 1940 in Hamilton. Son of Richard Frederick (died 1947, age 54) and Isabel Pearl Curtin (née Lewis), brother of Mary Kilgour (née Curtin), of 57 Random Street, Welland; husband of Thyra Augusta Curtin (née Monroe - married on the 15th September 1945), of Grand Manam, New Brunswick, Canada..

LAC. Charles Curtis Brooking. Treherne Cemetery (Bethel). Block A. Lot 8. Born on the 10th September 1913 in Windsor, Manitoba. Worked as a motor mechanic prior to service. Enlisted on the 19th September 1940 in Winnipeg. Son of Sidney (died 12th August 1958, age 80) and Brooking (née Haskill- died 1970, age 81), brother of Wilfred, Leslie and Eileen Elizabet Triggs (née Curtin - died 07th May 1941, age 73), Elsie Gooband Simpson (née Brooking - died 07th May 2004, age 92) of Treherne; husband of Ivy Constance Brooking (née Simpson), of Winnipeg, Canada. Epitaph: 'Rest In Peace'.

Sq/Ldr. Robert Andrew Buckham DFC, DFC(US). Burnaby Memorial Park (Forest Lawn). Born on the 05th October 1914 in Vancouver. Educated at King Edward and Prince of Wales High Schools. Gained civilian flying licence on the 07th August 1941. Enlisted on the 23rd October 1941. Son of John Andrew and Laura Teresa Buckham, brother of Jean and Laura, of 2232 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver; husband of Mabel Freda Buckhamn (married on the 18th August 1941), father of Heather Lyne, of Mission City, Canada.

Above and below funeral for Sq/Ldr. Robert Andrew Buckham DFC, DFC(US)

DFC Citation: This officer has taken part in a large number of sorties and proven to be a fine fighter and a first class leader. He has destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged five locomotives. DFC(US)was awarded by President Franklin Roosevelt for his recognition of valuable service rendered in connection with the war. Epitaph: 'Per Ardua Ad Astra'.

F/O. Alfred Henry Hartviksen. Thunder Bay Cemetery (Riverside) . Sec. 18. Plot 297. Grave 1. Born on the 07th April 1909 in Malö, Norway. Immigrated with his Norwegian parents when he was five. Educated at Port Arthur School.A foreman carpenter for Carter-Halls-Aldinger Ltd. Enlisted on the 08th April 1942.Son of Andrew and Hannah Hartviksen, of 438 North Algoma Street, Port Arthur, brother of Edmund Berg, Haldis Jacobi and Emilyalf Alfred, half brother of James Andrew, June Elinor, Helena and Jeanette Mary; husband of Gota Marie Hartviksen (died 1987, age 81 - née Hedin - married 07th September 1929), father of Raymond Carl and Norman Alfred died 2015, age 85), of North McIntyre, Canada. Epitaph: 'Rest In Peace'.

Above: Grave of F/O. Alfred Henry Hartviksen

Fl/Sgt. Joe Milner. Calgary Cemetery (Burnsland). Lot 117. Block 3. Sec. G. Born on the 23rd September 1896 in Sheffield, England. Immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1910. An instructor on first aid, safety and rescue prior to service. served with the 17th Cavalry Field Ambulance in Winnipeg, Manitoba before the war and attained the rank of Sergeant Major in April 1914, also awarded a Certificate of Military Instruction in Equitation. at the outbreak of WW1 he was in charge of recruiting for the 17th Cavalry Field Ambulance. He served overseas with the 56th Battalion, as a First Aid instructor. Enlisted in the RCAF on the 30th March 1942. Son of Jarvis Roughton Milner and Charlotte Milner, brother of John, James, Tom, Walter, Alea, Lily and Charlotte (all in Sheffield, England). Husband of Millicent Florence Milner (née Hersant - married 04th August 1915 - died 13th November 1970, age 77), father of Jarvis Henry (died 07th April 1983, age 65), Thelma, Joe Lloyd,(died 03rd January 1975, age 51) Thomas Edward (died 29th July 2002, age 81) and Stanley Albert of Edmonton, Canada. Epitaph: 'He Maketh Me To Lie Down In Green Pastures, He Leadeth Me Beside Still Waters'.

Mr. Roy Othen Porter - No further details available.

Above: 416 Squadron Pilots at Kenley, April 1943 - L-R rear: Charles Williston McKim, Norman F. Houghton, H.A. Terries, Livingston 'Cap' Foster, Roy Henry 'Kelly' Walker, John Freemont Richardson, Robert Andrew 'Bobby' Buckham, B.S. Siddall. Front: John Clair McLeod, Robert 'Dagwood' Phillip, D.B. Rogers. Karl 'Lucky' Linton, Norman A. Keene, Blair Dalzel Dal Russel, Roy Frederick Breen, Leslie Gordon Drummond Pow.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the WW2 Service files RCAF Canada, Paradie RCAF Archives, Stanley Milner. Military Museum of Canada, Aviation Safety Network.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding losses due to accidents

Pages detailing RCAF losses

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