[First report: 9 June 1954]

A pilot was killed and second occupant badly hurt yesterday when an R.C.A.F. plane crashed and burned, four miles north of Wellington at 20 after 3 yesterday.

Aircraft landed within 20 yards of King Terry’s home and burst into flames. R.C.A.F. fire trucks and ambulances were quickly on the scene.

“I heard a great roar and then the crash,” said Mrs. Terry.

“I was listening to the TV when I heard an awful roar,” said Mrs. Robt. Wood. “There was silence and I thought it had hit our barn, but it went on over and crashed 20 yards this side of King Terry’s house. It burst into flames. At 10 to 4 it was burning and there was dense smoke. Ambulance and fire department was on the scene. It shook our house as it roared over.”

Crash occurred four miles north of Wellington, west of Bowerman’s Church.

[Second report: 11 June 1954]

Eye-Witnesses Tell Story Of Crash Which Killed Two Dirt Bank Saved Four In Home

Minutes after bursting into flames, a Mitchell bomber crashed Tuesday afternoon, instantly killing Flight Lieut. T. P. O’Byrne and injuring Cpl. J. A. Aubrey, who died three hours later in Trenton Hospital.

Death or injury to four others was averted by a freak of nature. As the plane plunged earthward, it was headed for the home of King Terry and only the fact that it struck a ridge of earth and a fence prevented it from crashing the house. As it crashed, there was a tremendous explosion and parts of the plane were scattered over a thousand yard radius. The largest part of the craft stopped 75 feet from the doorway of the home where Mrs. Terry was standing. Also in the home were her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Gordon Foster and two young children, who watched horrified as the plane shot towards them.

Dragging the men from some of the wreckage which was not on fire were King Terry and Gordon Foster. O’Byrne had been instantly killed and nearly all his clothing was torn off.

The aircraft was on a flight from Picton maintenance, depot, to No. 6 Repair Depot at Trenton, where it was based. Scene of the crash was on the Terry farm, third concession of Hillier township, 15 miles south of Trenton RCAF station.

TELLS STORY OF CRASH

“My son-in-law, Gordon Foster and I were using our tractors in a field about a 100 rods distant from the house when we saw the aircraft. It was then on fire. It passed over our heads about 200 feet up. It hit the ground and then bounced about 30 rods when a sheet of flame and smoke shot up. As it struck a bank of earth which had been the bottom of an old fence, and also the new fence there, it blew up in al directions. It was heading straight for my home and except for the hill would have crashed into it. As it was, part of the fuselage was within 75 feet of the house and pieces were within ten feet of the verandah where my wife was standing. But for that bank it would have been an even more tragic story,” said King Terry.

“We rushed to the wreckage. The corporal who was in mechanic’s clothes was in a part that had not ignited. He was on his hands and knees trying to get out. We pulled him free and laid him on the grass. Dr. R. A. Thompson of Wellington, who is also County Coroner, came and gave medical aid.

“We found the pilot in another section of wreckage about ten feet distant. It was apparent he had died instantly from head injuries and most of his clothes had been torn off,” concluded Mr. Terry.

SAW THE PLANE ON FIRE

Kenneth Wood, who resides near the village of Allisonville, said he saw the plane a few minutes before it crashed two miles away and at that time he could see it was on fire. Other farmers working in the fields also noted that the aircraft was about to crash.

“Had there not been the bank of earth some six feet high, it is possible that a good landing could have been made, but It would certainly have crashed into my home,” said Mr. Terry.

The fire brigades from Trenton RCAF and two ambulances were quickly on the scene and the injured airman was taken to Trenton Memorial Hospital.

A guard has been placed about the wreckage and a court of inquiry will be held, RCAF officials stated.

Sherman Weir, another farmer residing in the vicinity and third person on the scene, stated that he had seen the bomber passing over and knew it was on fire. He believed the under carnage of the plane had not been lowered. The twin motors were 150 leet apart. Mrs. Weir heard a terrific report after the crash.

HEARD ROAR

Before crashing the plane passed low over the home of Mrs. Robert Wood. “I was

watching T.V. when I heard an awful roar. I saw the plane coming down and thought it was going to hit our barn, but it went into the next field on the Terry farm. That was at 3.30 in the afternoon. It shook our house as it passed over very low.” It was difficult to see what happened as there was dense smoke and fire right afterwards.

Mrs. Helen Boyd, storekeeper at Allisonville, a mile and a half north of the crash scene, said she saw the plane pass over trailing smoke from the back. The plane then made a half circle before it crashed in flames into the Terry grain field.

MOTOR ON FIRE

Gordon Foster said he did not notice the plane until it passed over his head with the left motor on fire. “We have had planes flying over continuously on recent days—some in formation, some stunting—I suppose in preparation for air force day next Saturday. I knew it was going to crash and after it hit, the smoke obliterated the scene, so I couldn’t tell if the house had been struck. I was paralyzed with fear as I thought of my wife and children. My father-in-law and I rushed to the scene and when we found our folks were safe, we went searching for the aircrew.”

Flight-Lieut. O’Byrne, 32, was said to be an experienced pilot on Mitchell aircraft and prior to coming to Trenton he and Mrs. O’Byrne had toured the United States as an Australian bull whip team. He leaves a son, Shaun, one year old. They live at 16

Johnson Drive in Middleton Park.

Cpl. Aubrey, 28, came to Trenton Kirkland Lake. He leaves his wife and a son, Raymond, age eight.