Lancaster Crash, Greenwood, 1953

Crash Memorial to be Dedicated

13 October 1998

"This marker overlooks the crash site of 404 Squadron Lancaster FM-115.
Shortly after takeoff on October 9, 1953, FM-115 impacted on this site
with the loss of all on board.

Ce monument marque le site d’écrasement du Lancaster FM-115 de la
404ème escadrille. Le 9 Octobre 1953, avec la perte de tous abord.

F/O Pegues F/S Klang Cpl Guerin Cpl Carduso LAC Green"

So reads the monument to be dedicated as part of the VPI ceremonies
on the weekend of the 18th of October 1998. Forty-five years ago one
of Lancaster FM-115’s engines burst into flames immediately after takeoff.
The pilot, Flying Officer Pegues, maneuvered the aircraft to avoid
countless casualties and managed to crash in an open area next to the
near complete Wing pool. The aircraft narrowly avoided the old PMQs
and the Morfee School (present day Baden-Powell Centre), which was
in session at the time. Flying Officer Pegues was credited in the media
at the time with averting mass tragedy through his flying skill and
heroism, despite his own imminent death. Sadly, all that remained
after the fires were extinguished was a 15-foot section of the
starboard wingtip, four engines ripped from their mounts and a
lump of molten metal. There were no survivors.

This incident came to our attention at 404 during the final stages
of the Wing skateboard park’s location selection process. Concern
was expressed that the location chosen had been the site of a 404
Squadron air crash sometime in the Wing’s past. The question of
the crash location became important and was referred to the Squadron’s
historian. Searches through Squadron records turned up nothing,
so Squadron and Wing histories were reviewed. These recounted the
incident, but were vague. A call to the Directorate of Flight Safety
and Major Stone referred us to the National Archives for an accident
report. Some very helpful researchers located the file for which we
were searching and cleared up the mystery. A copy of the Halifax
Chronicle-Herald from October 10, 1953 (obtained later) supported
the crash location as beside the Wing pool.

It was decided that it would be a good idea to remember our
fallen comrades by placing this memorial near the site 45 years after the accident.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the memorial will
be dedicated in the presence of serving members of 404 during VPI
ceremonies on Sunday, the 18th of October, 1998 at 1400 hours.
The ceremonies will take place at the site of the VPI memorial
by the front gate of the Wing. The memorial will be relocated
to its final spot a few days later.

Our information on this accident is still somewhat vague and
we have been unable to track down any eyewitnesses to the accident.
We are also planning to document this story in our display at the
Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. If you have any information that
may assist in building this story or wish information on attending,
please contact the 404 Squadron Chief Warrant Officer Pigeon at
765-1494 local 3783 or the museum curator, Bryan Nelson at 765-1494 local 5955.

Reprinted here with permission from The Aurora Newspaper.
Originally appeared in Volume 19 no. 41, dated October 13, 1998.