Firefighters in West Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, have successfully safeguarded a memorial commemorating a fatal World War II plane crash from an approaching wildfire, ensuring the preservation of a tangible piece of Nova Scotia’s wartime heritage. The wildfire posed a threat to the area where the memorial is located, which honors two Royal Air Force airmen who lost their lives in 1944 during a training exercise involving a Canadian-built variant of the de Havilland Mosquito B Mk XX bomber aircraft.
During a wildfire news briefing, Dave Steeves from the Department of Natural Resources mentioned that a division supervisor recognized the significance of the site and took measures to protect it. Natural resources firefighter Cory Isenor played a crucial role in removing a cross bearing a plaque inscribed with the airmen’s names from the site to ensure its safety.
The tragic incident occurred on April 19, 1944, when the aircraft, departing from RCAF Greenwood for a night training flight, crashed about 19 kilometers south-southeast of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, shortly after midnight on April 20. The crash resulted in the instantaneous deaths of Pilot Officer James Gerald Brown, 20, and Flying Officer Hugh Edward McCann, 21.
Glen Gaudet from the Wartime Heritage Association emphasized the historical significance of the site, highlighting its role in memorializing casualties of the First and Second World Wars with connections to Nova Scotia. Gaudet underscored that the memorial serves as a reminder of the real and personal costs of war, especially during the Second World War, showcasing the impact of the conflict even in regions distant from the main theaters of war.
The de Havilland Mosquito B Mk XX, known as the “Wooden Wonder” due to its wooden construction, was a versatile combat aircraft utilized during the war. Brown and McCann were in Nova Scotia as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which attracted individuals worldwide to complete air training.
The plane involved in the crash belonged to an operational training unit based in Greenwood, preparing crews for active service. The remains of the aircraft, predominantly metal components due to its wooden structure, are still scattered in the surrounding area known as the “Plane Crash Trail.” The remote location of the site adds to its significance as a poignant reminder of the war’s impact on Nova Scotia.
Gaudet highlighted that the marked crash site allows people to reflect on the war’s tangible effects, emphasizing that training accidents were not uncommon during the conflict. The site stands out as one of the few tangible remnants of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan’s presence in rural Nova Scotia, providing a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with the region’s wartime history.