Looking for a crashed plane (Avro Anson Mk2) off Goderich or Port Albert

[Hollowman19xx]

Longshot here folks... my grandfather served in the RCAF back in WW2. He was hot dogging with his friends in an Anson (probably 1940-ish) and decided to roll it. You can't roll an Anson inverted because the oil comes out, stalling the engine. That's exactly what happened, and they crashed (all survived) near Goderich or Port Albert. They swam only a few meters and were then able to walk in. He claimed many years later that it was still there and actually visible from the air.

I have looked on the official records and although there are plenty of Ansons that are reported crashed, none are a Mk2 or near Goderich. So I thought I'd throw this out there to you underwater folks... has anyone heard of a dive spot near there where you can find such a rare bird?

Thanks all,
P

 

[MarkH]

There's this one, but it says it's a MK5. I don't know if any of the crew names ring a bell:Accident Avro Anson Mk V 12047, Tuesday 3 October 1944

 

[MarkH]

Here's the list of them crashed in Canada:Aviation Safety Network > > ASN Aviation Safety Database results

-Although I doubt any airforce aircraft sunk in shallow water would have been left there and not quickly salvaged.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Sounds like a fun adventure.... and sounds like the wreck is close to shore. If it was me and I knew the approximate location.....AND the wreck may be visible from the air as Grandpa states........ I would wait for a King or minus low tide on a clear winter good vis day and fly a drone along the shoreline to see if it can be spotted from the air. Good luck and keep us posted on the adventure!

 

[Hollowman19xx]

Here's the list of them crashed in Canada:Aviation Safety Network > > ASN Aviation Safety Database results

-Although I doubt any airforce aircraft sunk in shallow water would have been left there and not quickly salvaged.

Yes thank you for this link. I did check out all the listings a month or so ago and it's not listed. Last name was Burch and it was definitely a Mk2.

 

[Jared0425]

I think we found N9838 off Harbor Beach.

 

[nadwidny]

Sounds like a fun adventure.... and sounds like the wreck is close to shore. If it was me and I knew the approximate location.....AND the wreck may be visible from the air as Grandpa states........ I would wait for a King or minus low tide on a clear winter good vis day and fly a drone along the shoreline to see if it can be spotted from the air. Good luck and keep us posted on the adventure!

Ontario. Great Lakes. No tides.

 

[Jared0425]

Ontario. Great Lakes. No tides.

Ontario is on the windward side of the lake and does have heavy surf. Anything in the shallows will be busted up.

 

[Hollowman19xx]

I think we found N9838 off Harbor Beach.

Ok, I just confirmed with my uncle (don't know how he gets all this info), that N9838 was a Mk1. But then further investigation:

N9838: With No. 31 Aircraft Navigation School at Port Albert, Ontario when lost on 28 November 1942, on a night cross country training flight. Wreckage found on shores of Lake Huron, icing may have been a factor. All 4 crew killed.

The one grandpa was in was a Mk II. Serial was RCAF 7564. Last flight was August 3, 1944 from No. 9 SFTS in Centralia. No record of accident in the news as there were no fatalities. Cause was listed as “engine failure”. It would have been written off as just another training accident as there were lots of them. He did find out that the aircraft was recovered and disposed of in 1946. So the one grandpa was taking about as being visible may be N9838 as he was unsure of exactly where they crashed. Only that it was “somewhere around Goderich. In about 15 ft of water.” He would also have not been told of it’s recovery and disposal.

Thanks to your help all, sounds like the case is closed.
P

 

[Jared0425]

Ok, I just confirmed with my uncle (don't know how he gets all this info), that N9838 was a Mk1. But then further investigation:

N9838: With No. 31 Aircraft Navigation School at Port Albert, Ontario when lost on 28 November 1942, on a night cross country training flight. Wreckage found on shores of Lake Huron, icing may have been a factor. All 4 crew killed.

The one grandpa was in was a Mk II. Serial was RCAF 7564. Last flight was August 3, 1944 from No. 9 SFTS in Centralia. No record of accident in the news as there were no fatalities. Cause was listed as “engine failure”. It would have been written off as just another training accident as there were lots of them. He did find out that the aircraft was recovered and disposed of in 1946. So the one grandpa was taking about as being visible may be N9838 as he was unsure of exactly where they crashed. Only that it was “somewhere around Goderich. In about 15 ft of water.” He would also have not been told of it’s recovery and disposal.

Thanks to your help all, sounds like the case is closed.
P

We found what appeared to be a twin engine airplane in 295ft of water some 25 miles east of Harbor Beach MI about 1 mile from the border. Have not put any divers on it or a ROV. N9838 sounded like a good match.