One night in early February 1945 a Consolidated Canso Bomber plane left the RCAF Air Station in Tofino loaded with supplies, which included 1000 pounds of explosives.
Carrying 12 personnel, 2,800 liters of fuel and four 115.5 kg depth charges the plane cleared the runway just as the port side engine quit. While attempting to return to the airfield pilot-first officer Ronnie J. Schole banked a 180 degree turn which started to skim tree tops, fearing a direct impact with the hill he then put the plane into a full stall and crash landed into the dense forest of Radar Hill near Tofino BC, Canada. All 12 crew members survived and were rescued 11 hours later despite the wreckage being in flames from spilled fuel.
Air Force personnel returned soon after to retrieve radios and guns and to detonate the depth charges. Holes of those detonations can be seen on the hike in to the crash site. A hike that should be planned in advance as many have gotten lost trying to find the plane. These are my photos and a video from the hike in. Enjoy.
More info: wayneontheroad.com
Canso Bomber crash site, Tofino BC, Canada
View from the tail of the Canso Bomber crash
Wing and fuselage
Interior structure of the bomber
The remains of one of the engines under a wing
Close-up of some fuselage damage
Looking through from side to side
Tail section of the Canso Bomber, Tofino BC, Canada
Bits and pieces scattered about the crash site
Looking through the body
Crash site from the front
Engine and wing
Hiking in to the Canso Bomber crash site on Vancouver Island
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