RichB
Well-known member
Victoria Air Maintanance Ltd's Mosquito B.Mk.IX took to the air yesterday (16 Jun) for the first time in 48 years.
It carries the markings of LR503 "F" for Freddie. It flew with 109 & 105 Sqn completing 213 combat missions between 28 May 43 and 10 Apr 45, the most for any Allied bomber in the war. It was the only 105 Sqn aircraft to carry nose due to its unique history. Freddie was flown to Canada to support a War Bond drive and flew in the Victory parade in Calgary on 9 May 45. The crew flew it under a trestle bridge crossing 9th Avenue, nearly clipped the flag pole atop the 11 storey Palliser Hotel and workers on the 6th floor of the HBC building saw it pass below them along the street.
The next day they were scheduled to fly over some of the BCATP bases in southern Alberta and return to Calgary. On a final buzz of the control tower, the pilot pulled up inside 300 ft from the tower, at close to 400 mph, clipped the annemometer and flag poles on top of the tower, shearing off the left wing and stabilizer. The speed and high angle pull up kept the aircraft airborne for about a half mile before it impacted and burst into flames. F/Lt Briggs and F/O Baker were both killed in the crash and wreckage was scattered over 300 yds.
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Cheers,
Rich
It carries the markings of LR503 "F" for Freddie. It flew with 109 & 105 Sqn completing 213 combat missions between 28 May 43 and 10 Apr 45, the most for any Allied bomber in the war. It was the only 105 Sqn aircraft to carry nose due to its unique history. Freddie was flown to Canada to support a War Bond drive and flew in the Victory parade in Calgary on 9 May 45. The crew flew it under a trestle bridge crossing 9th Avenue, nearly clipped the flag pole atop the 11 storey Palliser Hotel and workers on the 6th floor of the HBC building saw it pass below them along the street.
The next day they were scheduled to fly over some of the BCATP bases in southern Alberta and return to Calgary. On a final buzz of the control tower, the pilot pulled up inside 300 ft from the tower, at close to 400 mph, clipped the annemometer and flag poles on top of the tower, shearing off the left wing and stabilizer. The speed and high angle pull up kept the aircraft airborne for about a half mile before it impacted and burst into flames. F/Lt Briggs and F/O Baker were both killed in the crash and wreckage was scattered over 300 yds.
VicAir Facebook
VicAir Restoration
Cheers,
Rich
