Sgt P. Vickers, RCAF No 127 (F) Squadron

[georgetanksherman]

Greetings All,

Trying to locate some more info on Sgt. P. Vickers assigned to RCAF No. 127 (F) Squadron.

On December 10, 1942 while in flight in Hawker Hurricane #5496, he became lost and disorientated and force landed on a frozen lake, he was able to make radio contact that evening, but it would the search parties 5 days to rescue the pilot, being spotted by a Harvard who was looking for him, the Harvard pilot radioed back, and a Canso dropped supplies followed by an American L-5 landed and picked him up on December 10th. The Hurricane was recovered from the Frozen Lake but would be lost in a mid-air collision on October 27, 1943.

Does anyone have any info on this pilot, Canadian Archives said he was from the U.S. but did not state from where, also, did he stay the course with the RCAF, or did he transfer to USAAF ?

Any and all help would truly be appreciated

George

[Temujin]

George, this information says it was a different pilot??

R.126797, Sgt Bochman, P.G.

http://www.ganderairporthistoricalsocie ... anding.htm

[Temujin]

Additional info on the aircraft

https://documents.techno-science.ca/doc ... ummary.pdf

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[georgetanksherman]

Temujin,

The aircraft Hawker Hurricane #5496 was recovered from the forced landing on a frozen lake in December of 42 , the pilot was Sgt P. Vickers, but can not find anymore info on the pilot, in October of 43 same aircraft Hawker Hurricane #5496 when Sgt P.G. Bochman was flying the same aircraft when he had the mid-air with the A-20, and had to bail out and survived, the aircraft did not this time, Different Pilots, same aircraft. This is what I found so far.

Dec 5, 1942) #127 (F) Sqn. RCAF, Gander, Newfoundland, Hurricane XII #5496, Sgt P. Vickers RCAF (USA)
became lost in weather on a gunnery practice flight and force landed on a frozen lake 70
miles from Gander. That night Sgt Vickers was able to make radio contact with a station in
Quebec and an approximate fix on his location was made (P. Vickers). See Dec. 10,

Dec 10, 1942) #127 (F) Sqn. RCAF, Gander, Newfoundland, Hurricane XII #5496, Sgt P. Vickers RCAF
(USA), after surviving for 5 days, was spotted by a searching Harvard aircraft. Soon after
a Canso dropped supplies, but before he could enjoy them all it came back guiding an L-4
aircraft flown by Maj Treher USAAF who evacuated him to Gander. The Hurricane was
later repaired and flown out Dec. 14 (P. Vickers, R.W.R. Walker). See October 27, 1943.

Dec 14, 1942) Hawker Hurricane #5496 recovered, repaired and flown off frozen lake

Oct 27, 1943) USAAF 71st ABS A-20C collided in mid air over Gander, with RCAF Hurricane XII #5496, Maj
S.F. Allen USAAF, Sgt E. Pleas USAAF, 2Lt J.K. Schaffner USAAF and Pvt G.M. Haynes
USAAF and 3 crew killed in the A-20 and F/O H.T. Taylor bailed out of the Hurricane and
safe (AAIR, Dr. L. Daly http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/04/).

Cheers, and hope things are going as best as they can be !

George

[Temujin]

Hmmm. The site I found (and I’m NOT saying it is correct) says the pilot was Bochman…….I’ll see if I can find the Operations Logs for this Squadron….so far I haven’t been able to find them…..but I’ll try and double check those.

Cheers George, and I’m fine thank you and back home now

[Temujin]

George, I found the Ops Records from Gander……it confirms the pilot as Bochman

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[Temujin]

George, The SECOND time this aircraft crashed it was flown by F/O H.T.C. Taylor…….info below

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[georgetanksherman]

Temujin,

So that raises a question Is there a Sgt. P. Vickers ? Was he assigned to RCAF No. 127 (F) Squadron, and if not ... Where ? And is he from the U.S. ?

Cheers

George

[Temujin]

Temujin,

So that raises a question Is there a Sgt. P. Vickers ? Was he assigned to RCAF No. 127 (F) Squadron, and if not ... Where ? And is he from the U.S. ?

Cheers

George

A very good question George………I’ll have to see if I can find anything??

[Temujin]

George, still looking for Vickers……..but I finally found the Operation Record Books for 127 (F) Squadron…….they were in 443 Squadron records…..as 127 (F) Squadron became 443 Squadron when they arrived oversea’s in England.

I found these records for the above, thought I would post them, a little more detail on the loss and search for Sgt Bochman

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I’m still looking to see if I can find a P. Vickers???