No. 10 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron, (10 BR) known unofficially during WW2 as "The North Atlantic Squadron", was originally formed at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario in June 1937. During the next two years it was stationed at Ottawa, and then Calgary, where it remained until August 1939, when it was moved to Dartmouth N.S.
Mobilized on Sept. 10th, 1939 and equipped with Douglas Digby (B18) aircraft it conducted anti submarine and coastal patrols from Dartmouth until Jun 1940 when "A" flight moved to Gander and the remainder of the squadron joined it shortly afterwards. It continued to used the Digby's for three years until they were replaced by Lockheed Liberator (B24) aircraft in April 1943.
10 BR Sqn established a record with attacks on 22 enemy UBoats including 3 sinkings. During the war it flew 3414 sorties and lost 7 aircraft and had casualties of 24 aircrew. It moved to RCAF Station Torbay in June 1945 and was disbanded on 15 Aug 1945.
The Squadron suffered its first casualties at Gander early on the morning of 26th Jul 1941, with the crash of Digby #742, which took the lives of its six crew members. The aircraft, under command of F/L Tomsett had left Gander at 4.00PM in the afternoon on an antisubmarine patrol in support of convoy WH140.
Later that evening it commenced to rain and there was a heavy overcast but when the weather improved somewhat a recall signal was transmitted to the aircraft. By the time the Digby arrived in the Gander area the weather had deteriorated considerably and the ceiling had reduced to 300 feet with conditions rapidly becoming worse.
An aircraft from Dartmouth was also approaching Gander and was slightly ahead of Tomsett so he was advised to go back to 2,500 feet and standby until the first aircraft had landed. The first aircraft made a successful landing shortly after midnight and the pilot, who was in contact with Tomsett by radio, advised him that he should be able to make a successful landing if he was careful.
Tomsett made three unsuccessful approaches to the airport and the navigational lights of his aircraft was seen from the control tower each time he crossed over the airport. At that point the control tower suggested to Tomsett he should divert to Dartmouth but he indicated he would make one more attempt.
That was the last transmission heard from the aircraft and shortly afterwards the sounds of an explosion was heard from the east of the airport. It was later discovered the aircraft had struck the ground while making a turn at low altitude and the board which investigated the accident described the series of events as follows:
"From the furrow cut in the ground it appears that the starboard wingtip struck the ground, after which the aircraft cartwheeled resulting in the wing, nose and engines being torn from the fuselage, and the fuselage breaking in the centre behind the bombay"
The medical officer who viewed the scene some hours after the crash found the bodies at various distances from the aircraft and most still strapped in their seats. All were cold and rigor mortis had set in. From the nature of injuries he concluded that death had been instantaneous, except in the case of Sgt McDavid who may have survived for a short period after the crash.
Several military deaths had occurred prior to this and the bodies had been returned to Canada or the USA for burial but the Canadian Government issued new orders that further casualties were to be buried in Newfoundland. It was decided to bury the bodies on the Station and S/L Pattison the Nfld Government representive and the Canadian Secetary for Air who was visiting Gander at the time selected the site which became the Commonwealth Cemetery..
The RCAF Station Gander Diary records the events of the next few days as follows:
Jul 27th Court of inquiry held. Arrangements made to bring undertakes from St Johns to embalm the bodies of the deceased airmen. they will be buried within the Station area and a cemetery for this purpose has been set aside.
Jul 28th Funeral arrangements were held up owing
to difficulties experienced in preparing the cemetery and it is expected
that burial of the six airmen will take place Wednesday morning. Wreaths
were ordered from St John's
Jul 30th Full RCAF Honours were accorded the
six airmen killed in the crash which occurred on Jul 25th. Burial took
place in the new cemetery at the airport. Besides a very fine turn out
of RCAF personnel the Victoria Rifles of Canada and the 21 Reccon Sqn US
Air Corps were represented by bodies of Officers and Other ranks. The service
took place in No 6 Hangar and was conducted by F/L WS Dunlop RCAF Chaplain
assisted by Capt Rollit of the VRC. After the service the funeral procession
was formed under command of W/C Carscallen and proceeded to the cemetery.
The only relative attending was Mrs ME Tomsett who was flown in by aircraft
from Dartmouth.
Details of the crew as listed in the Commonwealth
records are as shown as follows::
TOMSETT Flt. Lieut. Martin Edward, C/1069, R.C.A.F. 26th July, 1941. Age 27. Son of Gerald Elgar Tomsett and Mary Tomsett, of Regina, Saskatchewan: husband of Bernice M. Tomsett of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Plot 3, Row 2, Grave 11.
MATHER, Pilot Officer. William Hume, J/3479, R.C.A.F. 26th July 1941. Age 25. Son of Hume and Winifred Mather, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Plot 3, Row 2, Grave 10.
PRATT, Pilot Officer. Allan Gower,/6031. R.C.A.F. 26th Jul 1941. Son of Thomas Gower Pratt and Anne Pratt, of Winnipeg, Manitoba: husband of Helen Margaret Pratt, of Winnipeg. Plot 3. Row 2. Grave 11.
HUNT, Sgt. Mervyn Samuel, R/60720. R.C.A.F. 26th Jul6 1941. Age 22. son of George Mervyn Hunt and Mary Elizabeth Hunt, of Calgary, Alberta. Plot 3. Row 3. Grave 17.
McDAVID, Sgt. Ronald Laird, R73032, R.C.A.F. 26th July 1941. Age 24. son of Nathan B. McDavid and Mary R. McDavid of Flat Lands, New Brunswick. Plot 3 Row 3 Grave 18.
CRAWFORD, A.C.1 Thomas James Larmour, R/65841. R.C.A.F. 26th July 1941. Age 33. Son of Hugh and Bella Crawford of Toronto, Ontario: husband of Phyllis S. Crawford, of Toronto. Plot 3. Row 3. Grave 16.