Montreal – Gander

On June 30, 1945 at 12:00 AM, Montreal – Gander experienced a crash involving Consolidated B-24 Liberator, operated by Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF, with the event recorded near Montreal-Pierre-Elliott Trudeau (ex Dorval) Quebec.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 54.5%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Immediately after liftoff, while in initial climb, the pilot raised the undercarriage. The aircraft banked left and hit the runway surface, causing the propeller on the engine number one to be sheared off. The aircraft climbed to a height of 50 feet when it stalled and crashed in flames on the runway. Six crew members were killed while five others were injured. Crew killed were: F/O Derrick William Southwell, pilot, F/O John Albert Winkley, pilot, F/Sgt George Edward Chappell, flight engineer, Sgt Allan Thomas Furness, air gunner, Sgt Geoffrey Frank Buers, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt Ivor Ralph Platt.

Aircraft reference details include registration KN768.