Narrative Report
RCAF Station Gander
1 Dec 54 to 30 May 55
This report is not available.
Appendix "A"
To RCAF Station Gander
Historical Narrative
1 Dec 54 to 31 May 55
This Appendix is not available.
Appendix "B"
To RCAF Station Gander
Historical Narrative
1 Dec 54 to 31 May 55
Incident on 21 Apr 55 Concerning Recovery
of Lost Aircraft CF-HMY
At 1800 hours GMT Gander ATC informed this unit that an aircraft registered as CF-HMY was endeavouring to establish contact with any ground station as they had been unsuccessful, they requested that we try to make contact. They had no idea as to his whereabouts.
F/O Cathcart was called by the Ops "B" and immediately proceeded to call HMY on 121.5 mcs. The first attempts received no reply. At this time we were informed by another unit south east of us that the aircraft was suspected to be in the Argentia area.
Suspecting that HMY might have transmitter trouble he was informed by the controller to fly a right hand triangle. No aircraft could be seen orbiting starboard in the Argentia area, however, at a point 97 miles NW of the unit an aircraft was seen flying a right hand triangle.
Suspecting this was indeed the lost aircraft, he was told to climb and maintain 6,000 feet. What had originally been suspected was, in fact, true – HMY could hear our transmissions but due to his altitude we could not hear his. When he arrived at 6,000 feet his transmissions came through although still quite weak. In an effort to ascertain positive identification he was asked if he had any idea of his position to which he answered "Not too sure but I think I am over land. I am in solid cloud".
HMY was then given two identification turns and when absolute identification had been established he was given a vector for Gander.
The controller then instructed the Ops "B" to alert the Gander GCA unit who were told to monitor 121.5. When the aircraft was overhead he was sent out on an easterly heading then turned west again to be picked up 18 miles east of the station by the GCA unit and brought in successfully on runway 27.
The entire operation was carried out with the maximum of efficiency of the GCI crew with a minimum of manoeuvring prior to hand over to GCA.
The Ops Officer went to the airfield to meet the aircraft where it was determined that the aircraft was an Avro York being ferried to Ottawa from the UK. The aircraft had but 30 minutes fuel when it landed and the pilot had had no previous trans-Atlantic experience.
Had it not been for the GCI station locating and directing this aircraft, there is little doubt considering he was heading away from Gander with little fuel, that he would have perished.