Tofino, BC

The Canso Crash of 1945

As I mentioned on the previous page "That may be how the story goes - but that story sounds like a plot for the next "Harrison Ford" movie". The actual details are as follows:

Aircraft Identification:

Canso A Tail Number 11007

RCAF Unit and location:

RCAF Station Alliford Bay, BC, Number 6 (BR) Squadron

Location of Crash Wreckage:

3 miles west of Tofino airfield. - 49.04.40N 125.49.11W

Date of crash:

February 8, 1945

Details of Crash:

Aircraft left Tofino for Coal Harbour, with 12 aboard, but shortly after becoming airborne the port engine stopped and the aircraft crash landed 3 miles off the end of runway 28. The occupants escaped. SAR notified wreck was to be salvaged by private party 21 Feb 66, but recent reports indicate wreck still at site.

Crew and Passengers:

Pilot: F/O RJ Scholes; Co-Pilot: F/O LC Laker; F/O EE Knechtel; P/O CC Sartouris; WO2 LH Malcomston; WO2 JB Campbell; WO2 CH Henningsen; F/Sgt. RW Hacker; Sgt. RF Bell; Sgt. WA Hooge; AW1 RJ Pike; Mr. DF Marlett

This detail has been obtained from a book called "Jerico Beach and the West Coast Flying Boat Stations", by Chris Weicht, ISBN 0-9681158-0-2, page 276.

It is safe to say that we are now progressing with facts. We have determined the aircraft identification and tail number; the unit and location of unit; the location of the crash wreckage; the date and details of the crash, and most important, a manifest of the passengers who were on board at the time of the crash

I guess the next thing to do is to provide you with some sort of an indication as to the exact location of the crash wreckage. This can best be accomplished as follows:


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. Diagram showing location of the Canso wreckage - 21 September 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  2. Diagram showing location of the Canso wreckage - 21 September 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  3. Diagram showing remains of wreckage - 21 September 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  4. Diagram showing remains of wreckage - 27 January 1993.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  5. Diagram showing remains of wreckage - 27 January 1993.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  6. Diagram showing location of the Canso wreckage - 23 January 1993.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  7. Diagram showing location of the Canso wreckage - 8 March 1984.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  8. Schematic diagram of emergency exits and equipment in the Canso - 1945.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

Location and Access: Clayoquot Land District Lot 237, Long Beach Unit. The site is about 1.5 km ESE of the Radar Hill Lookout.

Access by Vehicle: Proceed west on highway 4 about 4 km west of Grice Bay turnoff. Park outside the gateway to the abandoned DOT radio tower/building. Walk around the metal chain link fence and follow the road up to the DOT building and aerial. The trail begins by the new aerial on the far side of the building. Follow the flagged trail SSW for approximately 1 km. The bomber is at the base of a hill, 40 meters SW of an 8 by 9 meter bomb crater.

Remains: The aircraft's fuselage is still intact and is surrounded by metal wreckage debris. An 8 by 9 meter water filled crater occurs approximately 40 meters northeast of the wreckage. The bomber sits upright. The cockpit area is severaly damaged and the right wing and left tail wing are partially intact. The site is popular with locals, and as such, a number of the plane's interior fittings and gear have been removed off site. Because the plane is manufactured from aluminum, natural deterioration is occurring at a slow rate.

The Start: The abandoned building on the hilltop served as a transmitter from the early 1950's. Do not enter the building - It is potentially dangerous. Samples of paint and wall/floor covering are being tested for lead and asbestos contamination. The building is empty, dark and strewn with broken glass from vandals.

Getting to the Wreckage: Hiking to the Canso bomber wreck? Read this before proceeding any further. Every year increasing numbers of people are going to this site. As a result the unofficial trail to the bomber is becoming wider, muddier and more and more vegetation is being damaged by users trying to skirt the mudholes. If the damage increases the Pacific Rim National Park may be forced to close the trail. You can help minimize damage to the environment. DO NOT proceed if you are not wearing rubber boots. People trying to avoid mud have damaged the environment by skirting the existing trail. The result is a confusing and damaging network of parallel routes. Walk in the mud of the most damaged trail and allow the less used trails to recover.

At the Wreckage: Remember this is a designated archaeological site. Do not move, remove or deface any part of the plane. Please do not add your graffetti to the wreck. Be careful at the plane. The metal wreckage can be very sharp and slippery.

We have provide detail on the location, and how to get there. The unanswered question - what will we find when we arrive? This is quite difficult to answer. As already indicated, there are increasing numbers taking the trek to the downed Canso every year. While I prefer to think all is well, there are a few facts which can not be overlooked. (a) The Canso crashed in 1945. (b) Visitors have been going to the site of the wreck in ever increasing numbers, and as a result - pieces of the wreckage continue to disappear. (c) There has been ongoing correspondence from various groups over the years to completely remove the remains from its existing location. With this in mind - I really have no way of knowing what you may find - should you ever decide to visit the site.

Having said all of this, I would like to move on and provide some additional photos of the wreckage.


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. On port wing checking out the damage - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  2. On port wing checking out the damage - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  3. On port wing checking out the damage - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  4. Port wing embedded into trees - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  5. Debris of Canso wreckage - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  6. Now why would anyone do that? - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  7. More damage caused by the crash - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  8. Yes - this was a plane! - 1993.
    Courtesy of Pacific Rim National Park

  9. Tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  10. Tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  11. Tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  12. Below the tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  13. Below the tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  14. Below the tail section. Tape measure for scale - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  15. Below the tail section. Metal clipboard for scale - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  16. Starboard wing section (on ground) Tape measure for scale - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  17. Starboard wing section (on ground) Tape measure for scale - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  18. Starboard wing section (on ground) - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  19. Starboard side of aircraft - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  20. Starboard side of aircraft - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  21. Nose section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  22. Nose section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  23. Tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  24. Port wing - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  25. Port engine - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  26. Port wing from below - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  27. Starboard engine - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  28. Fuselage on ground below and behind the tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  29. Fuselage on ground below and behind the tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  30. Fuselage on ground below and behind the tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

  31. Fuselage on ground below and nehind the tail section - 19 November 1992.
    Courtesy of Douglas Tate

We have provided detail on the location - and have also provided you with an assortment of photographs. It's now time to provide you with written detail and documentation. We hope that you enjoy the following articles.


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. Tofino's Canso Wreck - An Update - May 1997.
    Courtesy of The Catalina News

  2. Canso Remembered - 1988.
    Courtesy of Garfield J. Darroch

  3. Forgotten Canso - 1987.
    Courtesy of Ron Mak

  4. Navigator Returns to Scene of Crash - 1972.
    Courtesy of Lace Knechtel

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Updated: April 25, 2000