![[F/O BE Patterson Grave Marker]](../../metz/choloy/pcholoy/choloy203.jpg)
![[F/O BE Patterson Grave Marker]](../../metz/choloy/pcholoy/choloy203a.jpg)
Grave marker photos courtesy of Malcolm Cromarty - February 2001
Details:
3 December 1955
F/O JGH Campbell - 2 WingComments:
A Bristol Freighter aircraft aircraft on a flight from 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin France, crashed in heavy fog while on approach at 1 (F) Wing, Marville France.
Memories of the Bristol Crash - Archie Graham
The Air Force Fire Marshal, Wing Commander Bill MacCallum and I, at that time the Air Division Fire Marshal had just completed an inspection of the four Air Division Wings and Metz. It was then decided that we would visit the Pyrene Company in England which was in the process of building the G-19 Foam Crash Tenders. It had been a busy week so the W/C decided that he would go to London on the Friday evening to get rested up and I would join him Monday for the visit to the plant.
On Saturday morning, 3 December 1955, I proceeded to 2 (F) Wing at Grostenquin France to catch the Bristol Freighter to Langar. The aircraft had to make a stop at 1 (F) Wing Marville to pick up some freight and a couple of passengers. Because of the foggy conditions, the flight crew was making their appraoch into Marville by GCA.
About 5 miles out, contact with the GCA was lost and the aircraft flew into the side of a heavily wooded hill about two miles short of the runway. The Bristol Freighter was ripped apart on contact. The fuel tanks were ruptured spraying gas over a large area and a fire started.
My immediate concern was to get as far away from the crash site as possible. In addition to the crew of four, there had been thirteen passengers on board. Seven passengers died in the crash and four were seriously injured. I was fortunate, I only suffered two broken ribs and a bruised ankle. The flight attendant, LAC J Novak, and I dragged the passengers - some living, some dead several yards away.
The pilot, co-pilot and navigator were some distance away in another part of the wreckage and were only slightly injured, but had trouble walking. Because I was the least injured, it was decided that I should go for help. After a five minute walk, I encountered two Frenchmen cutting wood. They assisted me in getting to the village of Lre-le-Sec and a telephone. I called the Base and requested a crash tender and ambulance, and then directed them to the edge of the woods and the route I had covered. Unfortunately, I never did get to complete the journey to England and spent several weeks recuperating.
I spoke with Archie Graham by telephone on 21 May 2001. He verified the detail mentioned above, and indicated that he had attended the funeral at Choloy for those that died in the crash.
Extracts from the 2 Wing Historical Record
3 December 1955 - Bristol aircraft from Langar departed for 1 (F) Wing shortly after 1100 hours and was reported missing at 1150 hours. No further word received by 1500 hours.
5 December 1955 - Final word on Bristol received during Saturday evening, 3 December with 2 (F) Wing four dead and 1 critical. However, the toll rose to five during the early morning hours of Sunday as the critical died. Dead are F/O BE Patterson, F/O JP Hrenyk, F/O JG Campbell, Cpl. RC Offerdahl and Cpl. Knight from 2 Wing, F/O S Newman from CJS (L), and F/O Pigot of 1 Wing. Funeral arrangements made for Wednesday morning (7 December) in Station Drill Hall for five and in RC Chapel for F/O Newman.
6 December 1955 - Word received F/O Patterson's parent flying from Canada to attend funeral, therefore it has been put back to 8 or 9 December depending on their wishes.
7 December 1954 - Funeral services held at 0915 hours and 0930 hours respectively. Chief of Staff, Air Division attended as representative of AOC.
8 December 1954 - F/O Patterson buried this morning at Choloy. Funeral held up pending arrival of parent. CO away all day at funeral and Air Division.
Extracts from the 1 Wing Historical Narrative
03 Dec 55
The scheduled Bristol transport aircraft flying enroute from 2 (F) Wing to Marville, crashed near Montmedy, France.
KILLED
| F/O Peter Pigot | Pilot | 441 Sqn 1 (F) Wing |
| F/O Bruce Patterson | Pilot | 2 (F) Wing |
| F/O JGH Campbell | Pilot | 2 (F) Wing |
| F/O JP Henryk | Pilot | 2 (F) Wing |
| F/O CS Newman | Med/Sec | CJS London |
| Cpl PG Knight | 2 (F) Wing | |
| Cpl RG Offerdahl | AE TEch | 2 (F) Wing |
07 Dec 55
Funeral service for F/O P Pigot was held at Marville in the Protestant Church, later the deceased was flown by North Star to England for internment at Manchester, England.
Funeral services of the other passengers was held at 2 (F) Wing, with internment of these personnel at Choloy Military Cemetery, France.
Memories of Bruce Patterson - John Jackaman
I first met Bruce at Portage La Prairie where we were attending the Advanced Flying School of T33s. During that time his parents visited him and we entertained them in our home. Bruce was their only child. His twin brother died at birth. Bruce received the coveted posting to Sabres and after undertaking the Operational Training Unit at Chatham he was posted to Europe. It was soon thereafter that he took a ride in a Bristol Freighter that crashed on approach and Bruce tragically lost his life.
As one can imagine, his parents were devastated. Adding to their grief was that Bruce was killed as a passenger and not while flying his own aircraft. I kept in contact with his parents for the rest of their lives. His father died fairly early in life but his mother lived on into her nineties. Unfortunately she was never able to visit Bruce's final resting place and it is sad that modern technology did not arrive in time for her to visit the Choloy Military Cemetery via the Internet. I am sure she would have been very pleased to see the grave sites so beautifully looked after and tended.
Grave marker photos courtesy of Malcolm Cromarty - February 2001