What happened
In the early morning of an unspecified date in 1942, a twin-engine aircraft departed from Patricia Bay Airport to conduct a navigation exercise over Vancouver Island. The planned route involved flying from Patricia Bay to Port San Juan, then to Cape Beale and Pachena Point before returning to base. During the flight, the crew encountered poor visibility conditions. The aircraft failed to return to its origin, prompting the initiation of search and rescue operations.
These efforts were eventually suspended on November 3 after no trace of the aircraft or its occupants was located. For nearly seven decades, the fate of the plane remained unknown until October 25, 2013. On that day, hikers discovered the wreckage in a hilly and wooded area near Mesachie Lake. The discovery occurred almost 71 years after the initial disappearance.
The aircraft was operated by the 32nd Operational Training Unit (OTU). The crew consisted of four military personnel: a pilot, a wireless operator, and two navigators. No individuals were named in the official record provided, but all members of the flight crew perished in the incident.