A Second World War aircraft and the remains of four servicemen have been recovered from a remote area on Vancouver Island more than 70 years after the plane went missing during a training flight.

The wreckage of the Avro Anson and remains of the four airmen were discovered by a logging crew from Teal-Jones Cedar Products Ltd while they were working on a mountainside near Port Renfrew, on the southwest side of the island, in October 2013.

The four airmen left the air force base at Patricia Bay in Sidney on a navigational training flight on October 30, 1942 and were reported missing when they failed to return to base.

A search was launched immediately, but crews were unable to locate the plane and it remained at the scene of the crash until it was discovered last fall.

The four missing airmen have been identified as:

  • Sergeant William Baird was from the Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Pilot Officer Charles Fox from the British Royal Air Force
  • Pilot Officer Anthony William Lawrence from the British Royal Air Force
  • Sergeant Robert Ernest Luckock from the British Royal Air Force

The Department of National Defence and the BC Coroner Service surveyed the site when the wreckage was found and determined that environmental conditions were not suitable for a recovery operation.

Specialists from both groups went back to the site on May 5 and spent several days working to recover, analyse and identify the remains.

The DND and Britain's Ministry of Defense have contacted the surviving family members of the deceased.

Sergeant William Baird was from Alberta and was the son of Francis and James Baird and brother to six siblings.

He is survived by two siblings and several nieces and nephews.

The Baird family released a statement on Friday saying:

Sgt. William Baird was the son of Francis and James Baird, and a brother to six siblings. 

For over 70 years, the family of Sgt. William Baird were left wondering whatever happened to their loved one, who had disappeared on a RCAF training flight in 1942. The mystery has now been solved several decades later and there is an end to the story, with the discovery of the crash site of the Anson L7056 at Cowichan Bay, B.C., which involved four crew members, one of which being Sgt. William Baird.

The family of Sgt. William Baird cannot find enough words to express their gratitude to the members of the Teal Jones Group and the Department of National Defense, especially Laurel Clegg, and many others, for their hard work and diligence in bringing closure to our family, as well as their kindness, understanding and compassion in a somewhat difficult time.  Although Sgt. Baird's parents and most of his siblings are now deceased, he does leave two surviving siblings and several nieces and nephews, that can now have peace knowing that their brother and uncle will finally be laid to rest with the honour and dignity that he very much deserves.

Once again, on behalf of Sgt. William Baird's family, we give our heartfelt thank- you, appreciation and gratitude to the endless hours of work so many people have endured to bring closure and peace to our family.

 --The family of Sgt. William Baird--

The DND and CAF are working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre in the U.K. to plan an internment ceremony to honour the fallen men.

“Our Government makes every effort to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, irrespective of the length of time that has passed. This recovery, and subsequent burial, will provide closure to the families and give these fallen service members the dignity and respect they deserve,” said The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence.

“We will never forget the sacrifice of those who came before us and the importance of recovering our fellow airmen cannot be understated. No matter how much time passes, doing the right thing for our people and for their families is an Air Force priority,” Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin, Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force.

The names of the four men are also listed on the Ottawa Memorial to the missing.