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While search for something else, I came across newspaper articles that indicated a US Navy Blimp crashed while assisting the RCAF in locating a downed aircraft in June 1944 not from from Nanaimo, BC

When I first spotted the articles, of course I never new this, and went looking for the info on the Blimp (where it came from, it’s registration etc)......and found NOTHING

I did find the US Navy operated a Blimp Squadron 33 at Tillamook, Oregon (where the articles say it came from), but searching the war diaries of this Squadron......it makes NO MENTION of a Blimp loss in June 1944 or any date thereafter.

THEN, I thought, maybe this is just a “mistake”......but searching the papers, I found LOTS of references to the crash, the clean up and then I found mention (not many) in US papers, but no where does it give any detail on the actual Blimp (it’s, number, of names of crewmen etc)

So, I’ll post the article’s I found on this thread......and any help, clues, etc will be appreciated

A follow up.

I had found the “war diaries” of Blimp Squadron 33 for Mar, Apr and Jun (their are no diaries for “May”

And in these diaries they list the Blimps that are “on strength” of the squadron......so I figure, the crashed Blimp must be one of the one’s that is NOT on the June List.......maybe

A search of the Blimp No’s came up blank, so I’ll post the documents here so all can look and give me advice or search

MARCH APRIL JUNE So, COULD the crashed Blimp be either K-20 or K-51 or K-83

Found the record finally........needed to search using “Blimp Squadron Thirty Three”....NOT Blimp Squadron 33 (which was on all the other records...........

Blimp that crashed was K-83

Side Note, map of US Navy Airship Patrol bases during WW2 and a list of Navy Squadrons

Hi Temujin,

Fascinating post. The Ventura Memorial Flight Association was aware of the use of USN blimps in the search for Ventura #2218 lost April 25 on Mt. Bolduc. From the VMFA project Canada's Air War - A Chronology,

April 25 #115 (BR) Sqn. RCAF Ventura #2218 'V'? hit a mountaintop and then crashed on Mount Bolduc, BC, near it's summit, while on a night navigation exercise, killing WO1 L. Kerr, Sgt H.A. Maki, F/O A. Moynagh, F/O J.E. Moyer, WO2 B.G.H. Palmer and LAC M.T. Robertson. Although smoke was seen the next day it was 3 more days before this could be confirmed as the crash site by search aircraft. A large party of RCAF and local loggers climbed the mountain the next day guided by a US Navy Blimp from Oregon which marked the crash site with balloons, but no survivors were found. Following the investigation the remains of the crew were interred on the top of the mountain but the exact location is now not known. They are also listed on the Ottawa War Memorial. This crash site has become part of a hiking trail, with a memorial to the crew at the crash site.

Of note is the use of balloons on long ropes with weights to mark the direction of the wreck to the ground party, one of the innovative techniques developed by US Navy lighter-than-air units.

The article "Blimp Aided Search" from May 2, 1944 refers to this event.

As you no doubt know the aircraft searched for by K-83 was Mitchell HD345, as below,

May 29 #5 OTU RCAF, Boundary Bay, BC, Mitchell II HD345 crashed on Vancouver Island, the crew Sgt C.A. Johnston, Sgt H.M. Manson, Sgt B.W. McGregor, P/O L.F. Schell and F/O H. Whitlock were buried at the crash site and are also commemorated on the Ottawa War Memorial.

I have added the information on the loss of K-83 to the next update of the Chronology, with credit as (Temujin at wartimes.ca). It will appear when posted on the Bomber Command Museum website.

Many Thanks for researching this. There are so many stories and events we have that are untold.

Paul
Wetaskiwin

Paul Squires wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:00 pm

I have added the information on the loss of K-83 to the next update of the Chronology, with credit as (Temujin at wartimes.ca). It will appear when posted on the Bomber Command Museum website.

Many Thanks for researching this. There are so many stories and events we have that are untold.

Paul
Wetaskiwin

Paul, I’m glad we could help. Would you mind changing the credit to “Research staff at Wartimes.ca”. I just want to include all the folks that help out at this website.

And, if you have any other “research challenges” don’t be afraid to come on and post your inquiry……or just add your help to our members

Thank you

Cheers

Done.

The post in the Chronology will appear under June 1944 as:

5 USN ZP-33, Tillamook, Oregon, blimp K-83 was engaged in a search for missing #5 OTU Mitchell HD345 when it was forced down on a mountain at the 3,000 foot level in a downdraft when low over the terrain 15 miles southwest of Nanaimo, BC, due to pilot error. The airship landed gently with no injuries to the 9 USN crew and 2 RCAF observers on board, or damage to the nacelle. Most of the airship was later salvaged and brought down from the crash site on horseback on a trail cut to the site, and the depth charges destroyed on-site (Research staff at wartimes.ca).

This will appear on the next update of Canada's Air War - A Chronology on the Bomber Command Museum website in about a month.

https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives ... irwar.html

I have gone through the Forum and added information from other discussion pages, credited to 'Temujin at wartimes.ca'. Should these also be changed?

Might I suggest you add the Chronology to your Resources page. It was intended to work on 2 levels, 1) provide a starting point or quick accurate information for any new reseracher and 2) try to give an idea of the period, it's events, and Canada's role in those events to students. If so, it should be credited to the Ventura Memorial Flight Association, not to me.

All the Best,

Paul
Wetaskiwin