Further underwater probes are planned after a team conducting hydrographic surveys of Gander Lake on behalf of Newfound Gold and with the help of a Marine Institute survey vessel discovered a WWII plane crash.
The ghostly image of what’s believed to be an RCAF B24 Liberator Bomber was picked up using the Marine Institute’s portable multibeam echo sounder survey equipment.
The plane was located with the help of previous search efforts and extensive research on the 1943 incident.
The next step is to investigate the site further with towed sidescan sonar and some tech diving with camera footage to positively identify the plane.
Aviation historian and former Gander town councillor Frank Tibbo wrote about the crash, which claimed the lives of four men. Only the body of Squadron Leader John G. MacKenzie was recovered. He is buried in Gander’s Commonwealth War Graves cemetery.
News of the discovery was posted to the Shipwreck Preservation Society Facebook page by Kirk Regular who credited Tony Merkle’s extensive knowledge on the subject for helping to locate the crash site.
