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Topic: Military identifies pilot, photographer killed in Snowbirds crash (Read 227 times)
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Jesse Reed
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Military officials have identified the pilot and photographer who died when a Snowbirds jet crashed during a training mission Thursday at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, the aerobatic squadron's home base in southwest Saskatchewan.
Capt. Bryan 'Mav' Mitchell was killed in Thursday's crash. (DND)
The pilot was Capt. Bryan (Mav) Mitchell, 46, and the photographer was Sgt. Charles (Chuck) Senecal, 49, the military said in a news release issued Friday afternoon.
The plane hit the ground about two kilometres northwest of the base's boundary, between the base and the nearby city of Moose Jaw.
The plane had been in the air for about 45 minutes while Senecal took photographs of three other planes flying in formation. It crashed at 12:37 p.m. Thursday.
Col. Paul Keddy, wing commander, called it a routine mission.
At a news conference on Friday, Keddy said the Mitchell was scheduled to fly with the Snowbirds aerobatics team in the 2009 show season.
Pilots who have been selected for the team, but who have not yet finished their training, are part of the Snowbirds' home team. That group, which also includes technicians and other support staff, remains at 15 Wing Moose Jaw while the nine performance jets are on tour. A tenth plane also travels to performances.
Maj. Rob Mitchell, commander of Snowbirds squadron, said from San Francisco, where the performance team had shows scheduled for the weekend, that everyone associated with the group was "deeply saddened."
Sgt. Charles 'Chuck' Senecal, a veteran military photographer, also died in the crash. (DND)
Keddy said a practice, scheduled for Friday, had been cancelled and no decision had been taken as to whether the planes would do their formation show in San Francisco. Flights at the base have also been suspended. Keddy said it was precautionary and would be reviewed in the coming day.
The crash left twisted wreckage in a farmer's field.
Ronald Alix, an eyewitness to the crash, told CBC News that he saw black smoke trailing from the plane, which was on a dangerous trajectory.
"I said well, it's gonna hit the ground. Sure enough, it went and crashed on the ground," Alix said on Thursday.
Keddy said it was still not known what caused the crash. Investigators from the base and experts from Ottawa were set to begin their work on Friday. Keddy did reveal that there were no communications from the pilot in the moments prior to impact.
"Despite the age of the Tutor in other fleets in many parts of the world … the Canadian Forces aircraft are the most well-maintained aircraft in the world," Keddy said.
"They've served us over the years and continue to serve the air force and will do well into the future."
The Snowbirds plane was in the air with three other aircraft from the base: a Hawk, a Harvard and another Tutor. Those planes were flying different formations to be photographed by Senecal for use in various promotional materials.
The other planes returned to base safely.
Mitchell was from Whiterock, B.C. He had a wife and two daughters. Senecal was originally from Montreal. He had a wife and son.
As of Thursday, eight people, including seven pilots, have died in crashes of Snowbird jets since the team was formally inaugurated in 1971.
June 10, 1972 — Capt. Lloyd Waterer, 24, died during an air show at CFB Trenton, Ont.
May 3, 1978 — Capt. Gordon de Jong, 32, died during air show in Grande Prairie, Alta.
Sept. 3, 1989 — Capt. Shane Antaya, 24, died when his plane plunged into Lake Ontario during an air show in Toronto.
Dec. 10, 1998 — Capt. Michael VandenBos, 29, died in a pre-season training collision with another Snowbird, south of Moose Jaw. The other pilot survived.
Dec. 10, 2004 — Capt. Miles Selby, 31, died in a collision during a training session. The other pilot survived.
May 18, 2007 — Capt. Shawn McCaughey, 31, died in a crash while practising for an air show at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont.
There have also been eight occasions where Snowbird planes have crashed or collided and the pilots survived.
The CT-114 jet has been in service since 1962 and was adopted as the Snowbird plane in 1971.
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My heard goes out to the families of these members. No rhetoric, no big words. I'm just so sad your loved ones died.
to those who choose to go on a rant about the usefullness of the snowbirds - the state of the military - whatever - please don't. They were doing their job - blame successive governments who love the publicity that the Snowbirds gve the country but won't give the specific funds they need for their upkeep. Just like the successive governments who would bligthly say that Canadians could go here and there to be Peacekeepers, but never increased the funds to the necessary amount that would enable them to do the job properly. Canada wants everything from its military - but doesn't want to give them the funds to do what they have to do. We want them to save us by search and rescue. They want us to make our shores safe against other countries. They want us to look good to the rest of the world by being 'peace keepers' because - hey - that's what we do, isnt it? But god forbid we should actually give the military money to get the equiptment necessary to do the jobs they want us to do. I'm so sick of the country of Canada paying us - the tax payer - lip service - it's just like all those people that say that 'motherhood is the most important job' - and then they look through you when they are talking to you as if you meant nothing. (In other words - women, immigrants, the 'others' doen't account for - as they say - a hill of beans'.) And trust me - it doesn't matter what party - they all ar the same some good, most bad.When I wrote this I wanted to figure who to vote for. I don't know. Vote?? For who makes you comfortable - not comfotably nub, but comfortable.You see the policies, you understand the policies, yuo might not agree with them all, but the msg isn't cluttered with rhetiric. Look for people who don't promise.Oh hell - just really think before you vote. You don't have to vote for a candidate that will will, you have to vote for a candidate that you believe in.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Rest in peace.
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Jesse Reed
reedj@rogers.com
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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For sure, may they both rest in peace.. and thanks for all you have given..ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Mary Ann
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Pro Patria
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Very sad! My sympathy to the families at this time.
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Fred Deadman
ALWAYS A ROYAL
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May they rest in peace.
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1RCR 78-82,B Coy, C Coy, E Coy morpl RSS 48th Highlanders
Construction Engineers 82-93 (retired)
CFB London/CFB Toronto/CFB Chilliwack/CFB Trenton/CFS Alert/UNFCYP/CFB Suffield/CFB London
retirment
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
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My sympathy to the families and friends.
Jim
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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Buzz Gomes
Veteran 500+ Member
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May they Rest In Peace.Thanks for your dedication and service. My sympathy to family and friends.
Buzz
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1964-1968- 2 QOR Calgary, Cyprus
1968-1971- 2 CDO Edmonton
1971-1975- 3 Mech CDO Germany, A Coy Mor
1975-1983- 1 RCR London, Bn Tpt,C Coy, B Coy, Recce
1983-1985- RCR Battle School
1985-1990-1 RCR, B Coy, Dukes, Recce, Cyprus
1990-1992- OMD HQ Ottawa, G3 Trg
1992-1993- LMD HQ London, G3 Trg
1993-2007-4 RCR, RSM
Retired CWO
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