November 04, 2012

Follow-up on the crash of CF-101 Voodoo #17480 in March of 1968

RCAF 425 Squadron
As luck would have it, a friend of mine's father was a navigator for the CF-101 Voodoo with the RCAF back in the day, at exactly the time that #17480 crashed.  From what I understand, #17480 crashed on approach in March of 1968 while attempting to land from the North on the runway at Val D'Or.  #17480 was flying with the RCAF 425 Squadron "Les Alouettes", the first French Canadian squadron, that flew CF-101 Voodoos out of Bagotville (and now fly CF-18s).  They have the motto "Je Te Plumerai".  The accident report cites the pilot losing sight of the horizon as the cause for the crash.  The plane crashed before getting to the runway.  There were no survivors, both crew were killed, and no armed AIR-2 missiles were on-board at the time.

Thank you BD for your honourable service to the men and women of Canada.  Especially with remembrance day coming up, we all remember the service you did for your country, your countrymen, and the sacrifices you made to your family.  May we all be as selfless as you.

I'm not sure where the #17480 Voodoo crashed, but it should have been somewhere North of the runway.  I assume it was lined up with the runway but hit the dirt or trees prior to making it to the runway.  From driving around the site, there is no sign of where the plane might have crashed - but it has been 44 years and I presume the site was cleaned up very well after the accident.  In 1968 Val D'Or was under it's own administration and was no longer being administered by RCAF Station Senneterre, so I know there will be some information in the Historical Narrative of the base at Val D'Or at the National Archives.


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19 comments:

  1. Anonymous22 December 2012 at 01:34:00 GMT-5

    apparently the pilot the ground was covered with snow and the pilot thought it was a cloud .There were plane parts on an area 7 miles long ,I was stationned in Val d'Or at the time.

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  2. Steffan Watkins8 January 2013 at 22:29:00 GMT-5

    Thank you for the info! I have not yet been able to find the names of the pilot and navigator yet... Would you happen to know their names, or know where I could find out? I hear there is a monument to fallen RCAF airmen at Trenton, but haven't got down there yet... Nor do I know if I'll be able to differentiate them on the monument...

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  3. Anonymous3 April 2013 at 16:02:00 GMT-4

    Did some google research and found the crew names at this site:

    http://airforce.ca/honours-awards/honours-awards-post-war-files/post-war-casualties-rcafcf/

    Captain Bouius, Hielke, CD CF-101 Voodoo 17480 15 March 1968
    Lieutenant Theriault, Joseph Yvon CF-101 Voodoo 17480 15 mars 1968

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  4. Steffan Watkins11 April 2013 at 20:24:00 GMT-4

    I thought I'd thoroughly looked, but clearly I missed that one! I had been told they would have to have been on a memorial somewhere, but I didn't know where to look. Thank you!

    I can't find any mention of the pilot or navigator elsewhere, unfortunately. I hope the National Archives will have more on file about the accident. At least now I know more about what I'm looking for!

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  5. Anonymous16 October 2014 at 21:58:00 GMT-4

    Captain Bouius was my uncle, he is buried in Barrie, Ontario.

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  6. Anonymous14 December 2014 at 14:47:00 GMT-5

    http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=X4-KO54GjGYC&dat=19680321&printsec=frontpage&hl=fr

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  7. Anonymous24 July 2015 at 11:18:00 GMT-4

    i leave at the place where the crash. we found a motor of this airplance. we want expose it. i need more picture and information.

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    1. Steffan Watkins24 July 2015 at 11:25:00 GMT-4

      Cool! Avez-vous deja trouvez des morceau de l'avion? ..ou est ce que vous etes entrain de cherchez pour des morceau de l'avion?

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  8. Anonymous24 July 2015 at 11:52:00 GMT-4

    Fiou, vous parlez français! Je suis de Rivière-Héva où est situé le lac Malartic. Un moteur a été retrouvé dans le lac et je me souvenais qu'un voodoo c'était écrasé quand j'étais petite. Nous fêtons le 75e anniversaire de Rivière-Héva et nous avons décidé de l'exposer lors de nos retrouvailles. J'aimerai avoir des photos de cet appareil et plus d'info. Est-ce possible?

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    1. Steffan Watkins24 July 2015 at 14:34:00 GMT-4

      Possible and probable! There has to be a report from an investigation into what caused the crash with pictures and information about the crash site. The report might be at the National Archives in Ottawa, but you can ask them to send you information in the mail. How was the engine found? Fishing?
      The Directorate of History and Heritage of DND would probably be interested in the engine or any remains; I dont know if the pilot and navigator were found and buried, or if they have an empty grave (which is done sometimes).
      http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/index-fra.asp

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    2. Steffan Watkins24 July 2015 at 14:39:00 GMT-4

      Mon Français écrit n'est pas très bon ;) Mais ma compréhension est meilleure

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  9. Unknown9 August 2015 at 22:44:00 GMT-4

    Lt. Yvon Theriault was my brother. I never met him. I have been looking for information about his death.
    Thank you for posting this.

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    1. Steffan Watkins9 August 2015 at 23:03:00 GMT-4

      You are very welcome Mike! As a family member I believe you are entitled to more information about your brother's service than an ordinary member of the public. You might be able to get information about his entire career from the National Archives. I'm very sorry you never had the pleasure to meet him, but hope you can find more information out about his career, and that fateful day. Best of luck!

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    2. Woodturn21 July 2020 at 18:05:00 GMT-4

      Hi. Yvon was a squadron member of mine. He was replacing me the day the crash happened. He and Harry were ch3cking a structure at the lake for snow when they experienced whiteout and impacted the lake. I attended your brothers funeral as well as Harry’s.

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    3. Woodturn21 July 2020 at 18:06:00 GMT-4

      Hi. Yvon was a squadron member of mine. He was replacing me the day the crash happened. He and Harry were ch3cking a structure at the lake for snow when they experienced whiteout and impacted the lake. I attended your brothers funeral as well as Harry’s.

      Delete
  10. Unknown10 August 2015 at 11:22:00 GMT-4

    Thank you. I will try there. I will let you know what I find out.

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  11. Unknown10 August 2015 at 23:53:00 GMT-4

    I have a picture of Lt. Yvon Theriault with his plane. How can I get it to you?

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    1. Steffan Watkins15 September 2015 at 16:15:00 GMT-4

      Is it a digitized photo, already scanned? You could email it to me @ steffan.watkins@gmail.com, or if it's a physical photo I can scan it and mail it back to you (if you like)

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    2. Steffan Watkins15 September 2015 at 16:15:00 GMT-4

      Is it a digitized photo, already scanned? You could email it to me @ steffan.watkins@gmail.com, or if it's a physical photo I can scan it and mail it back to you (if you like)

      Delete

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