PL - Lyle George Schell KIA

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Schell, Lyle George (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1942-January-19

Canada

Birth Date: 1918 (age 24)

Son of William Willis Schell and Agnes Elizabeth Schell, of Williamsburg, Ontario.

Home: Williamsburg, Ontario

Service
RCAF

Unit
240 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)

Rank

Pilot Officer

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position
Observer

Service Numbers
J/5077

240 Squadron. Catalina aircraft X 240 was damaged in baffle and flew into a hill on Yell Island. Six RAF members of the crew. Sgts A.R. Breakspear, E. Henowy, S. Irvine, A.O. Pitcher, L.A. Rowe, and F/L H. Goolden were also killed. All seven crew members are buried in the same collective grave. Addendum: Z 2148 was one of many aircraft in search of the Tirpitz off Norway. The aircraft flew from Northern Ireland to Northern Scotland to refuel before joining the search. On the evening of the 18th., the crew took off for the long patrol, soon running into sever icing and turbulence. Then, unusually for a Catalina, one of the engines failed. The aircraft was unable to maintain height, and the bomb load was jettisoned. The pilot then set course for the nearest flying boat base, Sullom Von. A signal was sent to Sullom Voe informing of the problem, and an estimated time of arrival given. The signal was received by the radio section, but for some reason, was not passed to flying control, which, unaware of the Catalina's difficulties, closed down for the night. At about 0100 hours, the Catalina arrived to find no reply to their calls, and no welcoming flare-path. After checking their position, the crew began to circle, continuing to make radio calls, which were eventually answered by Sumburgh staff, who in turn managed to alert Sullom Voe. It was a bitterly cold night with snow showers and pitch darkness. Men were ordered from their beds to man open boats and prepare the flare-path. To add to their discomfort, there was a change in wind direction, and the flare-path had to be changed. Meanwhile the Catalina was losing height and began to circle over the sea to the south of Feltar where it may have drifted into the Colgrave Sound. With neither of the pilots or the navigator familiar with Sullom Voe a landing on such a dark night would not be easy. Eventually, at about 0500 hours, news came that a partial flare-path had been laid, and that the Catalina could land if the pilot so wished. The aircraft reduced height and had just set course when the crew were blinded by a snowstorm. It is likely that the aircraft was then caught in a severe down-draught, striking the top of the Hill of Arisdale on Yell, causing a loss of control. The Catalina skidded across the ground, breaking up as it went. The co-pilot, Flying Officer Helme, was thrown through the windscreen, but was able to return to the blazing aircraft and pull clear two injured crew members before being driven back by the flames. After making the two men as comfortable as possible, he set out to find help. Detail provided by David E. Thompson, Stockton-on-Tees, England.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home

Google Map

Williamsburg, Ontario

Burial
Google Map

Google Map

Hamnavoe Churchyard, UK
Coll grave

Consolidated Canso Catalina PBY PB2B A-10 OA-10 Black Cat

RCAF Canso A (Serial No. 9754), No. 162 Squadron, F/L David Ernest Hornell aircraft.

The Consolidated Catalina and Canso were close cousins. The Canso was the true amphibious version of the design and therefore included a conventional undercarriage to allow for either water or land use. The Canso provided more than two decades of valuable service to the RCAF. The Catalina variant came first and was produced beginning in 1935 for the United States Navy. The amphibious version, designated PBY-5A, came in service early in 1941 and the RCAF began using the aircraft on anti-submarine patrols that same year. After the Second World War, the RCAF used Cansos for search and rescue, Arctic survey missions and various transport operations. RCAF

YouTube Canso PBY

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Canso PBY

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:

RCAF On Strength (274), RCAF 400 Squadron (13), Canadian Aircraft Losses (82)

last update: 2022-03-15 19:52:22

Canso I Z2148

The pilots made three circuits around Sullom Voe before heading East, apparently to gain height to clear high ground on the islands, it was while heading out to the East or North-east that the aircraft struck the ground at just over 250ft above sea level on the island of Yell and broke up with the wreckage soon catching fire.

source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society

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