LEW CURTIN OF WELLAND KILLED IN R.C.A.F. CRASH

[Welland Tribune, January 16, 1947]

War veteran, Popular Young Man Dies with Five others in Plane

Word was received here today that Flight Lieutenant Lewis Curtin, 57 Randolph street had been killed yesterday afternoon when an Air Force plane crashed on Marsh Lake near Whitehorse, N.W.T.

Six persons were killed in the crash, five R.C.A.F. personnel and a civilian employe.

Officials of North West Air Command at Edmonton said the only information they have is that the crash occurred while the plane was returning to Whitehorse from Teslin, Yukon Territory, where the R.C.A.F. officials had been investigating a fire. Teslin is about 105 miles by road southeast of Whitehorse. Marsh Lake is about 45 miles south of Whitehorse and near the Alaska highway.

Flt.-Lt. Curtin had been with the interim R.C.A.F. and was a pilot attached to No. 6 Communications Flight in Whitehorse.

He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in December, 1940, and received his wings at Saskatoon in August 1941 with rank of Sgt-Pilot. During the war he saw service with anti-submarine patrols on the West Coast, on the East Coast and in Newfoundland, and also was engaged in overseas transport work. Since March, 1945, he had been stationed in Edmonton flying on the North-West staging route. Three months ago he was transferred to Whitehorse.

Flt.-Lt. Curtin married Diane Munroe, of Grand Manan, N.B. in September, 1945, and his wife was living with him at Whitehorse.

Deceased was born in Hamilton on December 15, 1919, but his parents moved to Welland shortly afterwards and he spent most of his life in Welland prior to enlistment. He attended Welland public schools and was a graduate of the Welland High and Vocational school. At the time of his enlistment he was a student at the Niagara Parks Commission school of gardening and landscaping, with only a year to go before graduation.

Popular with Welland’s younger set, Lewis Curtin was a member of Pi Delta Gamma fraternity, and the Lookout Point Ski Club, his hobbies including skiing, hockey and hunting. He was an adherent of the Presbyterian Church.

Surviving besides his wife and parents, is a sister, Miss Mary Curtin.

Funeral arrangements will depend on further news from R.C.A.F. officials.

Other Victims
Killed in the crash besides Flt.-Lt. Curtin were:
Sqdn.-Ldr. Robert Andrew Bucham, D.F.C., commanding officer of the R.C.A.F. station at Whitehorse.
F.O. Alfred Henry Hartivikson, works and buildings officer stationed at Whitehorse.

Flt.-Sgt. Joe Milner, N.C.O. in charge of the fire fighter section stationed at Whitehorse.

L.A.C. Charlie Curtis Brooking, aero-engine mechanicat Whitehorse, flying as crewman; mother, Mrs. Sid Brooking, Trehern, Man.
Ray othen Porter, electrician, R.C.A.F. civilian employe at Whitehorse; mother Mrs Harriett, Porter, Edmonton.

FLIER’S BODY IS EN-ROUTE

[Welland Tribune January 18, 1947]

Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Curtin learned today that the body of their son, Flight Lieutenant Lewis Curtin, who was killed on Wednesday when an air force plane crashed on Marsh Lake near Whitehorse, N.W.T, arrived in Edmonton last night and should reach Welland Tuesday. Tentative arrangements have been made to hold funeral services Thursday at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church.

Flt.-Lt. Curtin’s widow, the former Diane Munro of Grand Manan, N.B. was reported en route from Whitehorse to Welland.

Cause of the crash which claimed the lives of five R.C.A.F. personnel and one civilian employe remains unknown although R.C.A.F. officers are investigating.

The bodies of the six victims were flown to Edmonton yesterday.