Chelsea H.

Pasadena, Newfoundland and Labrador

Western Newfoundland Regional Heritage Fair

Sabena Airlines Disaster

This plane crash occurred September 18, 1946. It happened in Glenwood, Newfoundland, which is not far from Gander. This would be the first large scale rescue mission that would prove helicopters extraordinary capabilities.

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing I learned about my project, was that this was the first large scale rescue mission helicopters would be involved in. The two helicopters used came from Brooklyn, New York and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Both had to be disassembled and flown to Gander Airport, and reassembled. This process took two days.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

By visiting the site I learned how hard it was for the rescuers to access the crash site, and how today we are able to assist people in distress. Today if a plane crash did occur we would not have to wait for 2 days to get helicopters to access the crash site. I want other Canadians to know how lucky we are to be able to have such advanced technologies, that could help us when we need it most. I also want people who visit the crash site to know that they should make sure to bring lots of deep woods insect repellent.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

I think today it would be much easier to rescue people from a plane crash, and we wouldn't have to wait two days to get a helicopter to the crash site. In 1946 helicopters were still new to us, and today they have advanced so much since then. I think that it is cool that this rescue mission played a part in helping produce better helicopters that help people today.