A lot of changes have occurred at the former Pennfield Ridge Air Station since it closed October 1, 1945. So much unwritten history is located on that hallow piece of ground and yet many of those unrecorded voices have now been silenced by the cold hand of death. Priceless memories continually slip through the hourglass of time to be forever lost in the continuum of life. It’s now a race against father time and he, as always, has the advantage on his side. Also, so many unfilled dreams of a brighter tomorrow ended before they really had a chance to begin. However, the youthful exuberance of the innocent and an uncertainty of a tomorrow often exacted a high toll on those who answered the call of duty. So, this column is intended to focus on just 1 of the 170+ accidents and/or mishaps (“prangs”) that occurred with an aircraft from Pennfield Ridge Air Station.
The former Air Station holds a special place in the hearts and minds of those who served there. For many airmen it would be the last place in Canada they would spend their time before being posted overseas. It was here friendships would be forged that would be life long, especially those who “crewed” up and then served overseas together in battle squadrons. I have discovered that once a Veteran begins to talk about “the Ridge” it is hard for him to share any other memories. Family members, the next generation, have often heard the stories about Pennfield Ridge or have come across the name when they begin their own research. This is why I have heard from 27 Veterans and over 188 family members since 2007, many of whom I still maintain regular contact with.
There were fourteen fatal crashes in various parts of New Brunswick (9), Nova Scotia (4) and Rhode Island (1) that account for the loss of 40 airmen. Another seven aircraft crashed into various bodies of water accounting for 21/22 airmen and 1 seaman (passenger only!) being listed as “missing”. Families struggling with the sudden loss of loved ones were further compounded with the waiting for additional information. Long after the searches were abandoned and all hopes for a positive outcome were exhausted; “presumption” of death was finally issued. The remaining 7 airmen died from natural causes.
The aerodrome officially opened 21-July-1941 as No.2 Air Navigation School (ANS), an RCAF Unit, operating the Avro Anson, the mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). Sixteen days opening the first minor mishap transpired when an Anson “…overran the runway into a ditch”, and then nineteen short days later the first fatal crash befell the Unit involving 2 Anson aircraft and 9 airmen.
The first aircraft, Anson 6649, was out on a night navigation exercise with a crew of 5 when it became lost near Liverpool, NS. Dropping flares and flooding the shore with a landing light, the crew was unable to find a suitable place to land. The pilot, F/O John Barneson (C/3003), a native of San Francisco serving in the RCAF, climbed to 6,000 feet and ordered the crew to bail out around 3:30 a.m. The entire crew, save Sgt. J.H. McKay (R/77282) who fractured his arm when he struck the tail of the plane while bailing out, escaped unharmed.
Before the crew of Anson 6649 were reported safe, a search party from Pennfield Ridge was organized.
One of the searching aircraft was Anson 6644 with a crew of 4, including pilot F/L Walter Samuel “Leslie” Smallman (GB39003) who had been residing in St. George with his wife Mollie and young son since July 1941. Spotting a bonfire around 7:00 a.m. Smallman put the aircraft into a steep diving turn toward the east and as it banked, possibly with the pilot’s vision being aggravated by glare from the rising sun, the port wing struck a tree in an orchard and disintegrated killing the entire crew.
This was to be the only fatal crash at No.2 ANS which existed for just over 10 months, and the final line of the Station’s Daily Diary reflects the mood that day: “A very ‘blue’ Monday.”
Now jump ahead to 2008, over a two-day period (15/16-March-2008), I interviewed WOII J. David Stuart (22066A) (Ret.) at his residence in Ottawa. Mr. Stuart was the NCO in charge of The Orderly Room (office) at No.2 A.N.S. and No.2 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge. Additionally, he was also a very dear friend, mentor and founding member of “Charlotte County War Memorial Committee (2005)” – he made me his replacement on said committee shortly before his passing.
One on the topics he and I spoke about was the crash of these 2 Ansons – Mr. Stuart assisted in making the necessary arrangements to have the 4 bodies brought back to Saint John; forwarding the remains of Sgt. George Thomas Samuel Woodhams (R/58453) (RCAF) & ACI Gerald John Elliot (R/60107) (RCAF) back home by train; assisting in the Station funerals for F/L Walter Samuel Leslie Smallman (GB39003) (RAF) & Sgt. Sydney Street (GB1058228) (RAF(VR); etc. F/L Smallman’s funeral was attended by his wife Mollie & son Peter (1940-1996), the first & only funeral of an RAF/RAF(VR) airmen from “the Ridge” to have family in attendance.
My wife Sheri & I paid respect to Smallman in December 2008 (Dartmouth, NS) and to Street in May 2009 (Saint John).
Additionally, from June 2017 to Septembe 2021, I worked with the late Capt. Ralph E. Morton, CD (Ret.) (1941-2022) in his efforts to erect a memorial plaque to the crew of Anson 6644 near Liverpool, NS. The said memorial was dedicated 25-August-2022, 81st anniversary of the crash, by the family of the late Capt. Morton & Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No.38.
Christian Larsen currently serves as President of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society. He has been actively involved in researching the genealogical & military history of Pennfield Parish for nearly four decades. From 2009 until 2017 he hosted the annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services. Recognized at the provincial & federal levels for his work with Veterans having been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023); Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation (2024) & King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). He can be reached at: ppmhsociety@gmail.com
