CAP, either your memory is screwed or mine is.
Mid-Canada line 1957, Spartan Air Services.
I had already been thier in 56, after a four month tour in the Arctic on board the HMCS Labrador with two 47G's on floats and a HUP-3.
Without going into any records the crew that I remember on the Mid-Canada line was as follows, out of the seventeen crew that was thier, thirteen was ex-Navy.
Larry Camphaug, Joe Sangamino, Jerry Fletcher, Jack Paquette, John Kowalski, Ray LePage, Mac Gordon, Shorty Ferguson, Nels Bentley, Doc Demerha, Bill "Red" Smith, John Linden, are the ones that I remember off the top of me head.
January the eight'th 1958, Doc, John Linden, myself as crew and one pax sitting in the mid section of the Vertol H21.
After overniting at the US base in Hopedale we set out on a beautiful CAVU, but cold day to land at the first site on the way back to Knob Lake. Ten minutes after take-off from that site (303) and at about 1000' ag the 21 went vertical or down on it's tail, then proceeded to go over on it's back, collective was dropped, cyclic was moved all over the cockpit to no avail. The helicopter was on it's side going down in an arc, proceeded to hit the top of a knoll, roll down hill for about forty feet, split in two, the pax was thrown out, the helicopter caught on fire, the cockpit and instrument panel was completely destroyed, Doc was thrown out seat and all and broke a bone, small one, in his right leg. I was still in the cocpit in my seat, but upside down. Doc got me down and stood me up in front of the burning machine in a snow bank and gave me a shove and told me to get away from the machine. He, "Doc", tried to get John Linden out thru the cockpit entrance but was unable. Thanks to our "Angels" the aircraft's emergency door could be opened and Doc pulled John out that way.
We lost or "SARAH" beacon, but we were on a flight plan and Shorty Ferguson flew right over the top of us that afternoon and never saw us, the aircraft was not painted, it had it's original aluminum finish.
We or should I say Doc found our verry pistol with one cartridge in the snow, two sleeping bags and a five gallon can of oil. The pax was in shock and was completely useless.
John Linden had punctured a main artery to his heart, Doc had a broken bone in his right leg, I had a severe concussion (smashed the right side of my helmet) on the upper fwd xmsn. They originally thought I had a broken right leg, but found out later that I had to puncture marks about six inch's in depth that had torn the ligaments. We found all this out later in the hospital in Goose.
The night we spent out it was -44 degrees F.
We all had heavy boots and clothes and during the night John kicked of his right boot. John lost his right leg just below the knee joint and half of the other foot.
All this was told to me later on as I have very little recollection.
The one cartridge and fire led them to us the next day.
I was flown by Lancaster to the Royal Vic in Montreal, for a spinal tap and ultra sound.
John always had a memory of the accident in his mind, we had celebrated his birthday the day before in the officers mess in Hopedale.
----------
Mac Gordon was flying a B47G4A from Northern Wings with I believe one or two Pax. He had landed in a tight spot and touched the tail rotor on something.
The pax did thier work, Mac had checked the T/R and shafting and deemed it safe for take-off. Mac either forgot or didn't know about the shear pin in the knuckle joint. I believe he was the only one killed.
--------------
Doc Demerha died at the controls of a Bell47G4A on floats, he had a heart attack and remained fixed on the controls and gently flew into the lake, his pax was to big and could not fasten a two person seat belt and was thrown clear.
The Mid-Canada line contract was taken over by Dom-Peg and I believe John Schultz added the Vertol H21 to his list of endorsements.
Memory Lane, Cheers Don