IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Aircraft Designation: North American P-51 Mustang IV

  • Serial Number: #9555
  • Type: Military Fighter Aircraft
  • Year Built: Mid-20th century (Exact build year not specified; operational during the WWII era)
  • Final Location: Near Timber Island, Lake Ontario, east of Trenton, Ontario
  • GPS Coordinates: Not publicly disclosed
  • Condition: Partially recovered (wing, oxygen tank, smaller fragments; fuselage and engine unrecovered)
  • Depth: Unknown; partial wreckage remains submerged in Lake Ontario

AIRFRAME DESCRIPTION

The P-51 Mustang was a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft renowned for its versatility and performance during World War II. Its robust airframe and powerful engine made it suitable for high-altitude missions and long-range escorts. P-51s were often equipped with auxiliary systems, such as pressurized oxygen tanks, to support pilots during high-altitude operations.

HISTORY OF THE INCIDENT

Date and Mission

  • Date of Incident: June 10, 1952
  • Mission: High-altitude test flight from RCAF Trenton, Ontario
  • Pilot: Flying Officer Barry Newman

FO Newman, an experienced aviator, was tasked with conducting a routine high-altitude test flight. The Mustang was widely regarded for its reliability and agility, making it a popular aircraft for such missions.

THE CRASH

The tragedy unfolded when the Mustang entered an uncontrollable high-speed vertical dive, witnessed from three locations. FO Newman managed a brief recovery at approximately 2,000 feet but lost control again when the starboard wing detached. The aircraft disintegrated upon impacting Lake Ontario.

Witness Accounts

•Witnesses observed the Mustang’s initial uncontrolled dive and subsequent recovery.

•The catastrophic wing failure was noted as the probable cause of the crash.

RECOVERY AND INVESTIGATION

Search and Recovery

  • Rescue boats dispatched immediately recovered:
  • Starboard wing
  • Oxygen tank
  • Small debris fragments
  • Propeller (retrieved from the lakebed)
  • FO Newman’s remains, fuselage, and engine were not recovered.

Board of Inquiry

The official investigation concluded that pilot anoxia was the likely cause.

•Anoxia occurs when oxygen supply is insufficient, often leading to confusion and loss of control.

•A failure in the oxygen delivery system at 20,000 feet was identified as the probable contributing factor.

SIGNIFICANCE AND LEGACY

Pilot’s Contribution

•FO Barry Newman was remembered for his service and the inherent risks associated with military test operations.

Aircraft Legacy

•The P-51 Mustang remains an iconic aircraft, symbolizing both the ingenuity and dangers of mid-20th-century military aviation.

CURRENT CONDITION

•Much of the wreckage remains unrecovered at the bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg of Lake Ontario, near Timber Island.

•The depth of the main wreckage is undetermined, complicating further exploration or recovery.

•Recovered fragments, such as the wing and oxygen tank, provide material evidence of the tragedy.

RESOURCES & LINKS

KEYWORDS

P-51 Mustang, RCAF #9555, Barry Newman, Timber Island crash, Lake Ontario aviation history, pilot anoxia, military test flight accident.

ANALYSIS

The loss of RCAF Mustang #9555 exemplifies the peril faced by military personnel during peacetime operations. While test flights are critical for advancing aviation technology, the risks to both pilots and aircraft remain significant. This incident underscores the importance of robust auxiliary systems i

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