The photos shown below were taken in 1979 on a hot, muggy summer day. Harry Jay, an airplane wreck investigator from Massachusetts, made contact with Frank Stratton of East Millinocket, Maine inquiring about a Canadian airplane that went down in the Katahdin Lake area in 1950. Stratton knew of the plane because he and his father Ted were in the area of the wreck when it was discovered by a man cruising timber. They came in contact with the forester who was very excited over his discovery. Stratton led a group of men into the crash site that included Harry Jay of Massachusetts, Jim Busque, Steve Lane, Danny Viollette, and Blaine McGlaughlin all of whom are from the Katahdin Area.
You may click on the image thumbnails below to view a larger size of each photo.
The trip to the airplane crash site took the group up thru the old Kellog Mountain Road just off the Sherman Lumber Road. This rough road was barely passable and was very much "grown in" with small trees. An old corduroy bridge across the West Branch of Mud Brook was barely crossable. Once the men reached the point of entry to the plane the 2 vehicles were parked. It was a 50 minute walk across several ridges. A young deer was jumped up from the spot it was laying as they searched for the wreckage site. Soon after the group came into various pieces of aluminum and wire which were strewed about from the wreckage.
As we looked around the crash site including the tree tops which were broken off, we paused for a moment in silence with respect to Lieutenant Hare. The men all stood in silence at the resting ground of 29 years for Sea Fury TF 997 and its pilot, Mervin Hare. Rest in peace Lieutenant............