Orval George's Story.
Orval George Backes was born in Carmen, Manitoba, Canada on 3rd June 1915 to parents Mr and Mrs Harry Backes. Prior to the war he worked at the Land Title office. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce in June 1942 at Regina and trained as a pilot. He travelled to UK in May 1943 and joined 6 ( Coastal) OTU RAF at Silloth in Scotland on 27th July 1943where he trained on Wellington bombers for Coastal Command duties. On 31st August 1943 he was transferred to 172 Squadron RAF Coastal Command at Chivenor where he served as second pilot on Wellington XIV aircraft on U boat hunting duties. The Wellington XIV aircraft were specially modified for submarine hunting duties as they had the front turret removed and replaced by Air to Surface radar equipment and had a Leigh light located in a retractable pod below the aircraft. The radar allowed them to detect submarines that were charging their batteries on the surface at night and the light allowed them to illuminate the submarine so it could be attacked before it could dive. 172 squadron was one of the most successful anti submarine units in the RAF during WW2 and was credited with the sinking of 7 U boats. During his time with 172 squadron Orval spent some time posted to Lajes Field in the Azores.
172 Squadron Wellington with Leigh Light deployed
172 Squadron in the Azores
On 26th October 1944 Orval was posted back to 6 OTU at Silloth to undertake a Captain’s training course. On 6th December 1944 Orval was flying in a Wellington on a training mission and when they returned to base and attempted to land the plane bounced then stalled and crashed causing the death of all crew. The reason for the crash was never determined.
6 OTU Wellington
Accident Report 1
Accident Report 2
Accident Report 3
Accident Report 4
Accident Report letter 1
Accident Report letter 2
Orval was buried at the RAF regional cemetery at Blacon in Chester.