DHC-5 Buffalo Restoration
DHC-5 Buffalo Restoration
For the latest information on this project, please visit our new web site at:
Restoration Theme
The theme for our re-built Buffalo is Canadian Forces Buffalo 115461 in United Nations livery. Buffalo 115461 (Buffalo 461) was shot down over Syria on 09 August 1974 resulting in the deaths of nine Canadians. For more details on the shooting down of Buffalo 461, please see the August 2004 Flightlines article on the Last mission of Buffalo 461 written by the restoration crew. Go to our MAPS page to see key locations in this incident. For a list of personnel assigned to the first four rotations of 116 ATU go to our 116 ATU page. Comments, corrections, and additions are welcome.
The following links provide available information on crew and passengers on the last flight of Buffalo 461. Basic information from Canadian Virtual War Memorial. Please email us with additional information and photographs. Click on name to see details:
Click on images for full size pictures.
Photographs of Buffalo 461 in UN livery. First photograph (MEC74-169) shows Buffalo being unloaded in Beirut on 6 Feb 1974. Second photo (ME74-157) also taken on 6 Feb 1974. Photographs and information courtesy of National Defense Image Library in Ottawa.
This sketch is of the sequence of events leading to the destruction of UN Flight 51 taken from the Canadian Board of Inquiry report.
Unique Buffalo 461 wreckage photos provided by F/L Don Fish MMM CD (Ret). Photo on left was the first photo taken of the crash scene just before Syrians prevented the first Canadians on site (F/L Fish and a maintanence Warrent Officer of 116 ATU) from taking further photos. Remaining photos in this set were taken with the Investigation Team. Second photo from left shows Right Exhaust Fairing and Right Engine Bottom Panel located about one mile from main wreckage (the right engine proper was found at the main imapct area and the accident report indicates that it was not under power on impact). Third photo shows part of tail section. Last photo shows left spar and part of tail section.
The first photo below is of Buffalo 461 wreckage on display at the new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. The other two photos in this set are of a wall display at the Canadian War Museum that reproduces wreckage photos from the Accident Report. Both are labeled in the Accident Report as "Aft Fuselage and Tail Section".
Photos of 116 ATU aircraft in Beirut from F/L Don Fish. First photo shows the three Buffalo aircraft on the ramp at Beirut Airport on 27 July 1974 (from left to right Buffalo 452, 460, and 461) - two weeks before 461 was shot down. These aircraft also flew in support of Peacekeeping in Cyprus. Second photo is also taken at the Beirut airport ramp.
Life in camp at Ismailia with 116 ATU. Photo on left shows Don Fish, 116 ATU pilot, at work.
Photographs from Joe Thibedeau of 116 ATU. Joe flew Buffalo 461 to Cairo in January 1974. First photograph is at Cairo during first couple of months of 116 ATU operation. Second photo shows Buffalo 452 in Cairo or Beirut. Note paint peeling on engine mounts after several months of operation.
Hand carved models of Buffalo 461 by Jack Frazer (1st and 2nd photos) and Wally Adam (3rd photo).
The Buffalo was originally used by Canadian Forces in a tactical support role (1967-1975). See Flightlines Article for some background on this use of the Buffalo. The following photos are of 429 (Bison) Tactical Transport Squadron Buffaloes based in St. Hubert Quebec. Photos, provided by Major Wally Adam (retired), were taken from 1968-1970.
Following photos, also by Wally Adam are of 429 Squadron while deployed in Jamaica.
Photos of 424 Squadron Buffalo at Pangnirtung (Baffin Island) ofloading diesel fuel during July 1972. Photographs provided by Joe Thibedeau.
Following photos are of 440 T&R Squadron aircraft provided by F/L Don Fish. Photo on right was taken by Brian Sadler (Navigator) on 02 August 1973 at Kauline Lake, Yukon during Mountain Resupply.
Canadian Forces Buffalo use evolved from a Tactical role to Search and Rescue. Originally painted white for rescue work, see Flightlines Article for some background on this use of the Buffalo.The following photos includes 442 Squadron Buffaloes at Comox, BC between 1970-73 - provided by Wally Adam. At right in the second row is an original model of Buffalo 458 hand-carved by Wally Adam.
The Buffalo is still used by Canadian Forces for Search and Rescue. The following show the Buffalo in the current yellow SAR markings used by 442 Squadron at CFB Comox. The following photos were generously provided by photogrpaher Parr Yonemoto (click here to see more of Parr's excellent aviation photos at Airliners.net). The first photo was taken at NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va., on 17 September 2005 and shows 115462 on climb out for a SkyHawk sortie. The second photo was taken at CFD Mountain View on 17 June 2006 and shows 115454. This aircraft is stored at CFB Moutainview and was disassemebled when Canadian Forces were considering shipping the aircraft from Mountainview to Comox to be reassembled and used as a training aid. The aircraft remains at Mountainview.
Please ask for permission before using these photographs for any purpose.