113 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca Lahey and Bill Bagget got the short straws in the draw mentioned previously. They went back into the A/C and managed to throw out the medical kit when the A/C blew up. Bill pulled out of the blister as the flames poured out around him. He was rolled in the snow to extinguish the flames from his clothes. Bert, whom we thought had been lost in the explosion, came walking out of the bush later. He was blown out and away from the A/C. Built fire and made lean-to out of Spruce and snow blocks. Rations slim. Everyone hungry. Bill suffering badly with gassed lungs and stomach, and burned head, face and hands. Bert also badly burned. April 20, 1945 - Bettered our shelter by making bunks out of spruce boughs in the hole the fire melted in snow. Snow about seven feet deep.Warren and Evert walked up south hill and surveyed small lake and discussed feasibility of striking off for Goose Bay or Mingan by foot. Several A/C sighted. April 21, 1945 - Warren, Loyd and Evert departed camp, hoping to make Goose Bay in several days or? Walked four hrs. Going tough. Climbed big, bald hill and stopped for lunch from K rations. Mitchell A/C flew overhead nonstop. At 1330 hrs. attracted attention of C54 six engine Sky Master A/C en route to New York (we learned later, and had orders to fly low and keep search watch for us.) We directed second C54 to crash site by snow signs. (The first C54 had been attracted by us by using signal mirror and fire smoke from spruce boughs which we had piled in readiness in case of A/C sighting.) The C54 A/C dropped us sleeping parkas and pants, cigarettes and lighter and 40 oz. of brandy. In a short time the sky was congested with A/C. Norseman A/C #787 landed on small lake here behind the high, bald hill. Norseman crew were F/O Bud Herr (pilot), F/L David Todd (W.A.G.), L.A. C., Loyd Atchison (engineer) Medical Officer, S/L Fred Smith was also with them. Survivors from the “Canso” A/C that had crashed, namely Munro, Taillefer and Lambert also boarded Norseman #787 and at 0915 hrs. attempted take-off for Goose Bay from this little lake. One minute later clipped tree fringe, stopped just short of running into bigger trees. Established camp for night. April 22, 1945- Time 0900 hrs. Todd and Lambert repair aerials, broken relay in Norseman A/C 787 then contact Goose Bay. Signal strong. Goose Bay standing by until weather clears. 0930 hrs. - stock-taking of rations: 14 D rations, 2 C rations, 9 field rations, 7 bandoliers, 1 tea pail, 2 cups, 3 axes. Improved camp. April 23, 1945 - Having snow. Breakfast menu = 1 tin bacon, biscuits and coffee - Dinner menu: cheese, biscuits, chocolate. 2055 hrs. called Goose Bay on A/C radio - all well - Fuel low - gave estimate of damage to A/C. April 24, 1945 - stopped snowing. Called Goose Bay. Time 1245 hrs. - asked for saw, axe, frypan and supplies. Goose Bay reports gear ready to drop if weather permits at time 1830 hrs. Canso 11023 flew over. Dropped food, sleeping bags, seven pair snowshoes, cigarettes, rum, and scotch. April 25, 1945 - named this Herr Lake in honour of F/O Bud Herr, the pilot of Norseman #787. At time 1815 hrs. three Canso A/C arrive. Dropped army tents, cook stove, axes, bear paw snowshoes, rifle, shotgun and ammo. April 26, 1945- Time 1000 hrs. Canso 11023 dropped material to repair Norseman 787 - fabric, dope, plywood, gas and oil. Tents erected. April 27, 1945 - Time 1100 hrs. Goose Bay reports weather 25 degrees Fahrenheit above zero to-nite. All hands turn out repairing A/C Norseman 787, and building runway by burying spruce trees in snow and packing. April 28, 1945 - Completed runway. A/C also serviceable. Weather turning cold. Bud Herr decides to take A/C 787 off in morning while runway frozen. (continued) LAMBERT, Evert Walter(continued)
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