AIR VICE-MARSHAL KILLED IN CRASH

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 9

AIR VICE-MARSHAL KILLED IN CRASH

OTTAWA. March 2. Air Vice-marshal Robert C. Ripley, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and seven other servicemen killed last night when a B-25 Mitchell bomber exploded and crashed 14 miles south-west of Ottawa. The plane plunged to the ground in flames and burned after circling low over the village of Manotick in preparation for a scheduled landing. The impact scattered bodies and debris over a wide area. Three hours after the crash occurred. Ontario Provincial Police reported that parts of seven bodies had been found. The search was continuing. 'One body was found 30 feet up b - a tree, a shredded parachute below. The crash occurred about three-

quarters of a mile west of Manotick. Parts of the aircraft struck electric light wires serving the village, briefly cutting off electric lights. Mr William Findlay, 26, of Manotick, said he heard the plane circling overhead while he was watching television. The aircraft appeared to be back-firing. He reached to turn down his television set. but the lights went out and the house was shaken by an explosion. "The house then was lit up by a huge flash of light.” he said. “I rushed to the window and saw flames shooting up from the aircraft as it skidded along the ground.” Air Vice-Marshal Ripley, who was 43, was chief of the Air ‘Material Command of the Royal Canadian Air Force.