Flying Officer Paul Maxillien Lucien Picard
Died of Wounds in Peacekeeping
Date of Death:
General Information
Conflict:
Peacekeeping
Regimental No.:
63523
Cause of Death (in war):
Died of Wounds
Branch:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Regiment:
Air Force
Battalion:
No. 4 (Transport) Operational Training Unit
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Beauharnois, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
20 years 5 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
27 years 2 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
27 years 2 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Next of Kin:
André J, and Germaine M.M.E. Picard, Beauharnois, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Religion:
Place of Enlistment:
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
Weight:
Chest:
Expansion:
Marital Status:
Prior Military Experience:
Not Specified
Saw Service in:
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
2473 days in service
Buried at:
Plot:
Section A Post War Plot Row B Grave 1.
Links
Images
Paul Maxillien Lucien Picard
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| Peacekeeping |
Flying Officer |
Air Force |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
No. 4 (Transport) Operational Training Unit |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| Peacekeeping |
Dag Hammarskjöld Medal |
|
|
|
|
Notes
Son of André J, and Germaine M.M.E. Picard of Beauharnois, Quebec. Brother of Jaqueline, Louise, Clair and Marguerite.
Killed in a flying accident, flying a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
He was severly injured April 25 in the crash of a an RCAF Otter patrol plane serving with the UN Emergency Force in the Gaza strip. He died 5 days later in hospital.
The plane crashed and burned shortly after takeoff from camp el Kuntilla, a UN Yugoslav camp on the Israli-Egyptian border. Two other crew members also died in the crash.
Research Notes
Due to a minor change in schedule, the aircraft was incorrectly loaded for a routine transport mission to two UN-bases in Egypt.
Consequently, on arrival at the first base, the freight that was to be unloaded was inaccessible. The captain thereupon decided to continue to the 2nd stop, unload the freight for it, then return. The aircraft was loaded to 98% of its limit weight. The field elevation was 1700 ft msl and the temperature 98 deg F (36,7 C). The combination of these factors rendered the aircraft sluggish in the air, immediately after takeoff. The pilot proceeded with the adjustment of the flap position to the climb position. He apparently performed this operation in a mechanical manner which induced the aircraft to sink. He attempted to counter this by pulling back on the control column which only aggravated the situation, and the aircraft struck the ground heavily. The pilot persisted in his attempt to take off and the aircraft bounced twice more before finally coming to rest and bursting into flames. Three of the four occupants escaped but two were severely burned and died later.
The cause of the accident is considered to be faulty technique on the part of the pilot, in that he raised the flaps with insufficient care and did not take into full account the heavy load being carried and the prevailing weather conditions.
