Dianne MacMillan and Captain Doug Newman (middle) stand over top the place where Dianne's fathers Jet crashed during a training mission back in 1954 in the forest north of CFB North Bay. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
After 60 years Dianne MacMillan has closure.
On December 31st, 1954 her father, Squadron Leader Arthur MacMillan, died in a accident while flying a CF-100 jet while on a training mission. He along with training instructor Harold Mitchell perished in the tragic accident.
In a wooded area off Widdifield Station road, Dianne and members of the Air Force held a ceremony at the exact spot where the jet crashed.
“It was incredible that it was still identifiable but in a way not surprising,” she said shortly after spending some time alone at the crash site.
“What stunned me most was the growth of the trees because I understood this took place on, what I thought was open farm land but nature has taken over and it’s a lovely place for my fathers spirit to be resting,” added MacMillan who travelled from Wales to take part in the ceremony.
Captain Doug Newman, who is the Heritage Officer for 22nd Wing at CFB North Bay, was the man responsible for setting up the special visit.
“This in itself is unique which is why I made it a mission for myself to find out everything I can about the crash, such as the crash site and what happened, where these people were. Because it wasn’t just a request for information, in this case we are talking about someone who is willing to come to North Bay to close out a very important and very horrific part of her life. It is the first time, I’ve had something like this,” said Newman.
The owner of the property where the crash occurred, also gave the Air Force a few pieces of scrap metal that Newman confirmed were part of the downed jet. Dianne is taking those new keepsakes home to share with her sister and the rest of the family in Wales.
“Who is to know there would be all these big pieces left after all this time, 60 years, it’s amazing, amazing,’’ she said.
“They will be treasured. They may not look like much to you but they are very important to me.”
MacMillan started researching the crash about 15 years ago and figured the 60th anniversary would be the perfect time to visit the site.
While MacMillan and her family moved back to Wales shortly after the crash, she still felt an immediate connection to this place in North Bay where tragedy struck her family.
“He liked to be in the wilderness taking us for walks and going to the lake with him and just having happy times trekking around and that to me is my Dad and my Dad’s spirit is there.”
Dianne MacMillan holds up a photo of her father Arthur MacMillan. The WW II veteran was remembered by his family today. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
