Thread by @ajcdeane

This is the 9th instalment of #deanehistory. We remain in Aroostook County.

The County seat is the small town of Houlton. During the Second World War, before America had entered, the USA built an airbase at Houlton right on the border with Canada.

The USA flew planes into that base – careful not to enter Canadian airspace, as the Canadians were & are in the Commonwealth, fighting alongside us, whilst the USA was “neutral.”

Canadian farmers would then come along with their tractors & literally drag military aircraft over the border. The Canucks would close the highway, which became a temporary runway, and whoosh – off said planes went to London for the war effort.

I love lots about this. I love the letter of the law being respected, & the prompt way round it. I love the fact that it hinged on some local farmers doing their bit. I love the shared endeavour between our three countries in this tiny obscure corner of cold north Maine.

But there’s more. This operation had two casualties; they sadly died in a crash by the runway when taking a bomber to Britain. The pilot was a Kiwi– yet another nation in this band of friends. So far from home, an example of our shared effort in the most important cause.

RIP Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot, George Newall Harrison, & his radio operator, Royal Canadian Air Force Sergeant Henry Bordewick. Their Commonwealth War Graves are maintained in rural Maine to this day by the American Legion.

I want to thank @EmpireAttendant for a very helpful correction.

The *four* casualties of this accident were:-
RCAF Sergeant August Leroy BECKWALL,
RCAF Sergeant Henry BORDEWICK,
RCAF Sergeant Arthur Gordon Bartley GIBSON and
RNZAF Flying Officer George Newall HARRISON.

I think Beckwall & Gibson are buried in Canada. Hence my missing them. RIP.

Thanks to @CalumMercer, @MarkNewlands1, @LJ_Skipper for pointing to the reference to this in Darkest Hour: