Memorial service held for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot who perished in a plane crash during training exercises in Cape Breton, 1944.

Today, a commemorative ceremony will be held in Cape Breton Highlands National Park to honour the memory of Pilot Officer William Arthur James Bennet, a 21-year-old Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) student pilot from Montreal who lost his life in a training aircraft crash 80 years ago.

The event will take place at the Mkwesaqtuk-Cap-Rouge Campground, near the crash site which was located near Cap Rouge, N.S., and Jerome Mountain, northeast of Cheticamp, N.S. [1][2]

The ceremony is being organized by Les Amis du Plein Air, a local non-profit group of outdoor enthusiasts, in collaboration with Parks Canada. [1][2]

The crash occurred on August 6, 1944, and involved an RCAF training aircraft with four airmen aboard. The aircraft was off its intended course over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but the cause of the navigation error remains unclear. [1]

Despite the challenging terrain of the steep, thickly wooded slopes, rescue efforts were able to retrieve the injured passengers the next day, and Pilot Officer Bennet's body was recovered two days later. [1]

Relatives of some of the surviving crew members are expected to attend the event, which aims to remember and honour Pilot Officer Bennet's sacrifice and the risks faced by training pilots during WWII. [1][2]

This story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Canadian aviators during the Second World War, and the importance of remembering and honouring their memory. [1][2]

References: [1] The Canadian Press. (August 2, 2025). Ceremony to honour WWII pilot who died in Cape Breton crash. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ceremony-honour-wwii-pilot-cape-breton-crash-1.6111098 [2] Parks Canada. (n.d.). Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/capebreton

The commemorative ceremony, organized by Les Amis du Plein Air and Parks Canada, will not only honor Pilot Officer William Arthur James Bennet's sacrifice but also serve as a reminder of the risks faced by numerous training pilots during World War II. Remembrance of events such as these is crucial in maintaining a connection with the past, highlighting the importance of the aviation industry and its financial backing, which played a pivotal role in wartime transportation and the broader context of conflict.

Memorial service held for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot who perished in a plane crash during training exercises in Cape Breton, 1944.