Hadley-Page Hampden P5433 (1943)

Hadley-Page Hampden medium bombers were flow in combat in the early years of World War II, before being pulled from the front lines over Europe to serve as training aircraft. The Hampden was powered by a pair of Bristol Pegasus engines, and flown by a crew of four in somewhat cramped quarters.

A number of these aircraft from RAF Operational Training Unit (OTU) No. 32 based in Victoria, crashed in the waters around Vancouver Island during training flights. Hampden P5433 crashed into Saanich Inlet on March 14, 1943 while practicing low-level flying (bombing runs) at night. All four crew were killed.

The wreck site consists of both engines and propellors, landing gear and a number of identified parts, lying in 24 m of water in Saanich Inlet.

Note: British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act automatically protects all heritage wrecks, including the remains of all wrecked vessels and aircraft once two or more years have passed since the date of loss. It is illegal to damage, alter or remove a heritage object from a heritage wreck except under a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch.