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Plane wreckage in Newt Dawson’s yard following the fatal crash. Ethel Thomson collection.

on the Newt Dawson farm. It was a frightening experience for them when the plane roared by, almost hitting the house, and crashing into the ground a few yards beyond on the edge of the orchard. A crowd soon gathered to view the crumpled mass of metal which was all that remained of the plane. The body was covered with a blanket until it could be removed. The wreckage remained for a few days before it was transported to the Air Base at Summerside. The cause of the crash was never released?5

Florence Dixon has vivid memories of this event. Sheldon came running into the house from the store and told Florence to come quickly. Florence was bathing the baby and said she couldn’t at the moment. Sheldon, in his excitement said, “Leave her, you’ll never see a spectacle like this again!”. Florence dressed the baby and went to the road to observe the goings on; later, she served tea to the unfortunate instructor while he awaited transportation back to Summerside.

After the war, Paul Sharpe made a number of calls to Tryon taking passengers for short flights. He landed in Kenneth MacDonald’s field across the road from the Keith Thomas’ store. Sarah MacKenzie, one of the oldest residents, really enjoyed going up for a flip over the country side with Mr. Sharpe. Another site from which he took passen- gers was the field adjoining Ives’ Grist Mill.

Elton Woodside, the Flying Farmer from Clinton, raised a few dollars in his spare time by travelling around Prince Edward Island and taking passengers up for a short flight. He offered this service in North Tryon from one of Reg Dixon’s fields. There were no regular air services to and from the Island at this time, but these occasional flights helped

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