ROLLAND PITRE
DEATH FOUND HIM AT THE NORTH POLE
October 30th, 1991, a Canadian Airforce CC-130 Herc, Box Top 22
tail number 322, left Edmondton, via Greenland, on its way to Alert
a top-secret military listening post on Ellesmere Island
The captain John Couch, could see the lights of the airstrip at Alert
so he decided to go by his eyes instead of his instrument
Eighteen passengers and only 5 were killed by the crash
Rolly was the first to hit the ground, he was the loadmaster
Although they were only a few miles from the base of Alert, a blizzard and
the terrain, made it impossible for help to be sent at once, although
every effort was made to get to them.
Wednesday October 30th, 4:25pm, Box Top 22 crashed near Alert
Wednesday October 30th, 5:20pm, CFB Edmonton sends a Hercules with SARtechs
Wednesday October 30th, 7:50pm, CFB Gander A helicopter from Labrador is sent to
Alert but it malfunctioned and had to land in Iqaluit
Wednesday October 30th, 8:00pm, CFB Greenwwood a Hercules rescue aircraft leaves
for Alert with SARtechs
Wednesday October 30th, 8:03pm, CFB Trenton dispatches a Labrador helicopter
Wednesday Octobert 30th, 10:00pm CFB Edmundton, a Majaid Herc leaves for Thule
with paratroopers
Thursday October 31st, 12:15pm, CFB Edmundton, A Herc leaves for Alert with a
helicopter
Thursday October 31st, 1:50pm, Anchorage, A U.S. C-5 Galaxy transport with two
helicopters leaves for Thules and a Herc leaves for Alert
Friday November 1st, 1:50am, AFB Keflavik, A U.S. Herc refueler leaves to air refuel the
helicopters
Finally Friday at 0:55am, Arnie Macauley and his six SARtechs arrive at the crash site
and at 1:07pm, Friday the first survivors are airlifted. Three and a half hours later the
crash site is free of survivors and dead
THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO WORKED AT THIS GREAT RESCUE
This page was designed by Irene Doyle
October 1997
VERSION FRANCAISE
Master Corporal Roland Pitre, born April 21, 1955 at the Campbellton, N.B., Hotel Dieu Hospital.
His parents, Georges and Jeanne Mance Pitre, were then living in Pointe à la Garde, Que. In 1967, they moved to Trois Rivières, Que. In 1967, Roland joined the #2671 Army Cadet Corp. On May 31, 1973, he enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces, holding the title of Traffic Technician.
Following training in Ottawa and Shearwater. In 1974 he completed his qualification level three at Camp Borden, from where he sent me a letter, written in his very poor English. I still have it, safely tucked away. He served in Winnipeg, St Jean, Edmonton and Beausejour. He completed his Loadmaster course in July of 1986 and was transfered to Edmonton, accumulating 1967 hours flying hours as a Loadmaster.
Roland married Marise Castonguay in Trois Rivières, Que., on December 23, 1976. Two sons being born to them by name of Mathieu born March 1984 and Jean Francois born in May 1981. He loved his two boys dearly.
Roland had four brothers, one of whom pre-deceased him; Marcial, died in a car accident at the age of 23, Serge of Trois Rivières, his older brother, and two younger than him, Régis who is also in the Canadian Armed Forces and Gilles who lives in Trois Rivières.
**Regis** now retired since October 1996 and living in Val Bélair, Qc.,
