Vancouver Island in WW2 History | World War II Database

20 Jun 1942

Canada

Japanese submarine I-26 surfaced off the Estevan Point light, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada with the intent of shelling the nearby Hesquiat radio direction finding station. The submarine fired 17 shells (including two exercise rounds filled with sand) but rough seas reduced the accuracy. None of the shells landed near the radio station with most falling short into the sea and some landing around the lighthouse. This bombardment was the first enemy attack on Canadian soil since 1870. ww2dbase [Japanese Attacks on the Continental United States | Vancouver Island, British Columbia | CPC]

9 Jul 1942

Photo(s) dated 9 Jul 1942

Canadian Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Percy Nelles inspecting a Japanese shell recovered from the Estevan Point lighthouse shelling attack of 20 Jun 1942 by Japanese submarine I-26.

12 Mar 1945

Canada

RCAF No. 6 Squadron Flight Lieutenant Moodie and his crew flying in a Vickers PBV-1A Casno (Canadian built version of the PBY Catalina) observed a low flying Japanese paper Fu-Go balloon at about 500 feet near Rupert Inlet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. By making passes over the balloon, F/Lt Moodie forced the balloon downward until it was caught in some trees on the south side of the inlet. The balloon was later recovered and examined. F/Lt Moodie’s crew also saw a second balloon but it escaped. ww2dbase [Fu-Go | Vancouver Island, British Columbia | DS]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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