Historical Events
The tsunami
The 1929 tsunami struck Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula and caused considerable loss of life and property. Giant waves hit the coast at 40 km /hr, flooding dozens of communities and washing entire homes out to sea. The force of the waves lifted houses off their foundations, swept schooners and other vessels out to sea, destroyed stages and flakes, and damaged wharves, fish stores, and other structures The disaster killed 28 people and left hundreds more homeless.
The Disaster & Dover
The late Precilla Willis a resident of Dover. She heard a loud noise, like thunder she recalls. The doors on the old wood stove was shaking . Her mother-in-law told her the tide was rising higher and no one seemed to know what was happening. The water level had risen very high, you could not walk along the beach area. They didn’t really know what happened until days later because there were no radios or televisions at that time.
The Late Ronald Hunt was 9 years old when the earthquake occurred. Mr. Hunt was playing on the ice when everything started trembling .Piles of wood were falling and he was told that people were holding onto the pots on their stove to keep them from falling off. There was a roar in the air that seemed to last for a half an hour and some people thought that Buchan’s mine had blown up.
On January 2, 1942, a Digby B-18 Bomber departed Gander Airport on a convey patrol mission. Shortly after take-off,, the aircraft began experiencing engine problems. Two bombs were dropped in a small pond near Dover, and the First Officer - D.G.J. Malty had to make an emergency landing in the water near Dover
The plane was extensively damaged but the crew escaped with only slight injuries. The residents from Dover who had witnessed the crash had already left to look for survivors. Once it was determined that all on board were unharmed in the crash, the residents responded with warm homes and hospitality.
Seventy plus men pulling ashore the Digby B-18 Bomber wreckage. Below are the words these men were singing repeatedly as they were hauling the wreckage ashore.
WWII bomber at The Dover Lookout
