Dr. Lisa M. Daly, PhD
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planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Dr. Lisa M. Daly, PhD
@planecrashgirl.bsky.social
2K followers 1.7K following 140 posts
Airplane archaeologist (NL focused, 1920s-1940s aviation mostly), researcher, author (fiction and non-fiction), cat lover, crafter, ballroom dance instructor, explorer, and all about all things Newfoundland and Labrador history, heritage, and culture.
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planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Lest We Forget

Wreath laying at the Newfoundland War Memorial, Beaumont-Hamel Park, July 1, 1926

(In Newfoundland and Labrador, we honour those who served on both Remembrance Day and on July 1st, Memorial Day)
From PANL Item A 11-168
A black and white photo of Governor William Lamond Allardyce laying wreath at the Memorial to the Missing. Governor and Lady Allardyce visited Newfoundland Memorial Park in 1926, and laid wreaths at the memorial. Allardyce was governor of Newfoundland (1922 to 1928). The Memorial features large bronze plaques that list the war dead of WWI of Newfoundland and Labrador. The plaques are in a stone wall. Behind the wall is a rocky hill and at the top is a bronze statue of a caribou, the emblem for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. There is a man placing a large Wreath in front of the names of the war dead.
November 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Up She Rises! A public forum presented by @nlhistorical.bsky.social about women and gender in Newfoundland and Labrador Historical is happening this weekend.
A free event in person at @memorialu.bsky.social or online. To attend, visit the NLHS website here: www.nlhistory.ca/program/
An image of a speaker in a lecture hall. On the screen behind the speaker is a mostly blue screen with yellow and orange images of women along the left side of the screen. Over the images is the title, in blue on a while square, it reads Up She Rises in big letters. In front of the screen, standing at a podium with the Memorial University logo is a woman in a while shirt.
November 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Harmon Field Aerodrome: It is from this location, in Newfoundland, where the airplanes and ground teams left to aid victims of the aviation accident that cost 39 people their lives in Stephenville, Newfoundland, a couple of days ago. Sadly all of the crew and passengers died before help arrived.
A newspaper clipping of an image of an airfield. There are two hangars on the left side of the image, one behind the other, with domed rooves. On the right side of the image, a number of aircraft are lined up perpendicular to the hangars, noses pointed away from the photographer. In the background are the hills that surround much of Stephenville and the airport. The caption translation is in the post text, and under the image, on the black paper of the scrapbook, L'Evenement Journal Oct. 11/46 is written in silver.
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
I did find a report from 1933 that investigated stories of the remains of an aircraft and aviators found, and seemed to have no credence whatsoever. It was a rumour published by the international press. I'll have to look up the Press articles next to see what they said.
A copy of a dispatch reading: May 20, 1933. Sir. Referring to Dispatch No. 150 of the 6th May, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, with respect to a report in the London Press of the 27th March, 1933, to the effect that two skeletons and the wreckage of an aeroplane had been found in the woods in a remote part of Newfoundland, I have the honor to enclose, in duplicate, copy of an item published in the column of the Evening Telegram, St. John's, on the 27th March, 1933, setting forth that there was no foundation whatever to the rumour which had recieved such wide circulation. I have the honour to be, sir, your excellency's obedient servant, Secretary of State.
July 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
I found some writings regarding the Oiseau blanc and the search for Nungesser and Coli in Newfoundland. This map shows the ships that were asked to ask at every coastal stop about any sightings or information about the missing aviators (routes are the coloured markings).
A map of the island of Newfoundland from 1927. Along the coast, from Notre Dame Bay and all along the coast moving east, then south, and west along the south coast to Port aux Basque, there are colored lines indicating the ports of call for various ships who stopped at many of the communities along the coast asking about the missing aviators, Nungesser and Coli and the Oiseau Blanc.
July 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Loved the clouds over the Cape Spear lighthouse yesterday. #NewfoundlandandLabrador
A picture that is mostly sky. The clouds fill the sky, but they are very light and the sky can be seen through much of the clouds. At the bottom of the picture is an old lighthouse. It's a short building with six dark windows on the visible side and a tower coming up from the middle of the building with a red and white striped dome. There is a white fence along the left side of the picture, and a couple of people visible.
July 16, 2025 at 1:51 AM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Throwback to when I worked at the The Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Museum, a community museum in NL, and wrote this article for their (now defunct) blog. I also included it on my own blog, which was lucky because it means I still have a copy of it to share!
planecrashgirl.ca/2017/06/24/l...
A black and white photo from a newspaper featuring a number of men on ice and snow. All of then men are searing hats of different styles, and all have different implements for traveling on ice, such a skis, ropes, and sticks/poles. They are part of the rescue effort trying to save men who were lost on the ice off Logy Bay, Newfoundland.
June 24, 2025 at 10:56 AM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
I just realized that filming for Land and Sea's Fallen War Birds episode, and filming for 39-45 en sol canadien's L’invasion amicale de Terre-Neuve episode last year happened just about a decade apart!
Both are available online, links below!
A purple background with what looks like two Polaroid pictures (pictures with white borders and a thicker white area at the bottom). The photo on the left is of three people standing on the left side of the image. One person has a video camera on a tripod. A woman in light colours is interviewing a man dressed in dark colours. On the right side of the scene is a man crouched down with the audio equipment. All around the people are the remains of a crashed aircraft. Crumpled aluminum can be seen in the foreground and a large piece of aircraft aluminum in the background. Under the picture reads June 3, 2014. The picture to the right is taken through a rusted gate of four people in the sunshine. It is dark in the foreground. None of the people are looking at the camera, but seem to be discussing something. The picture was taken inside the entrance to an underground tunnel in Argentia and the entrance is in ruins. Under the photo reads June 13, 2024.
June 6, 2025 at 11:45 AM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
A great job opportunity with @heritagenl.bsky.social and @nlhistorical.bsky.social collecting stories and scanning documents about women and gender diverse folk in Newfoundland and Labrador. Must be EI eligible, deadline June 6, 2025.
All the details are here: www.ichblog.ca/2025/05/job-...
A black and white photo of a woman wearing a dark dress and hat stands in a doorway. Behind her is another woman, also in dark clothing, smiling. Next to the first woman, the focal point, is a sign that reads Vote for Julia - She Won't Tool Ya! The image is of Julia Salter Earle during the 1925 municipal election campaign.
May 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
That great feeling when you finish a draft paper to send for the first round of editing. In the next couple of years, I'll see this latest paper published with some other great aeronautical archaeologists.
Next project, turning my recent conference paper into an article.
Image: RCAF Lodestar 557
An image of aircraft wreckage near the edge of a forest. The front of the wreckage is very wet with an engine in the centre of the wet area. Many smaller pieces can be just seen over the water. Behind the engine is a mess of aircraft pieces, mostly very damaged and difficult to recognize. Behind all of this is a large piece of fuselage aluminum. In the background, to the right, is a surveyor’s level.
May 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Great news! The Amelia Earhart statue in Harbour Grace will be replaced. Pam Parsons, MHA for the district, made the announcement.
Also note, Earhart is one of three (soon four) statues that represent named women in the province, another reason to replace the statue.
A screenshot of a Facebook post of test by Pam Parsons. It reads: #HarbourGracePortDeGraveDistrict #NewfoundlandAndLabrador I am very pleased to announce $50,000 on behalf of the Office of women and gender equality, government of Newfoundland and Labrador to the Town of Harbour Grace towards the building of a replacement statue of Amelia Earhart. Amelia Earhart Statue Announcement, Harbour Grace, May 8, 2025 The theft of the Amelia Earhart statue was a loss not just to the town of Harbour Grace, but to all who value courage, history, and the pioneering spirit she represents. Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to make a non-stop, solo transatlantic flight which began in Harbour Grace in May 1932 Pleased to announce $50,000 to the Town of Harbour Grace towards the building of a replacement statue of American Amelia Earhart. Funding will help initiate the planning to replace the statue stolen from the Spirit of Harbour Grace Park late April 2025. Once the Town has a project plan in place, the funding will be provided over two years starting with $25,000 in 2025-26. Replacing it with the support of Government funding is a powerful statement that we will not allow acts of disrespect to erase our shared heritage, reminding future generations that bold dreams can take flight from even the smallest places. The Amelia Earhart statue in Harbour Grace is one of the three statues named after women in Newfoundland and Labrador. The others include Shawnadithit in Boyd's Cove and Demasduit in Botwood and St. John's. A fourth statue of Amrine Gosling, who led the right for women to vote and hold pu lic office will be unveiled at Bannerman Park in June 2025.
May 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Had a good session at @can-arch.bsky.social this morning, but had to rush home to help with a broken bathroom pipe.
The other presentations on Beothuk archaeology, fires and evidence for prostitution in St. John's, and an accidentally cemetery disturbance were all amazing. Great work being done.
A picture of a power point cover slide. The background is dark green with a light green band on the right. The title, in light yellow reads Harbour Buffett and the US Navy Hudson Bomber, The Impact of an Aicraft Crash on a Community (I really tried to avoid a pun, but couldn't figure out a better word). By Lisa M. Daly and Neil Burgess. Next to the names, to the left, is a picture of a piece of metal underwater mostly covered by silt.
May 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
This winter, I have learned to use a sewing machine! Thanks @shannonkgreen.bsky.social for the classes. While I won't have it ready for this tourism season, I had to buy this lighthouse fabric to make something for next season. (I work at the lighthouse that is most visible).
I'm thinking a skirt...
An image of a paper bag with the logo for East Coast Quilt Co. The logo is a square with four colored corners (burgundy, orange, green, yellow, clockwise from top left) and a black and white compass in the middle. The name is next to the square. Just above the logo sits some folded fabric. The background on the fabric is an ocean blue and it is covered in white and red lighthouses. The only lighthouse fully visible is a white house with a red and white dome. Next to the lighthouse fabric is a red fabric that matches the red accents on the lighthouses.
April 3, 2025 at 9:35 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
This picture of Crash Hill near Stephenville is housed in the museum (as well as many other artifacts from the area) and helped my team find and record the 1946 crash of American Oversea Airlines.
If you're exploring the Port au Port, check out the church and museum; both are beautiful.
A black and white photo of the top of a hill. On the top of the hill and a little to the right is a small cemetery. To the left, down the side of the hill, is what looks to be a rockslide, but is actually damage associated with the airplane crash. The top of the hill doesn't look to have trees, but there are trees everywhere else, all down the hill.
February 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Happy Flag Day 🇨🇦

Taken last fall when there was much less snow on the ground but about as much wind as today (it's pretty windy in St. John's, NL today)
Two flags are straight in the wind. In the foreground is the Canadian flag and a little further back is the Progress Pride flag. Behind both is a rainbow against a gray-blue sky. The wind is blowing, and both flags are flying to the left with only slight wrinkles (it was a very windy day)
February 15, 2025 at 9:12 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
HeritageNL (Newfoundland & Labrador) is restarting the Youth Heritage Forum. It's a great opportunity for those just starting their careers in heritage to learn more and connect with mentors and other young people.

To register or for more information click here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/1204966269...
A mostly blue poster. The background is an almost woodgrain print, but in shades of blue from light to royal blue. In white letters the top of the poster reads Youth Heritage Forum NL 2025 March 22nd, 2024 The Lantern, St. John's. In a white block in blue text the description says: The Youth Heritage Forum is a great opportunity for students and emerging professionals to network, attend professional development seminars and workshops, and share your thoughts on being a Youth in Heritage. Lunch is provided! Register with the QR code below. Below the test is a QR code (Same link as above). At the bottom of the page are logos for HeritageNL, ANLA, and MANL.
February 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
New blog post about the Bremen, the first westward crossing of the Atlantic by an airplane. It Bremen crashed on Greenly Island, Quebec, and Greta Mae Ferris of the International Grenfell Association, visited the site and took a number of pictures. #aviation
planecrashgirl.ca/2025/01/24/t...
A black and white image of an aircraft from an angle behind the plane that shows the tail, fuselage, and one wing. The wing looks like it is being suspended by pulleys on two different systems of tall logs wrapped to form pyramid structures. There is an unidentified man on the wing in the background of the image, and a house far in the distance. The marking on the fuselage are visible and read Bremen D1167".
January 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
And while you're there, also check out "A Brief History of Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts at the Newfoundland/Gander International Airport 1941-1985" by Betty Mullaly-Moulton and Emily Doyle which covers the most famous crashes around Gander: Banting, Sabena, Czechoslovakian and Arrow Air.
An image of what remains of the Hudson Bomber that Sir Frederick Banting was on when it crashed in 1941. The picture is of the rear end of an aircraft, upside down with holes cut in the aluminum. Other parts of the fuselage are visible behind this piece. The wreckage sits at the edge of a pond. To the left is the tail of a fibreglass reproduction and in the background is a white and blue building with a tower at the centre. It is the Banting Memorial Museum in Musgrave Harbour, which seems to be be closed to the public.
January 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Exploring used bookstores yesterday and found a couple of books on Lindbergh for historical context, an Earhart biography, and a real treasure about Old Orchard Maine with some beautiful photos of aircraft on the beach.
A photo of found books laid out in a square on a wooden table. Top left is Lindbergh vs Roosevelt by James P. Duffy, Under A Wing by Reeve Lindbergh, The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart by Mary S. Lovell, and The Old Orchard by Jeffrey A. Sully.
December 10, 2024 at 2:27 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Thank you for letting me celebrate your diaversary with you today. It is an accomplishment that should be celebrated!
A selfie of two people, a man in front and a woman behind. The man in front is wearing sunglasses and a black shirt with brown stripes while the woman in back is wearing sunglasses and a flower print shirt. In the background there is another man in a blue shirt and blue hat. They are all in a park with trees in the background. You can't actually see it in the picture, but they are riding a miniature train through a park.
December 9, 2024 at 2:35 AM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
And here is a picture of some of the filming we did in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador!

Et voici une photo d'une partie du tournage que nous avons effectué à Argentia, Terre-Neuve et Labrador!
A picture taken from inside a tunnel looking out at four people standing wearing coats. Between the photographer and the people is the ruin of a gate and various other debris. Photo prise de l'intérieur d'un tunnel, avec vue sur quatre personnes debout portant des manteaux. Entre le photographe et les personnes se trouvent les ruines d'une porte et divers autres débris
December 4, 2024 at 11:59 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
The next #Newfoundland & #Labrador Historical Society lecture will be at the Colonial Building and about the history of the Press Gallery Association given by @mikeconnors.bsky.social It should be really interesting. It will be in person and online.
Register here: bit.ly/3YLdYJF
A poster divided into two halves. On a green background, the right side of the poster is a picture of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. The view is from an upper gallery and looking down on benches. The right side of the poster reads: The Forgotten History of the Newfoundland and Labrador Press Gallery Association. By Michael Connors. Thursday November 28th at 7:30pm NST/7pm AST Colonial Building, St. John's, NL. This lecture will be followed by a reception. Seating is limited. Please scan the link to register (link is in the post above). This is a partnership between the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society and Provincial Historic Sites. See the sites! At the bottom of the poster is a QR code and a small picture of the Colonial Building, a neoclassical style building.
November 23, 2024 at 2:29 AM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Finally taking steps to download my data before deactivating the other place. This image shares my thoughts on how things are going there, but I didn't want to share it there and not here.
From The Rooms, 1919 Crash of Martinsyde biplane Raymor on takeoff at Quidi Vidi Item A 16-88; A 16-97.5.
A sepia toned image of an airplane that has just crashed. The wings are bent, a wheel is bent off to the side, the front is also bent. In the background it looks as if people, mostly men, are running toward the wreck. From the description posted at the archives: The 18 May 1919 trans-Atlantic flight attempt aboard the Raymor, a modified Martinsyde Type A biplane, with pilot, Frederick Phillip Raynham and navigator, Charles W. Morgan crashed on take-off from Quidi Vidi Lake. A second attempt on 17 July, with navigator, Conrad H. Biddlecombe, also crashed on take-off. This image is different from the many photographs documenting the 18 May crash, suggesting it is the 17 June crash. The aircraft is tilted to one side and a collapsed wheel is visible.
November 15, 2024 at 11:18 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Finishing up my presentation for @avculturesconf.bsky.social. Thank you to @tashheap.bsky.social for all the emails about time zones! It's helpful.
A picture of part of a computer screen and a coffee mug. The part of the computer screen shows a slide from a PowerPoint presentation. The slide reads Getting Started: Permissions. The rest of the text is difficult to read, but it says RCAF B24 596 (FgCb-01) crashed 18 February 1944, partially recovered in 1988, fully surveyed in 2009. Currently being restored. The two images below are also blurry, but are of pieces of airplane wreckage. Next to the screen is a black coffee mug with a stylized simple drawing of an older aircraft in gold. The drawing is a little worn from use.
November 13, 2024 at 4:56 PM
planecrashgirl.bsky.social
Let's see your #BlueSky... a picture you took...

Some blue sky in this one (I have a lot of grey foggy day photos).

Taken October 2024, Cape Spear, #Newfoundland and Labrador
A view from the porch of the historic lighthouse of Cape Spear. There is a double rainbow spreading across the panorama picture. The lower, brighter rainbow stretches from the 1955 light tower to a field, and there is a lighter rainbow just above the first. The ocean and some headlands are visible in the background. The sky is cloudy with bright blue patches and bright sun.
November 12, 2024 at 4:08 PM