On the afternoon of May 9th 1945, 'Freddie', crewed by Flight Lieutenant J. Maurice W. Briggs, D.S.O., D.F.C., D.F.M., Flying Officer John C. Baker, D.F.C. and Bar, and De Havilland engineer Edward Jack, arrived at Calgary airport and proceeded to treat the crowds to a demonstration of a Mosquito doing what it did best, 'beating up' the airfield and surrounding areas at high speed and low level (often at less than rooftop height).
The next day, after an official luncheon, at just after 16:00 hrs, Briggs and Baker prepared to take off to fly to Red Deer and Lethbridge, returning to Calgary for the evening. Edward Jack stayed behind as he was not feeling well. After take off, Briggs circled to the North and made two passes over the small crowd which had gathered around the terminal building to see them off. It was on their third diving pass that tragedy struck.
Freddie struck the top of the tower and a metal pole used for releasing weather balloons, shearing off the port wing, just outboard of the engine, and part of the tail. Out of control, at nearly 400 mph, 'Freddie' crashed in a field just south of the terminal. The crew were thrown from the airplane and died instantly. The petrol soaked Mosquito burned to ashes.
Flight Lieutenant Briggs and Flying Officer Baker were buried in the Field of Honour, at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, the following day.