Anson (Total: 4,817, Canadian: 2, Group 2)

Avro Anson

Avro Anson Mk. V
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Museum's Anson Mk. V was built by MacDonald Brothers in Winnipeg in 1944. It flew with No. 7 Photographic Wing and No. 414 Squadron in Ottawa on photo survey work until the late 1940s. In 1956, it was purchased by INCO and used for mineral surveying until 1980, when it was donated to the Museum. The exterior is painted in the yellow colour common to all BCATP trainers and is in its same wartime RCAF markings.

The Avro Anson was known by a number of nicknames including "Faithful Annie" or "Flying Greenhouse". It was the first aircraft to be flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force to have a retractable undercarriage, which was a comparative novelty in 1936. In 1940, a Canadian government owned company, Federal Aircraft Limited, was created in Montreal to manufacture the Anson for Canadian use. Nearly 3,000 Anson aircraft were produced and, in the early days of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the Anson was the standard trainer for many pilots, observers (navigators), wireless operators and bomb aimers. More than 20,000 aircrew received training on the Anson. In Canadian service, the aircraft was substantially re-designed with the substitution of North American engines and many other airframe and equipment changes. Harold Skaarup web pages

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Avro Anson History

YouTube Avro Anson Construction

Anson FP998, Mk. II

s/n FP998

m/d 652A

MacDonald Brothers Aircraft

FP 998

With No. 33 Service Flying Training School when it crashed on 13 September 1944, near Crawford Park, Manitoba. At least one fatality.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1942-September-10 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1943-January-18 Accident: 33 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Rome | Sanders | Wilmotdear | Worley
   1946-August-19 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 567

Anson FP999, Mk. II

s/n FP999

m/d 652A

MacDonald Brothers Aircraft

FP 999

To RCAF for BCATP use, retained RAF serial number.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1942-September-14 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1943-May-20 Accident: 33 Service Flying Training School Loc: Pleasant Point Manitoba Names: Smith | Tucker
   1943-June-29 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 567